Can someone help me with my Dimarzio Model P install?

RandomEvent · #1 12-08-2007, 10:33 PM

Ok, now that I have my bass apart, I have a few questions, because I'm not necessarily LOST, but I do have need for some clarification issues. Also, I have, and am still doing searches right now, but honestly haven't seen the answer to my questions on the board. I am hoping you guys can clarify for me since I have specific questions.

1) What is that black wire on the left (pic below), and how in the world should I clean out the control cavity? Would I be better of just getting Allparts Shielding tape and cover the entire thing? I'm not sure if I want to do that though because I was told I'd have to ground/solder even more wires.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...RKOver/wth.jpg

2) I am going to rewire everything in the P-Bass, what kind of wire should I be using and where can I purchase some? And do colors matter besides helping you stay unconfused? I'd like to be able to buy the wire at a retail location, such as Radio Shack if at all possible.

3) Can you desolder without some of those funny pump things I keep reading about? Everyone keeps saying desolder, yet I never see any sort of desolder tool mentioned when you are working with electronics. So how in the world am I supposed to desolder then? I've already screwed up soldering my pots, so it looks like I'll have to start all over again.

4) Someone told me that DiMarzio's site has wiring diagrams. Yet, they must be well hidden, cause I can't find them. Anyone know where they are?

5) Fender has 2 wiring diagrams for Standard P-Basses, the 6000 and 6100. Which diagram should I use? When I took apart my P-bass, I noticed that the wiring was actually a mixing of the two diagrams...

6) When I solder, the process I use is first holding the gun, then putting a bit of solder (still on the roll) onto the tip, then pressing it up to the knot of wires and connections for 10 seconds, then placing some solder (still on the roll) at the tip of the gun. It doesn't work obviously. I suspect my last step is faulty. Can someone clarify?

7) The instructions for the DiMarzio pups say to "solder the black and white wire together." Do they mean to two LONG wires, one on each pup? That's how I took it. If so, that just seems kind of stupid...

I'm sure I'll have more questions, but I hope someone can actually answer them... I've been searching these forums for hours and haven't found any answers for my inquiries. And now that I think about it, I am pretty lost...

robert43 · #2 12-09-2007, 02:13 AM

That black wire I think is going to be under the bridge earth the bridge

RandomEvent · #3 12-09-2007, 02:15 AM

Thank you. Out all of my questions, it's pretty much the wiring diagram and what guitar wires to use that are really bothering me now. I'm trying to find a good, detailed diagram, but some of them just get confusing, with different colors and whatnot. I want to finish this today so that I can go to work on Monday and not worry about my P-bass being taken apart.

EDIT: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Would that work as guitar wire?

robert43 · #4 12-09-2007, 02:56 AM

http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/su...dard_pbass.pdf

Here a standard p bass wiring
Cable just go to Radio shack to get some you dont need a pump to desolder , you can use desolder wick ( like a braided flat cable )
You should pratice soldering on a scrap material .Colours I go black for neg & white for all other
When the solider dosent take have you the right soiler ie resin core?
The 2 wire black & white together I havent seen the pups is there 2 short wires ? if so soilder therse together & tape / shrink tube
Hope this helps

robert43 · #5 12-09-2007, 02:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomEvent

Thank you. Out all of my questions, it's pretty much the wiring diagram and what guitar wires to use that are really bothering me now. I'm trying to find a good, detailed diagram, but some of them just get confusing, with different colors and whatnot. I want to finish this today so that I can go to work on Monday and not worry about my P-bass being taken apart.

EDIT: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Would that work as guitar wire?

Yes

robert43 · #6 12-09-2007, 03:04 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomEvent

Thank you. Out all of my questions, it's pretty much the wiring diagram and what guitar wires to use that are really bothering me now. I'm trying to find a good, detailed diagram, but some of them just get confusing, with different colors and whatnot. I want to finish this today so that I can go to work on Monday and not worry about my P-bass being taken apart.

EDIT: http://www.radioshack.com/product/in...entPage=search

Would that work as guitar wire?

Just went to tere site found out yes put the white& blsck together They are long so you can do series / parrealle switching with a 2 pole switch . Standard p pickup is series

RandomEvent · #7 12-09-2007, 03:06 AM

Here's a pic of the pups.

http://i184.photobucket.com/albums/x...KOver/pups.jpg

Thanks very much for all of this help.

robert43 · #8 12-09-2007, 03:14 AM

Hi ok here you go the new pups are red+ green - put the black & white together . The red goes to the pot black to back of the pot

RandomEvent · #9 12-09-2007, 03:16 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert43

Hi ok here you go the new pups are red+ green - put the black & white together . The red goes to the pot black to back of the pot

Do you mean green goes back to the pot?

Thank you very much for all of this help. I'm never going to parallel this P-Bass, so I'll just trim off most of the black and white wires. Also, do you know much about shielding? Could I just go and buy some Allparts shielding tape and stick it all around in my cavity? But I assume I'd have to figure something out for the bridge cable...

Thanks again for all of these response. It's really very helpful.

robert43 · #10 12-09-2007, 03:26 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomEvent

Do you mean green goes back to the pot?

Thank you very much for all of this help. I'm never going to parallel this P-Bass, so I'll just trim off most of the black and white wires. Also, do you know much about shielding? Could I just go and buy some Allparts shielding tape and stick it all around in my cavity? But I assume I'd have to figure something out for the bridge cable...

Thanks again for all of these response. It's really very helpful.

OOpps your right sorry ( standard colours are white + black-)
Sheilding do a search I have see plenty of people have done it I never could be bothered
Soildering put the iron on the bottom of the wire & soilder on top it should run
With pots etc you have to clean the back with steel wool to to soilder
Hopes this helps & your welcome

RandomEvent · #11 12-09-2007, 03:30 AM

Thanks again. It's time for me to head to bed so I can get up early enough to go to the store. One more question though. What is good to use for foam under the pups? I couldn't find anything at Home Depot or Lowes.

robert43 · #12 12-09-2007, 03:39 AM

To be honest I used silcone just put a blob or 2 on the pickups let set or a day or such .
When I have changed PUPs they came with the rubber

RandomEvent · #13 12-09-2007, 10:36 AM

Looks like I gotta find the foam tape somewhere then. Well, off to the store.

**Rodent** · #14 12-09-2007, 10:43 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by robert43

To be honest I used silcone just put a blob or 2 on the pickups let set or a day or such .
When I have changed PUPs they came with the rubber

NO!!!!!

you want to use something like foam weather stripping like you find at Home Depot or Lowe's and not a blob of silicone caulking! the idea is to utilize the foam to stabilize the pickups when you adjust them up/down. utilizing a blob of silicone may work for that one location, but it totally eliminates the adjustment potential and also makes for removal later on to be a total pain

Never use caulking to support your pickups - NEVER!!!!!

all the best,

R

GlennW · #15 12-09-2007, 10:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by RandomEvent

Thanks again. It's time for me to head to bed so I can get up early enough to go to the store. One more question though. What is good to use for foam under the pups? I couldn't find anything at Home Depot or Lowes.

Look around your kitchen sink for a sponge.

RandomEvent · #16 12-09-2007, 10:58 AM

Is there a specific name for this stuff? Because if you believe I can find it at Home Depot, I'll go again.

**Rodent** · #17 12-09-2007, 11:37 AM

look for something similar to this product

http://www.homedepot.com/webapp/wcs/...cStoreNum=4713

depending on the store, you can usually find one that is around 3/4" wide and 1/2" thick. I prefer the product that is of density similar to a neopreme wetsuit

in case you can't find a foam with a self-stick side, you can always use a foam adhesive (something similar to 3M contact cement) to install it in place ... but there is NO requirement that it must be glued, as you pickup screw pressure will keep it snugly in place.

all the best,

R