Confused about wiring

[TheFarmer]

Hello all,

Basically, I started building myself a bass this summer, partly for an end of school project that I need to complete, and partly just for my own pleasure as I do not own a bass but I want to learn how to play.

Anyways, I shaped myself a body, and I purchased a neck from AllParts as well as a set of Fender Jazz Bass pickups. However, I have a question about how I should be wiring these pickups.



Two of these came with the pick-ups. I figure they're supposed to be used as a sort of pick-up rest, but what do I wire them to? Should I be attaching this black wire to the same place as I do the black wire on the pick-up itself?

I tried looking around on google as well as these forums for an answer but found nothing, unless I've been using the wrong search terms or just looking in the wrong place.. I hope I didn't end up on a forum of trolls here.

[line6man]

Those are ground plates.
You don't have to use them, as they really don't offer any shielding benefits and are usually only used for the "vintage-correct" factor.

If you want to use them, solder the black wire to the nearest ground point in the control cavity.

[TheFarmer]

Thank you very much

I'll probably end up doing some sort of the shielding as that which is outlined in the sticky at the top of this forum, then.

[bassbenj]

Originally Posted by TheFarmer

Thank you very much

I'll probably end up doing some sort of the shielding as that which is outlined in the sticky at the top of this forum, then.

Yes, shielding (copper foil is best) the control and pickup cavities is always a good idea. An even better idea when the bass is not together yet! All the shielding pieces and the grounding plates should be connected together and then to "ground" which is the terminal of the jack that goes to the threaded barrel.