StewMac Humbucker Pickup Wiring Diagrams
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Understanding the color-coded leads
Humbuckers have two coils, with opposite magnetic polarity (North/South facing up). The two ends of each coil wire are connected to the Start lead and the Finish lead. The fifth lead is a bare ground wire (some humbuckers do not have this fifth lead).
Series-linked coils: humbucking
Standard humbucking wiring: solder the red and white leads.
Parallel wiring: stand-alone coils
Allows access to each coil independently, for custom options using a switch.
Standard two-humbucker wiring
HH + 3W + 2V2T
Independent pickup volumes
To blend the pickups independently, swap the wires from the pickups and the switch where they connect to the volume pot. This solves the problem in the middle position of the switch where turning down one volume control affects both pickups.
Single-coil / Single-coil / Humbucker
SSH + 5W + VT
Humbucker / Single-coil / Humbucker
HSH + 5W + VT
Setting your pickup height
Humbuckers are usually set closer to the strings than single-coils because they have less of a focused magnetic pull.
Start with about 3/32" between the Low-E polepiece and the bottom of the string when fretted at the highest fret, and a 1/16" gap for the High-E string. Raise or lower the heights of the neck and bridge pickups to find the tone/volume balance you like best.
