Newbie here, wound my first pickup, a few questions

[jessejames]

Hello all,
Glad to have found a forum for this exact purpose, winding pickups!
Yesterday I wound a humbucker for a guitar, I wound it counter clock wise, did 8000 turns with 43 awg wire, my resistances were 8.29 and 8.59 between the coils.
I wired it using the same color codes as a seymour duncan, that way I could use their wiring diagrams, I also placed the magnet to where the screws are north and the pole pieces are south.
My question is, when I put my red and white wires together (grounds) and my green and black (leads) I only got 4.19 resistance. I was under the impression that it should have been 16k resistance together, did I do something wrong? or is this normal?

I did wire the pickup in and play it, it is very very hot, however it has very little bass response and tons of highs and mids. Which I was expecting wrapping that many times, but to have little to no bass response is off.

[big_teee]

Hi Jesse:

Typically the coils are wound CCW, I think you said you did that.
The North side of the magnet typically goes to the slug side of the coil.
Wiring Diagram
Each of the 4 colored wires tie to the associated start or finish of the 2 coils.(See Chart)
T
**edit the chart below shows how the polarity works.
The colors are Dimarzio, you can sub your Seymour Duncan colors
Attachment 19125

[Tom Phillips]

...My question is, when I put my red and white wires together (grounds) and my green and black (leads) I only got 4.19 resistance. I was under the impression that it should have been 16k resistance together, did I do something wrong? or is this normal?...

That is not normal so...yes, you did something wrong. Specifically, the 4.19k Ohm reading indicates that the coils are wired in parallel rather than in series like the diagram that Big_Teee posted.

[copperheadroads]

Hello all,

My question is, when I put my red and white wires together (grounds) and my green and black (leads) I only got 4.19 resistance. I was under the impression that it should have been 16k resistance together, did I do something wrong? or is this normal?

You solder your white & red together (which should be your finish wires but depending of direction there wound )they are soldered together & taped but not grounded & your start wire of your screw coil wire(green) is grounded & your start wire of you slug coil (black) is you hot wire

[jessejames]

That is not normal so...yes, you did something wrong. Specifically, the 4.19k Ohm reading indicates that the coils are wired in parallel rather than in series like the diagram that Big_Teee posted.

How might one go about wiring the pickup in series? I did all the things the instructions provided, so, where I messed up I dont know.

[jessejames]

I should also say I have tried every possible wiring combination, no matter what I do I still end up with 4k resistance when I put them together

[big_teee]

I should also say I have tried every possible wiring combination, no matter what I do I still end up with 4k resistance when I put them together

Start at the pickup.
Make sure none of the 4 wires are shorted together on either end.
You may have to take them loose and start over.
If you read from black to white, do you get your 8+k?
If you read from red to green do you get your 8+k?
if so tie the white and red together.
then read with the multi-meter, from black to green, and you should get the 16+k.
Check that and see what your getting.
It sounds like you may have a coil shorted to ground.
Check please and report back.
T

[JCrab]

I use this as a easy guide. oops,, BigT already posted this,, but just in case you missed it
Wiring Diagram

[big_teee]

I use this as a easy guide.
Wiring Diagram

That one and some more have been posted.
He has something shorted, I bet he will find it.
I've had to take everything all apart and start over before.
Also with 4 wires in the pickup connected, it is easy to get one under a bobbin or squashed somewhere.
Make sure none of the 4 wires are common to ground, until you connect the green to ground.
T
This pic shows the series connection.
It shows tying the inside start leads, winders normally tie the finish leads together.
Attachment 19135

[jessejames]

Well I went ahead and tore it all apart, checked the wires, in the process one of the leads on the slug side came completely off, so I had to rewrap it, so the new resistance is 7k as you will see.
So here is the slug side, as you can see 7k resistance


Here is the screw side, 8k resistance


However you wire them together in series , just about 4k resistance. Nothing to shortout against anything, so I have no idea what's going on.

[big_teee]

Hi Jesse:
It appears that you have the 2 coils wired in parallel.
You want the two coils in series.
Try this.
Just like you have them.
Wire the two Whites together.
Then read from one black of one coil to the other black of the other coil.
It should read 15-16k Ohms.
Good Luck,
Terry

[big_teee]

Here is a simple picture that shows tying the two coils together.
Attachment 19136
this show's tying the starts together.
We normally tie the finish leads together, but you get the idea.
T

[copperheadroads]

Like I already said, tie you finish wires together & touch each end of the start wires with your meter
Just like T is saying

[jessejames]

Hi Jesse:
It appears that you have the 2 coils wired in parallel.
You want the two coils in series.
Try this.
Just like you have them.
Wire the two Whites together.
Then read from one black of one coil to the other black of the other coil.
It should read 15-16k Ohms.
Good Luck,
Terry

Okay, here it is with the white wires together and touching one of the blacks


And same thing, other black


And when you wire both blacks together, same 4k resistance as before.

[big_teee]

hook your meter back up like picture one.
It will measure 7.27k.
Now take the clip lead off the 2 whites, and connect it to the other black lead.
You want to read from black of one bobbin to the black of the other bobbin.
It should read 15+k if you measure from black to black with the 2 whites wired together.
Don't tie the 2 blacks together, that is why you are reading the 4k instead of 16k.
Good Luck,
T

[jessejames]

hook your meter back up like picture one.
It will measure 7.27k.
Now take the clip lead off the 2 whites, and connect it to the other black lead.
You want to read from black of one bobbin to the black of the other bobbin.
It should read 15+k if you measure from black to black with the 2 whites wired together.
Don't tie the 2 blacks together, that is why you are reading the 4k instead of 16k.
Good Luck,
T

Thanks teee!
I finally got it right thanks to you and went ahead and wired it in. I fear I have wrapped the bobbin too loose as this pickup has a very reduced bass response, and searing mids and highs, not what I was going for, but for a first pickup, it will do, I did one for the neck too that does pretty well with the bass response, I wrapped it 5000 times with 42awg wire. I thought they were wrapping tight but I guess not.
In anyones experience have they noticed an increase in bass response with wax potting?

[big_teee]

Thanks teee!
I finally got it right thanks to you and went ahead and wired it in. I fear I have wrapped the bobbin too loose as this pickup has a very reduced bass response, and searing mids and highs, not what I was going for, but for a first pickup, it will do, I did one for the neck too that does pretty well with the bass response, I wrapped it 5000 times with 42awg wire. I thought they were wrapping tight but I guess not.
In anyones experience have they noticed an increase in bass response with wax potting?

Now that you have the Series circuit figured out, lets talk polarity.
I think you said the black lead was the start of each bobbin, and white was finish lead.
If you are using the 4 wire hookup, you do not tie the 2 whites together.
one would be tied to a white cable lead, the other would go to red.
Like the Duncan layout I sent you.
Also both bobbins would need to be wound in the same direction, I think you said CCW.
Attachment 19145
double check and make sure your like the attachment.
T

[copperheadroads]

17 post later
Just razzing you ,I'm glad you figured it out Jesse

[big_teee]

How About it JesseJames?
How is it going?
Are you Winning, or Gaining on it?
T

[SonnyW]

Thanks teee!
I finally got it right thanks to you and went ahead and wired it in. I fear I have wrapped the bobbin too loose as this pickup has a very reduced bass response, and searing mids and highs, not what I was going for, but for a first pickup, it will do, I did one for the neck too that does pretty well with the bass response, I wrapped it 5000 times with 42awg wire. I thought they were wrapping tight but I guess not.
In anyones experience have they noticed an increase in bass response with wax potting?

I have seen the resonant peak drop a little sometimes after wax potting, which is going in that direction at least. But to my ears I didn't hear much more bass.

[jessejames]

How About it JesseJames?
How is it going?
Are you Winning, or Gaining on it?
T

Not on the bass response, the one I did for the neck, which only has 7k resistance total is very bright and has low bass response as well. Best I can figure I wrapped them loose or didn't wrap them evenly enough.

[big_teee]

Not on the bass response, the one I did for the neck, which only has 7k resistance total is very bright and has low bass response as well. Best I can figure I wrapped them loose or didn't wrap them evenly enough.

Check this.
take something steel and go across each 6 screws, and 6 slug poles.
If you don't have the bar evenly charged, maybe the gauss is weak on one end.
I have done that before, and All that is needed is to recharge the Alnico bar with the NEOs.
Make sure you steel is big enough you can get an idea of the gauss strength.
Who knows, you may have a gauss meter, if you do that's even better.
Good Luck,
T

[jessejames]

Check this.
take something steel and go across each 6 screws, and 6 slug poles.
If you don't have the bar evenly charged, maybe the gauss is weak on one end.
I have done that before, and All that is needed is to recharge the Alnico bar with the NEOs.
Make sure you steel is big enough you can get an idea of the gauss strength.
Who knows, you may have a gauss meter, if you do that's even better.
Good Luck,
T

I will try that, however I am about 100% sure it's due to the quality of the wraps on there, both pickups have the same problem, no bass response, I bought both of the kits new from stewmac, the one where I wrapped both bobbins 8000 times I put the alnico 5 in, the one where I wrapped both bobbins 5000 times I put the alnico 2 in. I have tried flipping the magnet and pole orientations and I still get the same sound.
However, they both sound almost exactly the same in the bridge position, so I am really thinking it is a problem with my wrapping, I thought it was tight enough, I had tension on the wire the entire time and I was using a schatten pickup winder, so I am not sure where I went wrong.

[big_teee]

I will try that, however I am about 100% sure it's due to the quality of the wraps on there, both pickups have the same problem, no bass response, I bought both of the kits new from stewmac, the one where I wrapped both bobbins 8000 times I put the alnico 5 in, the one where I wrapped both bobbins 5000 times I put the alnico 2 in. I have tried flipping the magnet and pole orientations and I still get the same sound.
However, they both sound almost exactly the same in the bridge position, so I am really thinking it is a problem with my wrapping, I thought it was tight enough, I had tension on the wire the entire time and I was using a schatten pickup winder, so I am not sure where I went wrong.

So are both pickups wound with 43 Gauge.
Normally Neck pickups are wound with 42 Gauge.
So what Ohms DCR did the neck come out to with the 43 wire?
5000 turns should be around 9600-10000 Ohms DCR.
Is that about what you came out with?
T

[jessejames]

So are both pickups wound with 43 Gauge.
Normally Neck pickups are wound with 42 Gauge.
So what Ohms DCR did the neck come out to with the 43 wire?
5000 turns should be around 9600-10000 Ohms DCR.
Is that about what you came out with?
T

The neck one (the one with 5000 wraps per bobbin) is 42 gauge wire, DCR came out to 7.8k total with it

Bridge had 8000 wraps per bobbin with 43 gauge wire and DCR came out to 16k total

[big_teee]

The neck one (the one with 5000 wraps per bobbin) is 42 gauge wire, DCR came out to 7.8k total with it

Bridge had 8000 wraps per bobbin with 43 gauge wire and DCR came out to 16k total

Maybe someone else has some Ideas for Jesse to try, to get stronger bass.
T

[copperheadroads]

Describe what's wrong with the bass ? dull & muddy or mushy or is that neck pickup flubby ......
also have you noticed any flaring in the bobbin ?

[David Schwab]

Not on the bass response, the one I did for the neck, which only has 7k resistance total is very bright and has low bass response as well. Best I can figure I wrapped them loose or didn't wrap them evenly enough.

Is it thin sounding with no low end? You have them wired out of phase. Swap the leads on one coil.

If you wind both coils in the same direction, then you wire them up start to start, or finish to finish.

If you wire them in opposite directions you wire them up start to finish, or finish to start.

Most commercial humbuckers are wound in the same direction for both coils.

Also in your photos above you are checking them wired in parallel. Connect the two white wires (or a white and black) together. Test the two remaining leads! Do not connect both sets of wires together.