Pbass wiring: I'm so confused.

[Iritan]

Okay, I recently picked up some Dimarzio dp127s to include in a massive modding job on an old pbass. I didn't have all the parts I needed yet, but eager to get started, I wired up the pups. I put them in the bass (using the orignal parts) and I get no response or sound whatsoever. I have the pups soldered exactly like all the diagrams I can find, yet still nothing happens. I have no idea what is wrong. Any ideas?

 

[doctorrockit]

Pictures?

 

[slyjoe]

When you say "picked up some Dimarzio dp127s...", does this mean used or new?

Generally, no sound means a wiring error - i.e., a short or a cold solder joint. Did you rewire the output jack at the same time you added the pickups?

 

[Iritan]

It was used. What do you mean by rewired the output jack? I don't have a camera at the moment to show pics.

 

[slyjoe]

1. First question was really do you know the pickups work.
2. You put these into existing electronics - so are you using the old wiring? Or did you resolder the old jack? Is it possible an old wire got knocked off? Did the old one work?

Sorry for all the questions, but that's how internet troubleshooting works.

 

[Iritan]

I am using the original wiring and pots, and it was in perfect working order before hand. I just removed the old ones and soldered on the new ones. I am not sure wether or not the pickups work. I certainly hope they aren't broken. I'd be mighty pissed.

 

[slyjoe]

Do you have an ohm meter to check continuity? If so, plug a cable into the bass. Check for continuity from the tip of the cable to the hot lead of the pickup. Do the same for the sleeve of the cable and the other wire of the pickup.

Then, check between the tip and sleeve of the cable to ensure there is NO continuity; if there is, that means there is a short to ground in the bass somewhere.

 

[tonebrulee]

Do you have an ohm meter to check continuity? If so, plug a cable into the bass. Check for continuity from the tip of the cable to the hot lead of the pickup. Do the same for the sleeve of the cable and the other wire of the pickup.

Then, check between the tip and sleeve of the cable to ensure there is NO continuity; if there is, that means there is a short to ground in the bass somewhere.

slyjoe - he's getting no signal at the jack so gotta find out if the p'up is good first.

Iritan - you need to unsolder the p'up and test it with an ohm-meter. connect the meter leads directly to the black and white leads coming from the p'up. If you get no reading, then you either have a short where at of the points where the leads connect to the coils (fixable), or you have a break within one of the coils (bad - likely need a re-wind, expensive and only worth it if it's an expensive or vintage p'up).

 

[Bassamatic]

I seem to remember that the diMarzios have 3 output wires - 2 grounds and a hot. Maybe you got them reversed?

 

[slyjoe]

I think the DP127s have 4 wires.

tonebrulee: If I had just bought pickups I would assume I have a wiring problem, which is why I suggested checking for no shorts and continuity through the chain. Also, an easy test with no solderiing/unsoldering. But that's just me.