hot rails

[lozano71]

i need help finding schematics for a hot rails pickup.i'm running hot rails in the neck position,and a kent armstrong hum in the bridge.i have the wiring diagram for the humbucker ,but not for the hot rails.i want to run both pickups straight through,no phasing or spliting.one pickup three way switch to a volume pot.i just need to know what colorerd wire does what.thanx for the help.

 

[jeremy]

Re: hot rails

welcome to the forum!!

the black wire is the hot wire and goes to the switch
green and bare are grounded
the red and white wires are the series link and should be connected and insulated so as not to contact anything else

 

[Imp]

Re: hot rails

just to add - the two pickups follow different schemes - neither one is wrong, but they are different codes

tom

 

[lozano71]

Re: hot rails

thanx for the advice.both pups have the same colored wires,and the schematics look the same,but is there anything i should be aware of using two differant brands of pickups?thanx again.

 

[Artie]

Re: hot rails

Almost all pickups use the same colors, but are wired differently. Check this chart out:

pickup color codes

Armstrongs aren't listed, but you get the idea. You should try to verify the Armstrong color codes.

Edit: I just checked Armstrong's website, and apparently, he uses black and white for hot and ground respectively. Red and green get soldered together and taped. You then still have the issue of phase. All you can really do there, is wire them up and see how they sound when used together. If they sound weak and tinny when both are on, reverse the black and white of the Armstrong.

 

[lozano71]

Re: hot rails

oh man,the red and white wires came taped together.am i screwed?

 

[Artie]

Re: hot rails

No, just untape them.

Although, its possible that the previous owner had it connected internally in parallel. You may want to go to the Armstrong website yourself, and look over the wiring diagrams. Its a pdf document that you can download, and browse at your leisure.

Artie

 

[lozano71]

Re: hot rails

man,i guess i should double check things,sometimes.the armstrong did'nt even come with any wires taped together.it was my sd hot rails that came together,and it also was the red and white taped together,like you said.

 

[Rev Donzo]

Re: hot rails

Hot Rails was the most WILD--KILLIN'--SCREAMIN"--Fun Lovin pickup to ever grace this old boys test mule Strat...

 

[Imp]

Re: hot rails

man,i guess i should double check things,sometimes.the armstrong did'nt even come with any wires taped together.it was my sd hot rails that came together,and it also was the red and white taped together,like you said.

that's the way it should be on a duncan, means you're not splitting it

tom

 

[lozano71]

Re: hot rails

thanks for helping me out.

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: hot rails

All you can really do there, is wire them up and see how they sound when used together. If they sound weak and tinny when both are on, reverse the black and white of the Armstrong.

Or you could follow the instructions I posted elsewhere for mapping the polarity of the coils and get it right the first time