One to Four...

[pinto79]

Hello.

I'm hoping someone here has an answer:

I have an older Pearly Gates Bridge model that is single conductor and I would like to change it to a four conductor. I have a length of the proper wire, but I need to know of any potential pit-falls to watch out for and also what colour goes to which end of each coil.

Any info would be great!

Thank you in advance!

Trevor

 

[theodie]

Re: One to Four...

This can be a bit of a tricky mod. I have done a few of them and things inside the pickup can be fragile. Its easy for the wires to pull out of the coil and its easy to over heat things. I belive you can send them to Duncan to have it done for around $20 a pickup. I would actually recomend sending them to Duncan to have it done. Its a pain in the butt in my opinion. BTW,

I would like to give you a warm welcome to the Forum!!!!!

 

[Artie]

Re: One to Four...

I second what theodie said. It can be a . . . you know.

If you absolutely want to try it yourself, take notes.

The cable that you're calling a single conductor is actually two. Its co-axial, with one wire inside the other. Carefully disassemble the humbucker by removing the four brass screws on the bottom. You'll have to carefully remove the black tape first.

Take note of which wire attaches to the outside braid, and label that as "green". Take note of which wire goes to the small center conductor and label that "black". There will be two more small wires soldered together. Carefully unsolder them from each other. The wire thats on the same coil with the one you labelled "green", gets labelled "red". The wire thats on the same coil as the one you labelled "black", gets labelled "white".

Now, just carefully resolder new wires to the ones labelled green, red, white, and black, insulate them, and carefully reassemble the whole thing.

Notice how the word "carefully" is in almost every sentence.

Good luck.

 

[pinto79]

Re: One to Four...

Well, Thanks to both of you guys. I decided that if I can re-build aircraft instruments, I can modify a pickup. I have a DiMarzio PAF lying around that had the old 2 conductor plus ground that was reading about 3K ohm. I took it apart, and with the help of www.guitarelectronics.com I was able to attach a 4 conductor cable to it. It now reads 8.65K ohms and I will be testing it soon.

So with success there, I tried the PG... and... SUCCESS!!!

If anyone wants this work done... I only charge $20 Canadian

Thanks again!

Trevor

 

[Artie]

Re: One to Four...

Hey Trevor; Glad it worked out for you. I work in avionics also. In fact, we're heading up to Cold Lake, just above Edmonton here next month to work on a piece of equipment that the Canadian Air Force bought from us. We still maintain it, though.

I want to check out that huge mall in Edmonton. I hear they have submarine rides. :laugh2:

 

[Inge Malmstein]

Re: One to Four...

If you simply want to split the Pickup, you must add only ONE wire, at the point where the two wires of each coil are soldered togehter.
I've done this a few times, and it works.

 

[pinto79]

Re: One to Four...

I want to check out that huge mall in Edmonton. I hear they have submarine rides. :laugh2:

Last I heard it's still the biggest in the world... there is a theme park inside too, with a Roller Coaster.


I was thinking after I finished, I should have swapped slug coils from the two pups... then I would have had a zebra and a reverse zebra dual resonance Seymour DiMarzio pickups....

That's a project for another day!

Thanks for all the help guys!

Trevor