Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Pickups, Pots, Caps, Wiring

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Aquila Rossa
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Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Post by Aquila Rossa »

As per the title, I am am pondering converting my four wire SD WLH set to two wire. The original Gibson pups were two wire and it seemed like I lost something when I pulled them. Is that a thing?

If so, how do i go about it if I decide to do it?

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Re: Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Post by JHorner »

Sounds like wiring gone wrong not a 2/4 thing.

e.g. I have a 4 wire 57 bridge in a les paul and a 2 wire 57 bridge in an Aria.

They both sound similar except that when the coil split is engaged on the 4 wire it sounds neutered.
Last edited by JHorner on Mon Jul 09, 2018 8:39 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Re: Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Post by Aquila Rossa »

There is no major difference here either. I went to lighter strings, so I can't say for sure what is what.

Mostly I just do not like those flimsy little wires that come with modern 4 conductor wire pups. I like the old school braided stuff soldered to the pots. Looking at tutes for converting two wire to four, it seems quite involved, so the reverse probably would be too. Thinking about it because the wires on the neck pup barely reached the pot, so it needs sorting out - so considering which way to go on it seeming as i have to change wires anyway.

p.s. even if I just replace the four wire that are too short now with new stuff, that is new for me and will need pointers.

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Re: Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Post by Aquila Rossa »

found a tute

https://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/the- ... uctor-lead


p.s. somebody on that article is saying four conductor wires for pups are exactly the same as the wires on USB cable. That would be handy if true. i have heaps of those.

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Re: Four Conductor Pickup Wire Down to Two

Post by Single coil »

Won’t be pretty, but, extend the wires you need and away you go.

Iirc duncan join red + white with black as hot and green as ground.
Yeah they’re flimsy, but I mean. Once extended you can pretend it’s 2c :3
werdna wrote:Well at least I can still make toast in the bath without anyone telling me it's unsafe.

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