Scott0 Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 There are 3 wires within the black wiring sheath coming out of the pickup- 1 red wire 1 white wire 1 unshielded I'm figuring the red wire is positive, the unshielded is ground but what's the white wire? The reason I ask is I just rewired a Casino with the original pickups, I didn't solder the white wire to anything, the guitar has very weak output upon checking (both pickups), I am not sure if my soldering wasn't adequate or if I need to solder the white wire also. Any ideas? I've googled for infos but came up nil on this. sample pic Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Scott0, I recently rewired some Epiphone P-90's. They were, however, soapbars. I'm presuming the dogears are the same. Red was North (pos.) White was south Bare was ground. Red went to the volume leg on the potentiometer. White was wrapped with the bare wire and they were (together) sent to ground. As to an actual Epiphone diagram I don't have one. Sorry. I usually throw the original harness out and I've never seen one in print. I did take detailed pics of one with the molex connector. If you would like to see them let me know and I will put them up. Hope this helps, Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Scott0, I recently rewired some Epiphone P-90's. They were, however, soapbars. I'm presuming the dogears are the same. Red was North (pos.) White was south Bare was ground. Red went to the volume leg on the potentiometer. White was wrapped with the bare wire and they were (together) sent to ground. As to an actual Epiphone diagram I don't have one. Sorry. I usually throw the original harness out and I've never seen one in print. I did take detailed pics of one with the molex connector. If you would like to see them let me know and I will put them up. Hope this helps, Willy Willy, this helps a ton. Thank you. I'll pull the volume pots back out and solder the white wires to ground with the bare wires. Do you think this is what the culprit is re: low output? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Scott0, Without the guitar sitting in front of me I have no idea. As to the color codes, I'm just telling you how mine turned out. As to low output....could be a bad solder joint or a failing pot or (less likely) a bad pickup or switch. Have you tested the output on the pickup with a meter when pickup is not connected? The Soapbar came in a bit over 9K. My Gibson P-90's come in just over 8K. If yours come in around that area then I would guess that takes the pickups out of the equation. Regarding everything else, Do you have the harness out of the guitar or are you splicing into existing wires. If it is out of the guitar, You can always connect the pickup wires using rubber bands, tape and/or alligator clips for testing. Wish I could be more help, Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 Appreciated. I'm hoping to avoid pulling the entire harness so I've only pulled the volume pots out to solder. I've got batteries charging now for my multimeter, I'm a bit strung out on AAA batteries and the ones I have available were kaput. While they're charging I'm going to go ahead and resolder everything and check output again. Thanks again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Whitmore Willy Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Scott0, I should have asked right from the beginning. In what way are you getting "low output"? Does the pickup seem to be at fractional volume when you are at 10? Is it cutting out as you adjust the volume controls? Just curious, Willy Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted January 12, 2014 Author Share Posted January 12, 2014 All right All right All right! I've got full output now. w00t w00t! Willy, Thank you. I soldered in the white wire to ground and resoldered both positive connections, after cleaning off a bunch of old solder crud. it's nutty how few strands make up these wires- I counted maybe 7 strands so I'd bet a good solder point it crucial. w00t, super stoked! Willy, the low output was with the volume knobs and tone knobs all turned to 10 and my amp cranked to 10, when I strummed the strings there would be a bit of volume, maybe = to 1 on the amp, then it would just cut out. But all fixed now and I can button this guitar back up! Thanks again, Amigo, you're a gentleman and a scholar! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Eric Koegh Penrod Posted January 12, 2014 Share Posted January 12, 2014 Hey if you or anyone else here is interested there is a pair of Lollar p90's on ebay with the epiphone casino dog ear covers and so far the price is low. I have lollars in a cpl of guitars and they are awesome. Lollars Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWilson Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Willy, this helps a ton. Thank you. I'll pull the volume pots back out and solder the white wires to ground with the bare wires. Do you think this is what the culprit is re: low output? Maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes anyway. I just acquired a Riviera P93 Custom Black Pearl. It has 3 P90s in it, and the accompanying hum. The middle pickup stays on all the time, and you adjust the volume so that it is good to your ears. You say the red wire is North and the White wire is South. Is it possible or do any good to reverse the white and red wires to reduce or eliminate the hum? Thanks Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scott0 Posted January 15, 2014 Author Share Posted January 15, 2014 Maybe this is a stupid question, but here goes anyway. I just acquired a Riviera P93 Custom Black Pearl. It has 3 P90s in it, and the accompanying hum. The middle pickup stays on all the time, and you adjust the volume so that it is good to your ears. You say the red wire is North and the White wire is South. Is it possible or do any good to reverse the white and red wires to reduce or eliminate the hum? Thanks Pete Hey Pete, I don't know. My guess is I don't think that would do it. I've heard about rewinding one of the pickups to offset the hum but have no experience re: that. I did have a riviera for a while but I don't recall it being too terribly noisy with the hum, perhaps I was playing far enough away from the amp, speakers, computer, florescent lights, etc, all of which can contribute to the 60cycle hum. Could any of those be contributing? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PeteWilson Posted January 15, 2014 Share Posted January 15, 2014 Hey Pete, I don't know. My guess is I don't think that would do it. I've heard about rewinding one of the pickups to offset the hum but have no experience re: that. I did have a riviera for a while but I don't recall it being too terribly noisy with the hum, perhaps I was playing far enough away from the amp, speakers, computer, florescent lights, etc, all of which can contribute to the 60cycle hum. Could any of those be contributing? It is not much of a hum, and I am fairly close to the amplifier. I was just wondering if reversing the wires would reverse the polarity. Thanks for the information, I do appreciate it! Pete Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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