Installing new pickup..help

[Mr. Boo]

I want to install Dimarzio Model J's into my Essex jazz bass. I've never done it before but would like to learn. Is this something that is easy enough to do? I have half a brain left... Thanks for any help

 

[luknfur]

To me, transplanting pups is a good place to begin with bass alterations. It's not difficult but there is practically always something that presents a challenge - especially for first timers. The pups my not fit the routings for example - and won't for a fact if the bridge is a Fender-like long and they're the same size standard routings on your bass. But if it's not that, you can pretty much bank on something else cropping up.

Good luck.

 

[Mr. Boo]

Thanks so much...I'm sure that I won't have nothing more than a few wires to solder, right...hope so

 

[JustOpenYourMind]

that'll surely help

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/schematics/jazz_bass.html

 

[Mr. Boo]

That's a cool diagram, wonder where those black wires from the pickup go...

 

[David Wilson]

they go to ground i.e. usually soldered to back of volume pot. That's where your current ground wires are I bet.

Note, the Dimarzio Model J's are four conductor wiring, not the usual 2 wire single coil/hb setup. The red wire equates to the white wire in this diagram, and the green wire equates to the black wire. The other two wires generally get soldered together to run them in series.

Alternatively, look at the pickup specification page on dimarzio.com and get the four conductor wiring diagram which explains all this and also tells you how to wire it for series/parallel switching if you wish. But if you don't know what a ground wire is, it's probably best not do the s/p switch right now - walk before you run.

 

[Mr. Boo]

Talk Bass rocks! There are so many luthiers and elctricians here it's amazing! I'll let you know how I came out.