why 5 PU wires on molex connector 2012 std

[HIghAndDry]

Ok I am seriously considering replacing the bridge burstbucker in my 2012 LP std. What is the 5th wire on the molex connector that connects the pickup to the circuit board? There are the 4 colored wires and a 5th. is it a ground?

 

[jeffy]

I would say ground but I haven't looked at mine closely. Makes sense though since there should be two Starts and two Finishes for each coil.

OK, I opened mine up.

It goes Red, Black, White, Green and then a Braided which must be a ground. Took a decent pic as well since I haven't seen a good clear pic yet.

What are pickups are you thinking of going with?

 

[HIghAndDry]

Thanks. yeah after thinking about it I figured it probably was the ground ala the bare wire on a dimarzio or duncan etc. I think I am goin to put a tone zone in the bridge. why? bcuz I have one and don't have the money to throw down on something else right now. That will be a radical change from the burstbucker but it will give me an idea. My thinking is that since the burstbuckers in that guitar are tapped, when I put the dimarzio in and get the color coding right, I will have a split coil rather than tapped. I am going to make sure by getting a chart that shows which color is start and finish on each coil for Gibson and dimarzio.
I am wondering if I can remove those wires from the molex connector and reuse it. Hope so
thanks for your input

 

[AxeBuilder]

You're better off buying a new Molex connector for $0.23....

 

[jeffy]

You're better off buying a new Molex connector for $0.23....

+1

Those connectors are cheap. You'll need the pins as well. You could even reuse the plug and put pins on the new pickup. There is a plastic tab that you can carefully pull up and slip the pin out.


WRONG INFO

The plugs are Molex Micro-Fit 3.0. 3.0mm Pitch.

I'm not sure if this is the connector but I think it is. The one for earlier Gibson's with the 2-Circuit are 43645-0200. This one is in the same series but with 5-Circuit are 43645-0500.

Molex Connector Part Number - 43645-0500

These are the terminals for the connectors.

Molex Connector Part Number - 43030-0008

I haven't bought form them but seems some have.

43645-0500 Molex | Mouser
43030-0008 Molex | Mouser

I've been thinking about swapping my pickups for something else as well.

 

[jeffy]

Found this at Seymour Duncan in their Wiring Diagram FAQ. Color codes for a bunch of MFG's. Confirms bare is ground on all models.

Wiring Diagram

 

[HIghAndDry]

+1

Those connectors are cheap. You'll need the pins as well. You could even reuse the plug and put pins on the new pickup. There is a plastic tab that you can carefully pull up and slip the pin out.

The plugs are Molex Micro-Fit 3.0. 3.0mm Pitch.

I'm not sure if this is the connector but I think it is. The one for earlier Gibson's with the 2-Circuit are 43645-0200. This one is in the same series but with 5-Circuit are 43645-0500.

Molex Connector Part Number - 43645-0500

These are the terminals for the connectors.

Molex Connector Part Number - 43030-0008

I haven't bought form them but seems some have.

43645-0500 Molex | Mouser
43030-0008 Molex | Mouser

I've been thinking about swapping my pickups for something else as well.

I am not certain what you mean by needing the pins as well

 

[jeffy]

I am not certain what you mean by needing the pins as well

The terminals. You could reuse the connector but would need new terminals (ie., pin connectors)

 

[HIghAndDry]

do you order right from molex

 

[jeffy]

do you order right from molex

No, not unless you want to buy in bulk. They sell a 560 piece kit with both main and female connectors as well as terminals. Use the links to Mouser or some other reseller.

 

[HIghAndDry]

No, use the links to Mouser or some other reseller.

Ok thanks Now if I understand correctly I need one pin connector for each wire

 

[jeffy]

Hmm, now that I'm looking at it. I might be wrong on the connector.

 

[HIghAndDry]

Hmm, now that I'm looking at it. I might be wrong on the connector.

I hope not I just ordered from mouser

 

[jeffy]

Ok thanks Now if I understand correctly I need one pin connector for each wire

If you have an electronic parts supplier, you could probably take the pickup in and match it. I know it's a standard connector. It's not a Molex Micro-fit. That's what the older PCB's used though.

Sorry about that mix up. I'll have to see if I can look up that exact connector.

 

[jeffy]

I hope not I just ordered from mouser

I think the single row 5 circuit on the switch (the big one in the center) is a Molex Micro-Fit 3.0.

 

[HIghAndDry]

If you have an electronic parts supplier, you could probably take the pickup in and match it. I know it's a standard connector. It's not a Molex Micro-fit. That's what the older PCB's used though.

Sorry about that mix up. I'll have to see if I can look up that exact connector.

Fortunately I was able to cancel. Now I need to find the right connector. molex 3.0? that matches with the pin connectors?

 

[HIghAndDry]

Ok I am a dumb ass all the while I was looking at the switch connector. and that was (43645) the right part number for that. duh it says clearly on the circuit board switch. the pickups are each marked too. now to just find out what those little connectors are

 

[jeffy]

Ok, I think the connectors are actually Molex Pico-Spox 1.50mm BUT I'm not 100% certain. You'll want to double check that. Its a standard wire-to-board connector, I'm sure of. I recommend pulling the pickup and taking it to an electronic parts supply store and have them match it. I'll probably end up doing this since I want to swap mine out as well.

I just got off the phone with Gibson and their 'recommendation' is to hard wire them. What a stupid response.

 

[HIghAndDry]

Ok I am a dumb ass all the while I was looking at the switch connector. and that was (43645) the right part number for that. duh it says clearly on the circuit board switch. the pickups are each marked too. now to just find out what those little connectors are

But I don't even know where to start to look on the molex site hope someone has it thanks!!!

 

[jeffy]

But I don't even know where to start to look on the molex site hope someone has it thanks!!!

Yeah, sorry about that mix up.

I've seen the connector before but I don't know the name of it unfortunately. You find them in computers a lot. Now I'm really curious about it. I have yet to see anyone ID them on a 2012 though. Gibson uses the same Micro-Fit on the two plug pickups on the older PCB boards but with 5 circuits, they need to shrink the connector to fit it in the same amount of space.

I'll take some more pics and measurements and see if I can come up with anything.