Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

[SunIsLoco]

Are the screw vs slug coil wires different on P-Rails vs standard SD humbuckers?

EDIT: Specifically, I'm asking about the color coding. I'm working off of several diagrams, some for P-Rails, some not, and want to make sure I don't confuse myself combining them.

In this diagram, red/green are for the screw coil (outer), and black/white for stud (inner):


But in this one, as well as in others showing P-Rails wiring, red/green are for the rail (inner), and black/white for the P90 (outer):

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

The first diagram is showing a bridge pickup, so the wiring color code is the same.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

The wiring is the same for bridge and neck - slug is black and white, screw is red and green

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

You have it backward. Adjustable coil is black and white, slug coil is red and green.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

Black and white is always the screw coil and South up, even on P90s.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

To the OP:

The answer to your question is both "yes" and "no."

Your second diagram is missing an EXTREMELY important piece of information that was in a note on the bottom of the page. I was having trouble getting the diagram to come up for me on the S-D site, but fortunately I had downloaded a copy a couple of years ago when I bought my own set of P-Rails:

The answer is that they still split to the same PHYSICAL orientation (top and bottom) that we’re all used to with S-D pickups... red & white to ground gives you the slug (rail) coil and to hot gives you the screw (P-90) coil. The difference is that the neck pickup is wound in a reversed MAGNETIC orientation from what we’re used to... the screw (P-90) coil is NORTH and the slug (rail) coil is SOUTH.

[TABLE="class: grid, width: 500, align: center"]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"][/TD]
[TD="align: center"]Normal
S-D
Pickups[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]P-Rails[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]neck


bridge[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]screw
slug
----------
slug
screw[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]screw
slug
---------
slug
screw[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]neck


bridge[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]red & green
black & white
---------
black & white
red & green
[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]red & green
black & white
---------
black & white
red & green[/TD]
[/TR]
[TR]
[TD="align: center"]neck


bridge[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]South
North
----------
North
South[/TD]
[TD="align: center"]North
South
---------
North
South[/TD]
[/TR]
[/TABLE]

​

This, I believe, is the cause of the confusion (and for good reason). I remember puzzling over it myself a couple of years ago. They were designed to give hum-canceling when using the same coil types.

PS: I tried to attach the full pdf I have but it's too big. If you (or anyone else) wants it just send me a PM with your real email address and I'll happily send it to you.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

You have it backward. Adjustable coil is black and white, slug coil is red and green.

Then that first diagram is wrong. It shows the black and white coil active (the red and green wires are shorted to ground) when the pup is in split mode. And it says that "the SLUG (inner) coil is turned on in split mode". It also shows the adjustable coil (red and green) on when the black and white wires are shorted to ground. What am I missing?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

Then that first diagram is wrong. It shows the black and white coil active (the red and green wires are shorted to ground) when the pup is in split mode. And it says that "the SLUG (inner) coil is turned on in split mode". It also shows the adjustable coil (red and green) on when the black and white wires are shorted to ground. What am I missing?

Hmm maybe I have it backward; or the first diagram is not right, given many recent experiences with the web site diagrams. I'll have to dig out all my old diagrams when I get home.

 

[SunIsLoco]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

Oh man, I totally missed that about the P-rails, that would make sense! Thanks, BriGuy.

For posterity, I found here the official wires: https://www.seymourduncan.com/faqs/what-are-your-humbucker-wiring-color-codes

Green and red are start and finish of screw coil
Black and white are start and finish of stud coil

 

[dystrust]

Re: Are wire colors different on P-Rails?

Hmm maybe I have it backward; or the first diagram is not right, given many recent experiences with the web site diagrams. I'll have to dig out all my old diagrams when I get home.

You had it backwards. The standard SD diagrams split to the slug coil which is black/white.