How do install these pickups?

[JChurch_Bass]

I just got a bass kit and i dont understand how to install the pickups. I have a sodering iron. Do u guys think you could show me on these pictures what wires go where? I dont know which wire goes where.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

I just got a bass kit and i dont understand how to install the pickups. I have a sodering iron. Do u guys think you could show me on these pictures what wires go where? I dont know which wire goes where.

You see each volume pot has the center lug with nothing connected to it? The hot wire from each pickup goes to that. The neck pickup is the farthest from the output jack.

The pickups have coaxial shielded cables. The white insulated wire in the center is the hot wire. The silver braided or twisted wire is the shield. That goes to ground, solder it to the back of the pot.

You have a wiring diagram. It shows what you need to do.

Do not over heat the connections! if you do, you will melt the white insulator on the coax and short out your connections.

What wattage s your soldering iron?

 

[JChurch_Bass]

So the white wire gets solder into the middle thingy and the exposed wire gets soldered to the back of the silver thingy?

Theres a third wire, the jack wire and the instructions say to solder all three ground wires together.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

The third wire is the one that goes under the bridge to ground the strings. Your jack is already wired up, as is that third wire.

There should be a hole from the control cavity that leads to where the bridge goes. Stick it up through there and let the stripped end sit under the bridge.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

This is what i have so far. The exposed wire will be solder to the back, the covered wire gets solder into the middle. The third wire goes under the bridge? No solder? Just put it under the magnet?

 

[bassmeknik]

This is what i have so far. The exposed wire will be solder to the back, the covered wire gets solder into the middle. The third wire goes under the bridge? No solder? Just put it under the magnet?

There is no magnet in the bridge, just lay the stripped end of the wire between the bridge and the body so it is pinched tightly and held in between. This makes the ground connection to the strings, an important SAFETY FEATURE.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

This makes the ground connection to the strings, an important SAFETY FEATURE.

I don't know how it's a safety feature, since it can lead to an electric shock, but if you don't ground the strings, the bass will buzz loudly.

Grounding the strings is for noise reduction, since the strings and your body act as antennae. When the strings are grounded, and you touch the strings, you are now grounded.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

wait so the third wire coming from the volume1, volume2, tone, goes under the bridge? I dont see a hole or anything going there.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

This is what is on the controls.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

This is what is on the controls.

Right. That wire leading off the left if for grounding the bridge.

What does the body look like where the bridge is going to go? Does it have a hole there?

See this body for a reference. The oval rout with the small hole in it is for the ground wire to the bridge.

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[bolophonic]

Has the OP considered following the diagrams?

 

[JChurch_Bass]

Theres no hole where the bridge should be. Does this wire need to be there? Can the bass do without it?

I wouldnt be asking if i knew how to read those diagrams, they arent much help to me.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Theres no hole where the bridge should be. Does this wire need to be there? Can the bass do without it?

You will have to drill a hole for that wire. You can try and use the bass without it, but it will buzz.

What kind of kit was this?

I wouldnt be asking if i knew how to read those diagrams, they arent much help to me.

This kit is all wired up for you. The only thing you have to do is wire up the pickups. That's because you need to feed the pickup wires through their respective holes in the body.

So really, you need to solder four connections. That's it. Then stick that long wire that's hanging off through the hole so the bare end sticks out under the bridge. When you screw the bridge down it will touch that wire.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

I think i understand it all now. Thanks for your time SGD.

 

[JChurch_Bass]

I greatly appreciated it.

 

[SGD Lutherie]

Glad to help.