Start and finish on gibson BB ?? help!

[rosssurf]

I have a Gibson BB#1 that is single conductor. I wish to convert it to 4 conductor.
Can someone tell me if the white or black is the start for each coil?

[big_teee]

STEWMAC.COM : Instructions for Humbucker Kit
Look at chart at end of instructions of stewmac kit.
It is probably like this kit.
I tore into a SD jazz today and it was like that black start and white is finish.
Terry

[copperheadroads]

the PAFs had a black start wire
STEWMAC.COM : Instructions for Humbucker Lead Wires
according to this
i know its not a bb

[copperheadroads]

DOH

[SonnyW]

If it has one of the leads threaded through the bottom of the bobbin, that's probably the start of each coil. I don't have any Burstbuckers but all of the other Gibson pickups I have examined such as T-tops and Classic 57's had a black start wire threaded through the bottom of the bobbin and a white or black end wire that was shorter and the splice of the two outside leads was tucked in between the bobbins.

[RedHouse]

They do have the start wire coming through the hole in the bottom, but it's weird the way they do it.

Here's a BB3:

[big_teee]

They do have the start wire coming through the hole in the bottom, but it's weird the way they do it.

Here's a BB3:

Brad that coil looks like it has the dark plain enamel wire, like they advertise.
Did you check DCR on That BB3? Is it mismatched like they say they do?
Terry

[rosssurf]

The wire on my BB#1 does not go through the bottom. i am going to assume the black is the start. Thanks for the hlp fella's

[big_teee]

The wire on my BB#1 does not go through the bottom. i am going to assume the black is the start. Thanks for the hlp fella's

If yours is 2 wire.
The wire grounded would be a start lead of one bobbin.
The wire tied to center of push back wire would be the start lead of other coil.
The 2 wires tied together of both coils would be the finish wire of each coil.
Terry

[RedHouse]

Brad that coil looks like it has the dark plain enamel wire, like they advertise.
Did you check DCR on That BB3? Is it mismatched like they say they do?
Terry

Checking my notes I see the BB3 was 8.95K
(screw coil 4.4K, slug coil 4.54K)

I also had BB1 & BB2 on my bench same day as the BB3, they were:

BB1 pickup was 7.9K
(screw coil 3.92K, slug coil 3.98K)

BB2 pickup was 8.38K
(screw coil 4.16K, slug coil 4.22K)

The 1 & 2 were not wax potted like the 3 was, the 1 & 2 came out of a 2003 R9, while the BB3 was said to be purchased as a pickup (not in a guitar) which is interesting because I have heared that all the BB's were wax potted but the 1 & 2 I had on my bench were not potted.

All three were just like the pic I posted earlier where the wire goes through the bottom but is wrapped after the wind, year was 2004.

The wire looks dark but I'm not convinced it's PE, I'm suspitious it's SPN that has been dyed.

[madialex]

They do have the start wire coming through the hole in the bottom, but it's weird the way they do it.

Here's a BB3:

The picture you posted looks like they took the finish wire after the coil was attached to the lead and ran it through the hole. Weird way of doing it for sure, but that wire you are showing is definitely the finish wire not the start.

[David Schwab]

The wire looks dark but I'm not convinced it's PE, I'm suspitious it's SPN that has been dyed.

The color of the insulation has nothing to do with what kind of insulation it is. You can get SPN in any color you like, including black, which is what that is.

[SonnyW]

The picture you posted looks like they took the finish wire after the coil was attached to the lead and ran it through the hole. Weird way of doing it for sure, but that wire you are showing is definitely the finish wire not the start.

Here's a the other coil of a 57 Classic that I unwound had the start lead wire coming through the hole and back out. Then the magnet wire was soldered to the part that came back out and taped back down to the outside of the coil. The finish wire was soldered and taped over outside of that. I know it isn't a BB, but I think this is a method that Gibson used a lot. The patent sticker T-tops I have look the same way. Wierd, yes, but it does make for a more rugged coil.

[RedHouse]

Here's a the other coil of a 57 Classic that I unwound had the start lead wire coming through the hole and back out. Then the magnet wire was soldered to the part that came back out and taped back down to the outside of the coil. The finish wire was soldered and taped over outside of that. I know it isn't a BB, but I think this is a method that Gibson used a lot. The patent sticker T-tops I have look the same way. Wierd, yes, but it does make for a more rugged coil.

Yep, that's the (weird) way they're doing it. It's like they stuck the black wire through and taped off to the side along with the end of the winding wire, then soldered and taped things up later. Maybe that way the winder operator doesn't have to have soldering skills.

It makes for a weird lump on the end of the coil.

The color of the insulation has nothing to do with what kind of insulation it is. You can get SPN in any color you like, including black, which is what that is.

Yeah I know David, the color's not the reason I think it's SPN, it's because you can solder it very easily w/o scrapeing/sanding the insulation off, it reminds me of SPN (and probably dyed to look like it does)

Didn't you post a pic a while back of a roll of Electrisola SPN dyed black (or dark purple)?

[David Schwab]

Yeah I know David, the color's not the reason I think it's SPN, it's because you can solder it very easily w/o scrapeing/sanding the insulation off, it reminds me of SPN (and probably dyed to look like it does)

That was my point. They are using black SPN so it looks like PE.

Didn't you post a pic a while back of a roll of Electrisola SPN dyed black (or dark purple)?

I think I may have. I only have red and clear myself.