Humbucker wiring

I am now well into building a pure electric 6 string but I have run into a wiring 'issue' or riddle. I purchased two (a pair as it worked out) humbuckers - one for the neck end and one for the bridge - I realised this after I had fitted one into the box. So I am quite happy to have just one humbucker (that is what I intended). However I looked at the Seymour Duncan wiring schematics and they all had four wires coming from the humbucker. After some searching I have found this site -http://kentarmstrong.com/schematics/KA_Wiring_Instructions.pdf with fig.2a being the closest match.

I have taken photos of the two humbuckers, the one shown in the box being the one I have to connect - the one in the box has a single red wire and a white wire which is twisted around the copper braid and soldered together at the tip. The humbucker shown out of the box (the bridge humbucker) has a single white wire and twisted braid covered in solder.

Can anyone advise on how to wire each humbucker, especially the one installed in the box.

Rog

ps - thinking about it and looking at the box construction again, I reckon I could modify the box to take the two humbuckers - would this be worthwhile and how would the wiring then look?

Hi Roger,
I did try to message you but my iPad connection is playing up so I am not sure if the message went through.

Humbuckers are made of 2 separate coils which in some pickups have the wiring to both coils brought out to give 4 wires as per the Seymour Duncan diagrams. This is so you can externally wire the coils in series, in parallel or as a single coil using a switch to get different tonal choices. The ones you have got have the wiring set so the coils are wired in series (this gives the loudest output) and so you get a live and an earth. Sometimes to help cut down on the external hum wires can pick up the makers wrap the wires from the pickup in a wire braid which if attached to the earth acts as a shield against the hum. You have this type which is why you have 3wires. For the pickup you have fitted to the box red is the live which goes to the bottom lug of the volume potentiometer in the diagram 2a and the other 2 wires need to be grounded and typically the back of the volume pot is used as the common grounding point. The top lug of the pot also needs to be grounded and to save on wire the 2a diagram uses the pickup earth wire to connect to the back of the pot and the top lug. You can do it this way or ground this lug separately if you prefer. The middle lug is the live output wire that goes to the jack socket terminal that will make contact with the tip of the jack plug. To complete the circuit you then take a ground/earth wire from the back of the volume pot to the jack socket lug that will make contact with the shaft of the jack plug. Often to help issues with picking up hum the strings are also grounded via a wire from the bridge or hardtail to the back of the volume pot. A humbucker may not need this as it is supposed to be humbucking. This set of diagrams are more suited to two wired pickups http://artecsound.com/wiring/wiring_book01.pdf Page 6 shows humbuckers with tone pots should you want to add one.
The one you haven't fitted looks like the white wire is live and the braid is ground. White or red usually is live and black or bare braid is the earth wire.

Hope this helps - if you need more clarification let me know.
David

Replies

David L. April 2, 2013 at 6:45pm

If you want to add the second humbucker have a look at the artecsoundwiring PDF.for a diagram
- Roger Franklin Weston > David L. April 3, 2013 at 8:00pm
  
  That's excellent - how useful CBN and it's members are! An impressive organisation
  
  Thank you
David L. April 2, 2013 at 5:31pm

Hi Roger,
I did try to message you but my iPad connection is playing up so I am not sure if the message went through.

Humbuckers are made of 2 separate coils which in some pickups have the wiring to both coils brought out to give 4 wires as per the Seymour Duncan diagrams. This is so you can externally wire the coils in series, in parallel or as a single coil using a switch to get different tonal choices. The ones you have got have the wiring set so the coils are wired in series (this gives the loudest output) and so you get a live and an earth. Sometimes to help cut down on the external hum wires can pick up the makers wrap the wires from the pickup in a wire braid which if attached to the earth acts as a shield against the hum. You have this type which is why you have 3wires. For the pickup you have fitted to the box red is the live which goes to the bottom lug of the volume potentiometer in the diagram 2a and the other 2 wires need to be grounded and typically the back of the volume pot is used as the common grounding point. The top lug of the pot also needs to be grounded and to save on wire the 2a diagram uses the pickup earth wire to connect to the back of the pot and the top lug. You can do it this way or ground this lug separately if you prefer. The middle lug is the live output wire that goes to the jack socket terminal that will make contact with the tip of the jack plug. To complete the circuit you then take a ground/earth wire from the back of the volume pot to the jack socket lug that will make contact with the shaft of the jack plug. Often to help issues with picking up hum the strings are also grounded via a wire from the bridge or hardtail to the back of the volume pot. A humbucker may not need this as it is supposed to be humbucking. This set of diagrams are more suited to two wired pickups http://artecsound.com/wiring/wiring_book01.pdf Page 6 shows humbuckers with tone pots should you want to add one.
The one you haven't fitted looks like the white wire is live and the braid is ground. White or red usually is live and black or bare braid is the earth wire.

Hope this helps - if you need more clarification let me know.
David

This reply was deleted.

Pickups, Wiring & Electronics.

Replies