Pre-wired Pickups?

[Quatzu]

I need a little help. Why are "Pre-wired" Dimarzio Model J pickups one hundred dollars more than a set that isn't? Forgive me, but I've never purchased new pickups. Does this literally mean that these have wires and the others don't? I know the Model J wiring scheme is a little different, but do brand new pickups normally come without any wires? Also, wouldn't I be able to pick up some connecting wires at a hardware store for a couple bucks? I don't understand. Can someone explain this to a newb?

[Cadfael]

Do you have a link to these pre-wired things???
Even pots and switches chouldn't be that expensive ...

No, when you buy a pickup, the wires to the cavity are always soldered at the coil/housing. Even newbies can wire/solder in the cavity. That's what they are made for.

The other end of the wire (at the coils) is only something for experts. The coil wires are thinner than a hair and if one is de-soldered, you have a problem as a newbie.
All DiMarzio (SD, Schaller, Lawrence +++) pickups come with about 1 feet long wires to the cavity. This "thick end" is relatively easy to handle.

Don't know what is meant by "pre-wired" ...

[Quatzu]

Guitar Center link:

http://www.guitarcenter.com/Search/D...marzio+model+j

Ebay link:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/DiMarzio-Pic...item3a7d374a35

I think I understand now. "Pre-wired" include control plate and pots. Duh. Still, aren't these pots a recommendation and not a necessity?

[i_got_a_mohawk]

It's someone making a buck by making life a little easier.

You don't need the pots, you could wire it straight to jack, but most people like having volume and tone controls.

[Quatzu]

Originally Posted by i_got_a_mohawk

You don't need the pots, you could wire it straight to jack, but most people like having volume and tone controls.

Um, thanks. Not what I meant.

[Cadfael]

Ah!

When you look at the right photo in the first link, you see a green, white, red, black wire behind the PU cover. These four wires go to the cavity and are soldered. You can solder each DiMarzios humbucker parallel (inside itself) which makes no sense to me because too weak or in series.
There will be a wiring scheme inside the box but there are also hundreds of schematics on the internet (some made by me).

The second has the same pickups.
But you get a JB control plate with pots and everything erxtra.
Instead of "normal soldering pots" these are pots where you just need a screwdriver.

I would prefer soldering because it is the stronger connection.

The components in the second link are surely high quality - but you don't need them!
See what I wrote about the four wires you can see in the first link. De-solder the old pickups and solder the four DiMarzio wires.
Green to GND (pot housing)
Red to HOT (lug in the middle)
White+Black together and then put tape around it for isolation

This is the normal series wiring of DIMarzio pickups ...

[Quatzu]

Thanks man. I have no problem soldering and following a schematic, and I'm sure my pots are fine. What a ripoff!

[Cadfael]

Originally Posted by Quatzu

Thanks man. I have no problem soldering and following a schematic ...

Then it should be very easy for you (if you just want the normal JB wiring).

In my wiring compilation (417 pages pdf, 6.35MB) you would find WISYWIG drawings as well as the schematic for "electricians" (how it works / what's going on):
http://161589.homepagemodules.de/t29...-E-Baesse.html

It is the pdf at the bottom "Bassschaltungen391.pdf". It is in German but you will surely understand! There are DiMarzio wirings as well as more than 50 different Jazz Bass wirings.

But the basic standard wiring is as easy as written in my post before! Green = Black (of a "normal J-PU"), Red = White or Yellow (of a "normal J-PU"), DiMarzio Black+White soldered together for internal serial wiring ...

[Quatzu]

I appreciate it. I just ordered them, and I will refer back to your guide when I install them.

[Cadfael]

In my compilation are only "add ons" for your pickups ...

For the "normal JB wiring all wiring information are already in this thread.

But if you can follow schematics it might just be interesting to see what is possible.
Possible doesn't always mean useful - like (to my mind) parallel wired humbucker coils (inside the PU itself - the neck and bridge humbucker can and should be wired parallel for the basic JB sound).

A have a Fender Aerodyne P-Bass Special (PJ) and put in a DiMarzio at the bridge. It still cn not compete with the P-PU, but it has a very good J-sound.