Telecaster Guitar Forum - View Single Post - Wiring a humbucker w/4-way switch

Deaf Eddie · May 26th, 2009, 11:53 AM

The options are the same, but there are possible issues with a P90. If it's a three-conductor P90, no issues. If it has a vintage style braided shield lead, big issues.

The braided shield in those pickups is not only the ground conductor, it's the coil's negative conductor. Any series or phase options would put that braided shield - and all the metal parts of the pickup, including baseplate, magnet, mounting screws - on the hot side of the circuit. Since that pup has a PLASTIC cover, that at least doesn't add to the problem.

A common band-aide is to run the length of the lead through some heat shrink tubing to insulate it from touching anything in the control cavity. However, with all that metal on the wrong side of the circuit, this mod may be susceptible to unwanted noise and hum.

May 26th, 2009, 11:53 AM	#28 (permalink)
Deaf Eddie Tele-Afflicted Join Date: Mar 2003 Location: Sunny San Diego, CA Posts: 1,740 14 Photos	The options are the same, but there are possible issues with a P90. If it's a three-conductor P90, no issues. If it has a vintage style braided shield lead, big issues. The braided shield in those pickups is not only the ground conductor, it's the coil's negative conductor. Any series or phase options would put that braided shield - and all the metal parts of the pickup, including baseplate, magnet, mounting screws - on the hot side of the circuit. Since that pup has a PLASTIC cover, that at least doesn't add to the problem. A common band-aide is to run the length of the lead through some heat shrink tubing to insulate it from touching anything in the control cavity. However, with all that metal on the wrong side of the circuit, this mod may be susceptible to unwanted noise and hum. __________________ YMMV - I been wrong before...