Can this Pickup be Repaired? Newbie Question with Photos!

[Doctor Hugocat]

I've got a P-Bass pickup from a '90s Peavey Fury that I really want to use for a project. Unfortunately, while in storage, both the wires from one of the halves came unsoldered (see pics).

This may be a dumb question, but I'm trying to learn more about guitar electronics: does the polarity matter when I re-solder new wires, and if so, how can I determine which terminal is positive/negative?

Any help appreciated: these are pretty nice pickups and I'd hate to have to waste them!

 

[Philonius]

From what I see in the second picture, new leads could be soldered to the old terminal basses. What the internals are like is unknown. If you have an electrical tester, put that on them and see what the resistance is.

{Edit: Phil is today's "Reading comprehension FAIL" winner.}

 

[iiipopes]

The answer to the question: yes, polarity matters. Any way to reconstruct which lead soldered on where?

 

[96tbird]

It's likely peavey just copied the Fender P arrangement as below. The two coils are placed in reverse to each other to buck hum. Rewire them as below. Being passive, the polarity to the pots doesn't matter, but it matters to the two halves of the pup so that they humbuck. If you don't do it right, they'll him.

.

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Thanks guys: this helps.

The pickups both read well on the multimeter (about 4.1 ohms each). I solder well, so attaching wire isn't the problem. The only question remaining is whether there's any way to tell if I get the polarity right? Or should I just wait and see if it hums and swap it around if it does?

 

[dincz]

The pickups both read well on the multimeter (about 4.1 ohms each).

I hope you meant 4.1kΩ. A measurement of 4.1Ω would indicate a near short circuit.

 

[96tbird]

You can usually identify the coil wire that comes right out of the center of the coil by looking closely at the tiny coil wire. It's safe to assume they will run to the same lugs on each piece of the pickup. Makers just wouldn't send the leads to different lugs: that would not be becoming of proper electronic manufacturing standards: logical, consistent arrangement of polarity.

As the diagram shows the two bottom lugs are jumped together so they run center to center in reverse of each other therefore humbucking.

 

[iiipopes]

Yes, I would align the parts like in the above drawing, with the existing white lead corresponding to the picture, then solder new leads following the diagram. I believe that is your best bet to get the polarity correct.

 

[lundborg]

Try both ways, solder the wires to a jack, and check which produces the most hum when plugged straight into the amp.

You can also check the direction of the wire, as is said above, probably same on both. Thus reverse connetion on one PU.

 

[Doctor Hugocat]

Got it, thanks! I'll try it according to the diagram, and if it hums I'll change one over. Thanks guys, I'm very pleased to be able to use the PUP and I've learned something!

Oh and yes Dincz, I meant 4.1k, thanks for checking on that

 

[AngryBison]

Dolphin solder . . . makes all the difference!

 

[96tbird]

PFFT. Charlatan. The solder I use absolutely must be certified 100% dolphin free.

Seriously, I don't know that brand. Must not sell it in Canada.