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Parallel is when two pickups are combined, either by a switch or other device. When using a 5-way lever switch on a Stratocaster, the number two position normally puts the bridge and middle pickup together in a parallel connection. The ground wire of each pickup is soldered to the outside of the volume control and…

Use a rosin core solder used for electrical purposes such as 60/40 that melts at 370 degrees Fahrenheit. Never use acid core solder that is used for plumbing. Silver solder is not recommended and is normally used for jewelry. I use it for soldering two metal pieces together. You can use solid core 60/40 solder…

I would recommend using a soldering iron instead of a soldering gun. The soldering guns have large coils that can actually demagnetize your pickups. If you use one try plugging your guitar into an amplifier with the volume turned up to about 2 or 3 and listen to the hum generated by the soldering gun….

Basically there are two types of volt-ohm meters that can be used for measuring guitar and bass pickups. I use both analog and digital meters for measuring the DC resistance of pickups. The analog meter is one that has a movable pointer and the digital meters which are more popular now gives you the precise…

Find a qualified repairman and if you take the job on make sure you have and the correct schematics showing how the components are hooked up. Generally faulty wiring can be repaired providing you have the proper tools such wire, solder, switches, screw drivers, nut drivers, contact cleaning solutions and soldering iron to name a…

The most common are cloth braid as used in vintage pickups. It is commonly called “push back” wire and is very durable and is wax coated and sometimes the stranded conductors are tinned. Another similar hookup wire is the cloth braid single conductor with exposed shield braid used for decades on the majority of Gibson…

The sound can short out on single coil pickups if the lead wires from a pickup are reversed. I’ve seen this happen to Fender Mustang guitar that use the phase switch on each pickup. This happens when the covers are removed or replaced with pickups with exposed pole pieces. The coil windings can short out…

There are many combinations of wiring a typical humbucker using some of these variables. Both coils wound in the same direction: Either clockwise or counter-clockwise. Each coil wound in an opposite direction: One coil wound clockwise and the other wound counter-clockwise. Both coils have the same top magnetic polarity: Both coils have South or both…

Pickup in series is: DC resistance is 8 k ohms. Each coil is 4 k ohms. Pickup split: The DC resistance is 4 k ohms. Using only one 4 k ohm coil. Pickup out of phase with itself: The DC resistance still reads 8 k ohms when the coils are connected in series. Pickup in…

This type of wiring was done on early Duo-Sonics during the late 50’s. This was done with a special toggle switch that would put the two pickups in series. The pickups were also reverse wound and reverse polarity to each other and this combination made the two pickups hum-canceling. This same wiring can be done…