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NYC-5 Passive Phase II NYC Soapbar - Wiring suggestions

Sundogue

Sundogue

Apr 26, 2001
8,795
481
65
Wausau, WI
#1
I ordered some SD NYC-5 pups from Best Bass Gear and want to put them into my ESP-LTD 5 string (thread here).

What I'd like to do ideally is wire them up to my existing preamp (Volume/Blend - Highs/Mids/Lows EQ controls) but also use two switches (one for each pickup) to be able to use each pup in either series or parallel.

After much reading on it, this is what I came up with for a possible wiring guide. In this pic, the "pickup selector" would be my "Blend Knob" instead of a 3-way toggle and the rest is pretty straightforward as my preamp should handle the "tone" control (in other words I don't need to wire to a typical passive tone control).

Does this look like this wiring would work? Anything not seem right? If it looks right, I'd use two DPDT On/On mini-toggle switches (one for each pup), correct?

[Invalid or Expired Link Removed]
 
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#2
I'm also considering wiring my new pups so that I have Series/Single Coil/Parallel switching for each pickup.

Would the following diagram be used to wire up a 3 way switch for each one? Top one would be for the neck pickup and the bottom for the bridge pickup...so when switched to the middle, I would be using the outer coils of each pickup, correct? Up would be Series and Down would be parallel and the middle position would be for the single coils of each, correct?

switchforpickups.jpg


From this diagram...

Humbucker%20series%20parallel%20wiring%20guide.png
 
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#3
Feel free to chime in with any suggestions or opinions on how to wire up these 4 wire NYC pups. At first I as just going to wire them up each as Series and run them into my preamp. After much reading I kind of like all the different tonal options available at the flip of a switch.

Likes/Dislikes for Series, Parallel, Split Coil, or just some general thoughts on them would be appreciated.
 
#4
After looking at my existing bass wiring, it should be very easy to do. My current pickups only have two wires...hot one from neck pup to one lug on the blend pot and hot one from bridge pup to a different lug on the blend pot. The other two to ground. The rest is taken care of by the wiring of my preamp. So all I need to do is figure out the wiring for Series/outer coil/Parallel switches and just take the hot leads and ground from those switches to the blend pot and ground. Correct?
 
#5
Yes, I know I'm talking to myself here (hoping someone at some point offers some suggestions). I still have time to decide how I want to wire up my pickups. I'm confident about doing the Series/Parallel switch. Not sure about the Series/Single Coil/Parallel. I've been searching and reading as much as I can and looking at every wiring diagram in existence to see exactly how to wire that up but it's still a bit confusing.

I know that I'm going with Series/Parallel switching...just not sure at this point yet if I'll be adding in the Single Coil switching to that, although the idea intrigues me.
 
#6
Body-Closeup.jpg
The Pickup coil switches are before the preamp so it should be simple..... I don't have a pre, but I two humbuckers (Fender Jazz Satin) wired with 3 way switches.... Series/Single/Parallel to a balance control... to the tone control to volume control.........I had my Luthier wire it for me.... He had to figure out what the 4 (5) wires were first. Those pickups you have sound GREAT !!!
 
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#7
Just got my pickups today in the mail. They came with wiring diagrams. One of them (pictured below) show a Series/Split/Parallel diagram. Since both the ground and hot comes off each switch and go to the same place anyway, should I wire each pup to a DPDT On/On/On switch individually (as in SD's diagram)? Because their diagram looks a little different than the one I posted earlier. Or is theirs different because it shows only one pickup? If you buy a set, why would they only show a diagram for wiring only one?

Also, I should point out that I am wiring it to my preamp electronics. The hot leads go to my blend pot. If I wire them up so I can use them as single (outer) coils (via the switch), should I keep the blend pot centered to avoid hum when that is selected (or does it make any difference)? I would think not, because wouldn't any amount of signal to both cancel the hum?

sdwiring.jpg
 
#8
So far... mine... there is no hum when in single coil mode with the pan all the way to either pickup. YMMV

My luthier used the SD wiring diagram you have ... the pickup wire color code is different for Fender.... but I think you should do the S/S/P wiring.... or you may regret it.... better to have the option and not need it than to need (or want) it and not have it.

Those pickups you have were my 1st choice for my next 5 string project.... but I don't play 5ers any more, and the Fender 4 string versions (that look like yours) are 3 conductor :banghead:
 
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#9
topcat2069 said:
So far... mine... there is no hum when in single coil mode with the pan all the way to either pickup. YMMV

My luthier used the SD wiring diagram you have ... the pickup wire color code is different for Fender.... but I think you should do the S/S/P wiring.... or you may regret it.... better to have the option and not need it than to need (or want) it and not have it.

Those pickups you have were my 1st choice for my next 5 string project.... but I don't play 5ers any more, and the Fender 4 string versions (that look like yours) are 3 conductor :banghead:
Click to expand...

Thanks. I'm going to do the Series/Split/Parallel. I agree, if I have it, it's there when I want it.

They do make a 4 string NYC pup just like the fiver.
 
#11
I have yet to hear how the NYC's sound in my bass, but from the description and YouTube video (with headphones) the different sounds with switching is exactly what I'm after.

They are going to be replacing my stock ESP-LTD soapbar pups which are just cheap proprietary EMG pups. They aren't terrible but they are a little thin sounding. I love my 205SM in every other way. It feels good, plays beautifully, perfect neck, great fretwork and I have the action so low the strings are almost on the neck with very minor fret buzz (and I kind of like a little of that).

The bass is more on the budget side pricewise but I got it even cheaper by doing a trade for some artwork for the music store, so I essentially bought it for a little of my time. I love it so much it became my main player. Once the new NYC pups are installed it will be perfect. I know sometimes it doesn't make sense to buy a cheaper bass if you're going to drop another $250 into it, but great pups is the only thing it lacks.
 
#12
2 of my favorite setting are either pickup in series mode while the other is in single mode... Punchy and bright.... Your pickups may sound a little different from mine but should sound similar....
The series settings on either pickup will be a bit louder then either other setting (sorta in G&L territory, big and aggressive), but could be just what's called for in some songs.
 
#14
topcat2069 said:
That's how I made my own "Kinda Roscoe Beck" Bass.... a smart way to go to get the sound you want.

BTW what Basses are those pickups stock (or available) on ???
Click to expand...

The EMG's I'm replacing or the NYC's? The EMG's are made for ESP so they are branded ESP, not EMG. I don't know what the NYC's are stock on. They are essentially single coil jazz pups in one soapbar. I haven't found much info on the NYC's. Nobody on Talkbass has reviewed them and I only found 4 threads on them here...two of which are my recent threads.

I'll post up a review on them once I get them installed and play with them a bit. Unfortunately that might not be until after New Year's. Too much going on right now with work and the holidays to have the time.
 
#17
One other thing I like about these new pickups (that I was not aware of until I received them and looked at them in person) is that the pole pieces themselves are higher in the middle and tapering off to lower towards the outside of the pickups. They match the curvature of my fretboard perfectly. The case is flat across the top, but the poles are raised to match the fretboard curve.
 
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#18
Wired up the pups with an On/On/On Series/Single Coil/Parallel switch. Great tonal versatility. Great sounding pickups. VERY worthwhile investment and upgrade.

Note in the pic that the two outer strings do not line up between the poles as the other three do. No biggee...doesn't affect sound. In fact they line up the same way in SD's video.

Ash-done.jpg
 

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