Single Pickup Wiring

[n7188u]

I got these new (Brand unknown) single pickups to install in my Strat copy and they have Red-Black, Yellow-Black and White Black wiring.

I know the yellow one is the middle due to the reverse polarity where the wires are soldered to the coil wires. What about the others. Any difference between Neck or Bridge?

Chris

[jkemmery]

If I were you, I would check the resistance with a multimeter and use the one with the greatest resistance in the neck, since they are of unknown origin. However, on the "no name" strat pickup sets (as well as "brand name"), the one with the red wire is the bridge, generally, and the white is generally the neck. But, to reiterate, if it were me, I would check it with a multimeter. You can get one at Wal-Mart or RadioShack for under 20 bones.

[ChrisK]

Typically, the greatest resistance would be in the bridge position since the greater resistance (wire gauge being equal) would indicate the greater number of turns.

The string vibrations follow a shorter lateral path as you move the sensing from the neck toward the bridge (where they are zero), so the bridge pickups need to have more output to compensate.

If you look at the data on most pickups in a given set, you'll see that the bridge version is virtually always the one with the higher resistance.

[jkemmery]

DOH!
(Slaps Forehead)

I meant to say "bridge" for the one that has the most resistance, not "neck" ...

Thanks ChrisK

[n7188u]

Thank you guys,

I am installing the pickups now and will check resistance and install as recommended.

Chris

[n7188u]

Sure enough, red wired pickup was highest resistance so I placed it in the bridge. Followed by yellow and then white at the neck.

Question: how come the poles in these pickups are all noticeably at different heights? I presume that this is done to alter the tone characteristics of the guitar (some string will sustain more or less or have more volume, etc).

Chris