Wiring a SB-2 Pbass pickup in a Pbass!?!?

[Gintaras]

I tried posting this in the pickup section but got no results so thought that I might try this section. I bought a pbass pickup from an SB-2 from a member. I want to put it into a regular pbass that I am putting together.

One pickup has a black, green and yellow wire and the other pickup has a black and a white. The green and white are soldered together.

I know have 3 wires to do something with. One pickup has a black and a yellow and the other pickup has a black wire that needs to be connected somewhere.

Could someone enlighten on how I should wire this. I have a standard pbass harness of volume and tone. I looked at the G&L schematic but it is wired in some sort of series with the jazz pickup

[Ken Baker]

Originally Posted by Gintaras

One pickup has a black, green and yellow wire and the other pickup has a black and a white. The green and white are soldered together.

I know have 3 wires to do something with. One pickup has a black and a yellow and the other pickup has a black wire that needs to be connected somewhere.

Could someone enlighten on how I should wire this. I have a standard pbass harness of volume and tone. I looked at the G&L schematic but it is wired in some sort of series with the jazz pickup

The pickup half with the black, white, and yellow wires is the pickup for the E and A strings. The other half is for the D and G strings. Orient both with their leads heading for the control cavity. The black wires from both should go to ground. The yellow wire is the hot lead.

That help?

Ken...

[Gintaras]

Thanks Ken....just what I needed to know.

Looking forward to finally putting this parts bass together. I heard a lot about this G&L pickup and looking forward to playing.

[Ken Baker]

Have fun!

Just remember that it isn't going to sound like a Precision. Oh! And be sure that small children and pets are a safe distance away.

Ken...

[Gintaras]

I must be doing something wrong. I have a hum and it gets louder when I touch the E&A pickup. The hum also goes away if I touch the bottom of the pot. Sounds like a ground issue but not sure where the problem is Back to some research!?!?

I bought this pickup because of a comment that it is like a Pbass on steriods, etc. Not looking for a typical Pbass sound.

[Ken Baker]

Yup, that sure does sound like an open ground.

Here's a wiring diagram for an SB-2. You can click the image for a suitable-for-printing PDF.

Ignoring the bridge pickup, this shows how the split pickup is wired to the volume control. You may have a tone pot in there, but that's a separate deal.



You didn't mention whether or not the bass actually works, despite the hum. Your symptoms tell me that there is a break in (probably) the ground lead from the EA pickup or perhaps it isn't soldered as well as you think. Wiggle the ground wire going to the EA pickup along its length to possible find a break. Be careful as you get close to the pickup itself.

If you have no output from the pickup at all, also check the white & green leads and their connection to each other.

If the pickup covers lift off easily, you can visually inspect where the leads connect to the coils. If one is broken off here, it can usually be re-soldered. Just remember that it is VERY easy to break a coil wire here, so be careful! This is the voice of experience talking, as I just had to have a pickup repaired for this very reason. And I'm pretty good with a soldering iron.

Ken...

[Gintaras]

I found the problem from reading a post in the pickup session. Another member had the same problem and it was the 2 wires that are soldered together. When they are long then they become an antennae. He found this out by talking to the dimarzio tech support. Mine were quite long and I shortened them to be just long enough and the hum is gone!!!
Thanks for you help with the wiring...Gus

[Ken Baker]

Glad you got it working.

That's an interesting idea that makes sense from a general EMI standpoint but not a hum standpoint. A 60Hz hum is an open ground - a disconnected lead - someplace. EMI is just general noise such as from fluorescent lighting.

The green & white leads on my SB-2 are really long too, and it was quiet even before I shielded it. I bet you actually fixed a broken connection.

Ken...