Strat pickup saving

Hi there, I am trying to install some old fender strat pickups, however...

The wires have been cut very close to the pickups themselves, both of the wires.

1. Can I use plain old wire and solder it to get more length, or does one or both of the pickup wires have special components and need special wire?

2. Also, I'm not sure if all of these pickups work, without any fancy electronics, is there a way to find out if a pickup works before wiring it all up?

3. And finally, the pickup wires are blue and white for the neck and middle PU, and red and white for the bridge. Does this mean the neck and middle are identical?

4. Also, which color wires go the the volume pot and which go to the selector?

Thanks a lot, I know I sound like a total newbie but I am! I've tried to find out all of this on my own research but some other opinions and perspectives would really be great.

Any wire will work, 22 awg is a good one.

If you don't have a ohm meter you could just use jumper test leads (before you solder new wire on) and hook the wires up temporary and plug the guitar to an amp and tap on the pickups with a paper clip. You wouldn't have to mount them or anything just do one at a time.

N&M, identical hard to say if the wire color is just a coincidence. Can you check the resistance reading? Sometimes N&M pickups are the same and the bridge is different.

Oh and you said # 3 was "and finally" but being the nice guy that I am I'll answer # 4 :lol:

I would guess the whites go the ground (back of the volume pot) and the colors are the positive ( to selector)



And not that this means anything but I never heard of FENDER using those colors ??

Don't sweat being a newbie, we are ALL newbie's in something !

One more thing, If you find out who cut those wires so close, SLAP 'em in the back of the head !

One more thing, If you find out who cut those wires so close, SLAP 'em in the back of the head !

+1
I just bought a PRS CE 22 with EMGs 81 and 85(sucked for me, too hot) in it. He did include the original pickups and 5-way rotery switch, but the A$$ that installed the pups cut the flippin' wires WAY too short to EVER put back without splicing. Biggest PITA I have EVER dealt with. Don't these guys own a soldering iron? How the crap do they plan on putting the new pups in? Superglue????:!:

Bone heads !! It never ceases to amaze me the total lack of common sense some people have. Let's all line up, the stupid parade is startin !

If any of you ever did any fence work and have one of these laying around, maybe you could loan it to these guys.

Wire Stretcher