Another noob changing pickups...need some help

[KoalaOnBass]

So I'm currently in the process of swapping out the p pickup in my yamaha trbx174 (first time), and I have run into a problem.

This may be a dumb question, but how do I squeeze the wires under the pickups when mounting them (the wire that connects the two coils and the two wires that go to the cavity in the back).

If I just leave them under the pups, won't they get pinched or damaged when I screw the pickups in? Or am I missing something here?

Again, sorry if this is a silly question, but I don't want to damage anything.

Thanks for your help in advance

 

[JACink]

Under the pickup you should have some kind of foam or springs, that allow you to adjust the height of the pickup. As you won't be screwimg the pickup all the way down until it hits the bottom of the route, you should have plenty of space for the cables underneath, just make sure you don't screw through the wires.

 

[KoalaOnBass]

Under the pickup you should have some kind of foam or springs, that allow you to adjust the height of the pickup. As you won't be screwimg the pickup all the way down until it hits the bottom of the route, you should have plenty of space for the cables underneath, just make sure you don't screw through the wires.

Thanks! You've helped me sort it out
I, the idiot that I am, initially stuck the foam to the cavity instead of to the bottom of the pups, which obviously didn't work

 

[two fingers]

So I'm currently in the process of swapping out the p pickup in my yamaha trbx174 (first time), and I have run into a problem.

This may be a dumb question, but how do I squeeze the wires under the pickups when mounting them (the wire that connects the two coils and the two wires that go to the cavity in the back).

If I just leave them under the pups, won't they get pinched or damaged when I screw the pickups in? Or am I missing something here?

Again, sorry if this is a silly question, but I don't want to damage anything.

Thanks for your help in advance

This is the back of a Yamaha TRBX174.

There should be a plastic plate on the back behind the knobs. (Toward the lower left of the pic.) The extra wire goes in there. Do NOT stuff it behind the pickup.

Take that plate off.

Desolder the wires from the existing pickup. Pull them out through the hole that leads to the pickup cavity. Then thread your new wires back through the same hole.

If none of this makes any sense to you, perhaps you may want to let a tech do it.

Also, you can trim off some of the wire on your new pickup. Although I wouldn't cut it too short. If you decide you don't like the pickup and want to sell it you'll need to leave enough lead wire for the next person.

 

[KoalaOnBass]

View attachment 3178458
This is the back of a Yamaha TRBX174.

There should be a plastic plate on the back behind the knobs. (Toward the lower left of the pic.) The extra wire goes in there. Do NOT stuff it behind the pickup.

Take that plate off.

Desolder the wires from the existing pickup. Pull them out through the hole that leads to the pickup cavity. Then thread your new wires back through the same hole.

If none of this makes any sense to you, perhaps you may want to let a tech do it.

Also, you can trim off some of the wire on your new pickup. Although I wouldn't cut it too short. If you decide you don't like the pickup and want to sell it you'll need to leave enough lead wire for the next person.

Thanks for the detailed reply
I understand that, and that's exactly what I've done. I was just confused about the third wire (not the ground or hot), the short one that connects the two parts of the p pickup. With the stock pickups, it's just stuffed underneath the foam, but the wire on the new pickups is quite a bit thicker and it confused me for a bit. Got it sorted out now, though

 

[KoalaOnBass]

Well, I'm reporting back with mixed results:

The good news is I've apparently managed to solder the new pickup properly, because it works.

The bad news is two-fold:
- I must have mounted the pickup incorrectly, because only one side responds to height adjustment - the other just stays flush with the body no matter how much I unscrew the screw. Any ideas how this could be fixed? I've put the foam under both parts of the split pickup btw.

- I'm not 100% sure, but I feel like the tone pot is somewhat unresponsive now (not much, if any, difference when I roll it off). When I was done soldering, I noticed I must have accidentally touched two other wires with the side of the iron, as the wire insulation is slightly melted. Could this be the culprit?

 

[two fingers]

Some pics would help.

If there is foam under the side that won't go up and down then maybe the pickup got "wedged" in somehow?

 

[KoalaOnBass]

So I've solved the pickup height issue - I unscrewed the pickups, removed the covers, and put the screws into the covers all the way before placing the pickups inside and screwing the whole thing into the body. Not sure I've described it well, but it works now

Here is a picture of one of the wires with melted insulation (the other one is not as bad):

On further inspection, the tone pot does actually work, but the difference seems more subtle than before.

I've also realized that the volume drops dramatically when both the p and j pickup are on - they're about equal soloed. Not really bothered since I tend to use only the p pickup anyway, just worried it means I've messed something up.

 

[Slater]

I've also realized that the volume drops dramatically when both the p and j pickup are on - they're about equal soloed. Not really bothered since I tend to use only the p pickup anyway, just worried it means I've messed something up.

Try swapping the hot and ground wire connections on one pickup only. Your new P-pickup might be out of phase with the stock J-pickup. It's a common issue.

 

[Spidey2112]

Thanks! You've helped me sort it out
I, the idiot that I am, initially stuck the foam to the cavity instead of to the bottom of the pups, which obviously didn't work

Not an idiot... the learning process ensures you are not, nor ever will be...

... keep up the good work!

 

[KoalaOnBass]

Try swapping the hot and ground wire connections on one pickup only. Your new P-pickup might be out of phase with the stock J-pickup. It's a common issue.

Thank you, will look into it. I've just realized that if I back the J volume off ever so slightly, full volume comes back again, however. Could this still be an out of phase issue?

Speaking of issues, another problem has presented itself: the p pickup hums considerably at night (it stops when I touch the strings or bridge). This used to be a problem with both of the pickups before I shielded the bass, but it has come back with the new p. Meanwhile, the hum on the J is minimal (like before the swap).

Not an idiot... the learning process ensures you are not, nor ever will be...

... keep up the good work!

Thanks! So far, it's been a learning experience for sure

 

[Slater]

Thank you, will look into it. I've just realized that if I back the J volume off ever so slightly, full volume comes back again, however. Could this still be an out of phase issue?

Do you experience just a volume drop, or does your tone also become thin and/or nasally?
It may, or may not be a phase issue. It's hard to diagnose without hearing it.

 

[Slater]

Speaking of issues, another problem has presented itself: the p pickup hums considerably at night (it stops when I touch the strings or bridge). This used to be a problem with both of the pickups before I shielded the bass, but it has come back with the new p. Meanwhile, the hum on the J is minimal (like before the swap).

What changes at night? Are the pickup cavities shielded? Did your new P-pickup come with a brass or copper plate on the bottom?

Without having the answers to these questions, I'm thinking you might need some shielding for your P-pickup.

 

[KoalaOnBass]

Do you experience just a volume drop, or does your tone also become thin and/or nasally?
It may, or may not be a phase issue. It's hard to diagnose without hearing it.

The tone definitely becomes thin and nasally with both pups on full. The strange thing, however, is that when I roll the J volume off just a tiny amount, the tone and volume both become good again.

What changes at night? Are the pickup cavities shielded? Did your new P-pickup come with a brass or copper plate on the bottom?

Without having the answers to these questions, I'm thinking you might need some shielding for your P-pickup.

It's probably something to do with the house wiring, or so I'm told.

The pickup cavities aren't shielded, but I have shielded the back cavity after having the same problem with the old pickups. Shielding the back cavity solved the problem for both of the stock pickups, but the hum has returned with the new p. It's strange to me because the stock j (which is supposed to have more hum, if anything, as far as I understand) is still almost completely silent, even at night, while the fancy seymour duncan p (which the box says is wired as a humbucker to prevent noise), hums like crazy.

I can't help but feel like I must have messed something up with the wiring to cause this.

 

[Zoobiedood]

The tone definitely becomes thin and nasally with both pups on full. The strange thing, however, is that when I roll the J volume off just a tiny amount, the tone and volume both become good again.

This sounds like a classic phase issue.