/ Register

  1. Win a Broadcaster or one of 3 Teles! The annual Supporting Member Giveaway is on. To enter Click Here. To see all the prizes and full details Click Here. To view the thread about the giveaway Click Here.

HELP: What Is The Yellow Neck Pickup Wire For??? (Telecaster)

Discussion in 'Tele-Technical' started by Tele907, Jan 17, 2021.

Tags:
  1. Jan 17, 2021 #1
    Tele907

    Tele907 TDPRI Member

    Age:
    20
    Posts:
    62
    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2020
    Location:
    Alaska
    I jut got some Bootstrap Pretzel Pups (tele), and the neck comes with a yellow wire, along with the standard white and black. I know the white is hot, and the black is ground, but what's the yellow for? Sorry if this is in the wrong sub forum.
     
  2. Jan 17, 2021 #2
    DougM

    DougM Poster Extraordinaire

    Posts:
    6,062
    Joined:
    Jul 5, 2017
    Location:
    Honolulu, HI
    This took me ten seconds to find on their website. yellow is the ground for the neck pickup's cover. So, it should be connected to ground, just like the black wire, if you're using a 3 way switch. If you're using a 4 way, then the white and black go to the switch, and the yellow still goes to ground.
    https://bootstrappickups.com/pages/wiring-colors
     
    Tele907 likes this.
  3. Jan 17, 2021 #3
    Tuxedo Poly

    Tuxedo Poly Tele-Afflicted

    Posts:
    1,996
    Joined:
    Dec 19, 2011
    Location:
    Merseyside UK
    Is the yellow soldered to one of the cover tabs?
    An extra wire on neck pickups is usually a cover ground and makes it earier to use in series wiring.. Pictures of the pickup bottom may help.
     
    Tele907 likes this.
  4. Jan 17, 2021 #4
    Steve Holt

    Steve Holt Friend of Leo's

    Posts:
    2,085
    Joined:
    May 29, 2016
    Location:
    Kansas
    The 4 way switch mods require the neck pickup to have its own ground wire. Take it from me that not having it isn't great.

    So @Bootstrap is just being a really nice guy and throwing it in so everyone has that option. At least that's what I think!
     
    Tele907, Southpaw Tele and bls82261 like this.
  5. Jan 17, 2021 #5
    Tele907

    Tele907 TDPRI Member

    Age:
    20
    Posts:
    62
    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2020
    Location:
    Alaska
    Okay, thanks, I'm a total noob when it comes to this, never even soldered before!
     
    Steve Holt likes this.
  6. Jan 17, 2021 #6
    Addnine

    Addnine Tele-Meister

    Age:
    72
    Posts:
    444
    Joined:
    Nov 28, 2019
    Location:
    New England
    A sep ground wire facilitates phasing mods. You might want to be careful about ground loops when installing the p/u. some do not think this matters, but I do.
     
    Tele907 likes this.
  7. Jan 17, 2021 #7
    Tele907

    Tele907 TDPRI Member

    Age:
    20
    Posts:
    62
    Joined:
    Dec 1, 2020
    Location:
    Alaska
    UPDATE: Welp, installed the PU's in a little less than an hour, was really easy, and they sound great, I just soldered the Cover Ground (yellow) together with the normal black ground, then shrink wrapped over it. Came out clean, and tidy! Thanks, everyone for the help.
     
    medownsouth likes this.
  8. Jan 17, 2021 #8
    medownsouth

    medownsouth Tele-Holic Gold Supporter

    Posts:
    811
    Joined:
    Feb 22, 2020
    Location:
    Tri State, MS
    Lol, don't feel bad - I asked the same thing when I got my first set.
     
    Tele907 likes this.
IMPORTANT: Treat everyone here with respect, no matter how difficult!
No sex, drug, political, religion or hate discussion permitted here.