Pickup Wiring

seanvox

Bought a 60s Kay E200 recently enough, the previous owner replaced the original black pickguard with a metal one, so my first plan was to get rid of this

While disconnecting the pickup from the pickguard, one of the wires (green) broke off. Each of the two single coil pickups have three wires going into them, green, red and black.

I carefully opened the pickup but could not see where the green wire broke off.

I will more than likely have to bring this to a professional to get sorted but just wondering if anyone here would have any input before I fork out my cash

Thanks in advance

fguihen

scour the web for a wiring diagram. there are tons available, and you could find one for your model of guitar.

failing that, take it to a specialist. Soldering in new pickups is easy.....for some folks, but others just dont have the diy nack. i know as this is what i ended up doing.

seanvox

I'd be totally confident soldering it, its just that I can't actually where the wire needs to actually physically attached to, there is no obvious place

Darkstrike

Uh, can you check the other pickup?

Paolo_M

A single coil with three wires? Maybe a tap for reduced level output...if so the ground wire (usually black) is as normal and the other two probably go to a switch or push pull pot.
Darkstrike makes a good point, the clue is probably right in front of you.
If you can throw up a picture we can work it out for you.

A7X

Darkstrike wrote: »

Uh, can you check the other pickup?

This. Also, I don't understand how it just broke off? If you can't see where it broke off from the whole wire must have come out somehow.
Pic's are needed.

On the brightside, this probably saved ya trouble in the future if the wire just broke off that easily.

Darkstrike

A7X wrote: »

This. Also, I don't understand how it just broke off? If you can't see where it broke off from the whole wire must have come out somehow.

I've seen it happen before, the wire weakens just after the solder joint, while swapping a pickguard, as the OP was doing, they can just pop right off.

A rare occurence, but it does happen.

A7X

Darkstrike wrote: »

I've seen it happen before, the wire weakens just after the solder joint, while swapping a pickguard, as the OP was doing, they can just pop right off.

A rare occurence, but it does happen.

But from what I gather its broke off from inside the pick-up. Am I right?

I'd love to see pics of this.

Darkstrike

A7X wrote: »

But from what I gather its broke off from inside the pick-up. Am I right?

I'd love to see pics of this.

This is what he said, but the leads don't really go "inside" the pickup, like you, I'd love pics.

seanvox

Thanks everyone for their replies, was waiting until I got home to get pictures to post

Yeah it broke off from inside the pickup as you will see below

I am reluctant to open up the other pickup because as you'll see in the photo below I had to bend the broken pickup's case just to get at the insides, so this would really be a last resort

Paolo_M

Sorry, I mis understood your thread.
If I was a betting man I'd say the green wire was attached to the big glob of solder on the pick up cover and was wired to ground to use the case as a shield.
Why did you clip the wires?

Darkstrike

Onto this solder joint. It's a ground for the pickup casing, to prevent hum.




EDIT: Aha, beat by Paolo M.

Paolo_M

You gotta be quick 'round here!!!

Darkstrike

Paolo_M wrote: »

You gotta be quick 'round here!!!

I notice!:D

But I did hand draw a detailed diagram....:pac:

seanvox

Thanks a million everyone, I was real confused with the three wires but it was so obvious!
Had to snip the wires because the pickups sit on top of the pickguard rather than go through it, a strangse design but sounds fine!

Thanks again