ObsidianWire Install Help
We aim to make the install of ObsidianWire Pro-Wired Electronics as easy as possible. Check out the resources we provide here.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
How Can We Help?
Install Procedure
Wiring Diagrams
Pickup Wire Colors
Trouble Shooting
Install Procedure
Check out the below pictorial demonstrating the basics of installing your new Pro-Wired Electronics. Use this in conjunction with the install manual provided with your kit.
Take a wire and strip it by 5mm (1/6")
Twist the strands of wire together
Create a tight end with no loose threads
Press the Plug & Play connector button in. Push the wire firmly into the hole
Pull the wire and test for a secure connection
Keep going until all of the wires are in holes
Throw your soldering iron out a window
Wiring Diagrams
Stratocaster®
Telecaster®
Archive Models (Pre June 2018)
Traditional Vintage for Tele® (V1 Pre May 2016)
Traditional Vintage for Tele® (May 2016 - June 2018)
Custom 4-Way for Tele® (V1 Pre May 2016)
Custom 4-Way for Tele® (May 2016 - June 2018)
Les Paul®
Archive Models (Pre Oct 2017)
Traditional Vintage 50's & 60's Les Paul (Pre - Oct 2017)
Bass
Pickup Wire Color Codes
To help get your pickups installed we have compiled the below list of popular pickup builders and their humbucker pickup color codes. If your pickup builder is not included below, please check with the manufacturers install instructions.
The Bare Silver Wire Always goes to Ground
Seymour Duncan
Gibson & Epiphone
Fender
DiMarzio
EMG Passive
Bare Knuckle
Tonerider
Trouble Shooting
To get you up and playing quickly, we have compiled our most common questions and answers below.
If you have any questions, please contact us.
What is the trouble?
Thin weedy (out of phase) sound in multi pickup positions
I don’t have enough ground wires
Custom 4-Way for Tele - I get the same sound in all four positions
Thin weedy (out of phase) sound in multi pickup positions
- This is usually caused when two pickups are out of phase witch each other, and is common when using two different brands of pickups in the same guitar. The best fix is to reverse the positions of the hot and ground wires from one of the pickups.
- Before you make the change, take some time to work out which pickup is least likely to interfere with other switch positions. If you have just installed a new pickup, change this one.
Unwanted Hum
- Some hum can be expected from all guitars, especially those with single coil pickups. If you are getting more than usual hum check the following
- Ensure that your bridge and strings are grounded to your Pro-Wired Electronics & that the wires are secure
- Ensure that any cavity shielding is grounded to your Pro-Wired Electronics & that the wires are secure
- Ensure the jack output wires are in the correct slots (refer to your install manual)
No Sound
- Ensure the nuts that came pre-loaded on your board are still in place. These must sit between the board and your control plate or cavity. These should not be removed.
- Check that no part of your Pro-Wired Electronics is touching your guitars cavity or jack cavity. This could cause your signal to short out.
- This is a particular issue where you have a shielded cavity. Note that some guitars use conductive shielding paint so it is not always obvious that it is present.
- Check that all of your wires are installed in the correct slots & are held tight by the Plug, Play & Enjoy Connectors.
No Sound from One Pickup
- Check that the pickup is working. This applies especially to new pickups.
- Check that all of your wires are installed in the correct slots & are held tight by the Plug, Play & Enjoy Connectors.
- Check that no part of your Pro-Wired Electronics is touching your guitars cavity or jack cavity. This could cause your signal to short out.
- All ObsidianWire Pro-Wired Electronics (Except Les Paul Models) have nuts that hold your control pots onto your ObsidianWire board. Check that these nuts are still in place.
- These act as a spacer between your control plate, and your electronics, preventing them from shorting out. These should not be removed.
I don’t have enough ground wires
- Your Pro-Wired Electronics come with enough ground wire slots for shielded cavities etc. If you do not have these, do not worry. Simply leave those slots empty.
I have too many wires
- ObsidianWire Pro-Wired electronics are generally made for two wire pickups (with some exceptions). If you have more wires, check with the pickup manufacturer & see what needs to be done with them.
- If they are extra ground wires you may be able to use the spare ground slots on the connector. If you do not have enough slots, we may be able to add an additional screw down connector to handle these
- If you have an extra coil split wire, this can be left out of the connector and tapped off so it does not short out on anything
- If you have a pickup with two coil tap/split wires, they will need to be soldered together and tapped off so they do not short out on anything.
Custom 4-Way for Tele - I get the same sound in all four positions
- Check that the neck pickups ground wire & cover ground wires are in the correct slots. If these are reversed, the switching is not able to operate which will leave the neck pickup on in all positions.
- Check that the link between your pickups ground wire & the cover ground wire has been removed
- Check that the switches full length of travel is allowed by the control plate slot. An easy way to do this is to remove the switch from the control plate and see if it works correctly in all four positions.