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Determining + and - in each coil of a humbucker?

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by fourstringbliss, Jan 4, 2015.

  1. Jan 4, 2015 #1
    fourstringbliss

    fourstringbliss Supporting Member

    Oct 5, 2003
    Puyallup, WA
    The pickups on my G&L M2500T bass are dual-coil humbuckers wired in series. I want to wire them in series/single/parallel fashion, but need to know which wire is + and - from each coil of the pickups. Since they are wired in series (humbucking) shouldn't this be the way that they are wired?

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    If so, shouldn't I be able to figure out which one is + and - by looking at which wire is soldered to ground, which one is soldered to the preamp, and the two that are connected together?
     
  2. Jan 4, 2015 #2
    RobbieK

    RobbieK

    Jun 14, 2003
    Smellbourne, Oz...
    The one soldered to earth is the - of one coil. The one soldered to hot (a volume pot, preamp usually) is the + of the other coil.

    The other two wires will be joined to each other. You need to cut this join and test with a multimeter to work out which is the + of the first coil, and which is the - of the second coil.
     
  3. Jan 4, 2015 #3
    fourstringbliss

    fourstringbliss Supporting Member

    Oct 5, 2003
    Puyallup, WA
    Thanks! I have a multimeter - how do I use it to check which wire goes with which?
     
  4. Jan 4, 2015 #4
    JustForSport

    JustForSport

    Nov 17, 2011
    Connect it to the + of the one coil (using the ohms setting), and the only other lead that shows continuity is the other end of that same coil.
    Then the same thing for the remaining two wires.
     
  5. Jan 4, 2015 #5
    fourstringbliss

    fourstringbliss Supporting Member

    Oct 5, 2003
    Puyallup, WA
    Multimeter set to ohms, right?
     
  6. Jan 4, 2015 #6
    JustForSport

    JustForSport

    Nov 17, 2011
    Correct...
    And as noted above, separate the joined wires first.
     
  7. Jan 4, 2015 #7
    fourstringbliss

    fourstringbliss Supporting Member

    Oct 5, 2003
    Puyallup, WA
    Excellent! Thanks!