Pickup direct to jack?

[Woody Sound]

Electrically challenged here, so forgive me. Can I wire a 2-cond pickup lead directly to this jack? How? There are three wires: Red, white, and uncovered.

[dconeill]

It looks to me that your jack is a TRS ("tip-ring-sleeve") jack, based on there being three leads, such as might be used with old-style stereo headphones. For your purposes, if you can identify which lead goes to which part of the jack you can wire it:
- the "tip" would be connected to the positive from the pickup
- the "ring" and "sleeve" would be connected to the negative from the pickup.

You might be better off to get a jack assembly that's only two conductors (TS, "tip-sleeve"), as that would have less room for error.

This is an amateur opinion so make sure to get it verified elsewhere.

[Woody Sound]

It looks to me that your jack is a TRS ("tip-ring-sleeve") jack, based on there being three leads, such as might be used with old-style stereo headphones. For your purposes, if you can identify which lead goes to which part of the jack you can wire it:
- the "tip" would be connected to the positive from the pickup
- the "ring" and "sleeve" would be connected to the negative from the pickup.

You might be better off to get a jack assembly that's only two conductors (TS, "tip-sleeve"), as that would have less room for error.

This is an amateur opinion so make sure to get it verified elsewhere.

Thanks. That's exactly what I thought when I cut the wire open. But Amzn had it listed as 1/4" Mono.

Amazon.com

[Gilpy]

I’m assuming you don’t have a multimeter….

You can use this jack. The bare wire is obviously the ground and connects to the ground (usually bare) wire of the pickup.

One of the remaining wires will connect to the hot wire of your pickup. Turn your amp way low and see what works.

You can ignore the other wire or connect it to the ground wire of your pickup.

[garybaldy]

My hunch would be twist either the white and ground together or the red and ground together ( it won't matter with just one pickup). Use a mono jack and solder the twisted wires to the sleeve of the jack and the single colour wire to the tip.

[Woody Sound]

Thanks everyone, I'll try it today and report back.

[sgosnell]

Making assumptions about devices bought from Amazon can be dangerous. A multimeter and a bare plug is the best way to find out how it's wired. Without one, you have to just fumble around and switch wires until you get something that works. You can get a usable multimeter from Harbor Freight for $7 at present. I can't imagine being without one, and I have more than one.

[garybaldy]

Making assumptions about devices bought from Amazon can be dangerous. A multimeter and a bare plug is the best way to find out how it's wired. Without one, you have to just fumble around and switch wires until you get something that works. You can get a usable multimeter from Harbor Freight for $7 at present. I can't imagine being without one, and I have more than one.

I don't think a pickup from Amazon will be dangerous, but you never know.

[Woody Sound]

Making assumptions about devices bought from Amazon can be dangerous. A multimeter and a bare plug is the best way to find out how it's wired. Without one, you have to just fumble around and switch wires until you get something that works. You can get a usable multimeter from Harbor Freight for $7 at present. I can't imagine being without one, and I have more than one.

I do have one. Knowing how to use it is another thing.

[sgosnell]

I don't think a pickup from Amazon will be dangerous, but you never know.

Only dangerous in the sense that it's possible to wire it wrong, then have to rewire it, stealing precious practice time. Making assumptions can lead to all sorts of problems. Verify, don't trust at all.