Pickups with single-conductor braided hookup wire

[pk317]

Hi guys,
I have two questions about it. 
In one of the guitars I have Seymour Duncan Phat Cat and it has this single-conductor braided hookup wire. I want to change the wiring in this guitar a bit, but the wire is too short.
1. Can I just extend it by regular wires? Like if I solder one extension wire to the center wire (that would be hot), and another one to the outside braiding (that would be ground).
2. If it's possible, can I just then treat this pickup as a 2-wired one? Let's say for phase or series parallel switch.
Thanks.

[newey]

Apr 3, 2022 13:06:15 GMT -5 pk317 said:

1. Can I just extend it by regular wires? Like if I solder one extension wire to the center wire (that would be hot), and another one to the outside braiding (that would be ground).

Yes.

2. If it's possible, can I just then treat this pickup as a 2-wired one? Let's say for phase or series parallel switch.

Maybe. If the pickup is uncovered, then yes, you should be fine. If it has a metal cover, then the braided shield is likely wired to ground that cover, as well as providing the negative pickup signal connection. That can cause issues with out-of phase wiring, since flipping the switch then makes the cover "hot", whihc will likey be noisy. It can also potentially mess with series/parallel switching as well, depending on the specific scheme being used.

[pk317]

Clear, thanks.

[reTrEaD]

Apr 3, 2022 15:41:02 GMT -5 newey said:

2. If it's possible, can I just then treat this pickup as a 2-wired one? Let's say for phase or series parallel switch.

Maybe. If the pickup is uncovered, then yes, you should be fine. If it has a metal cover, then the braided shield is likely wired to ground that cover, as well as providing the negative pickup signal connection. That can cause issues with out-of phase wiring, since flipping the switch then makes the cover "hot", whihc will likey be noisy. It can also potentially mess with series/parallel switching as well, depending on the specific scheme being used.

newey , the Seymour Duncan Phat Cat is a single coil pickup similar to a P-90 but in a HB form factor. It has a metal cover but that's not the only reason I'd strongly recommend against using this out-of-phase.

The baseplate is connected to the outer braid of the cable so that makes it (and the outer braid) exposed to hum if connected out-of-phase.

To further complicate the issue, the outer braid is bare. It doesn't have plastic insulation covering it. That means if it comes in contact with cavity shielding, when switched out-of-phase, the braid (which is now connected to hot) will short the signal to ground.

[pk317]

reTrEaD, thank you, makes sense.

Follow up question though - let's assume I have a possibility to separate cover ground. Then I will just have hot wire, braided shield, that will be a ground for a coil, and additional wire as ground for a cover. And I put some insulation on the braided shield, so if it touches anything, it won't short signal to ground. As far as I see, then it will be no problem with out of phase and other mods, right? Or is there something I haven't thought of?

Thanks

[newey]

let's assume I have a possibility to separate cover ground. Then I will just have hot wire, braided shield, that will be a ground for a coil, and additional wire as ground for a cover. And I put some insulation on the braided shield, so if it touches anything, it won't short signal to ground. As far as I see, then it will be no problem with out of phase and other mods, right? Or is there something I haven't thought of?

True, if you can separate those connections. But keep the braided shield as the cover ground and use a separate insulated wire for the pickup negative, just easier to do it that way.

[pk317]

Good point, thanks newey