Pickups: Industry Standard Quick Connection

[FourT6and2]

I was just looking at Mayones Velvetrone pickups and see all their models use a new kind of baseplate with an integrated multi-pin connector. So you solder a harness to your guitar electronics like you normally would with a standard pickup. And you never need to mess with it again. The pickup-end of the wiring is a quick connector. New pickups are plug and play, like what you might find on EMGs.

Why hasn't the rest of the industry moved to this? It's much like USB on computers. There should really be a universal industry standard so we don't have to solder ever again.

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I see DiMarzio actually has this! But it's specific to only their pickups. But what if other pickup companies all agreed to use the same pinout? Then we could all swap pickups using the same wiring harness and never have to mess around it again.

Instead of pickups having hardwired leads, why don't they all have integrated five-pin connectors? The wiring harness stays on the guitar and you just plug and play new pickups at the pickup end instead. Additional wiring harnesses could be purchased separately. No more wires attached to the pickups themselves.

Pickup manufacturers would have to be convinced one by one to adopt a universal base plate or simply agree to use the same 5-pin connector pinout as each other. i.e. pin 1 = ground, pin 2 = hot, etc.

Swapping pickups would be as easy as a string change.

 

[Code001]

DiMarzio and EMG both have passive versions of exactly this. Don't think Duncan has anything non-active that's this connector. I remember when Gibson tried doing stuff like this, and people rioted. Guitarists are fickle is the real answer, I think.

 

[FourT6and2]

DiMarzio and EMG both have passive versions of exactly this. Don't think Duncan has anything non-active that's this connector. I remember when Gibson tried doing stuff like this, and people rioted. Guitarists are fickle is the real answer, I think.

Yeah that's true. But I'm thinking of a universal standard, rather than each individual company making their own. I guess this opens up the issue of the "Universal Standard War".

In the tech world, there’s a famous concept: "There are 14 competing standards. We need one universal standard that covers everyone's use cases." But now there are 15 competing standards lol...

For example, if a baseplate manufacturer launched this idea today, Duncan might adopt it, but DiMarzio might refuse to pay licensing and launch their own proprietary version. So now you have two new "stadards". Which defeats the purpose.

The current "standard" is just bare wire. And you have to solder it all up. But I just think this really stupid.

 

[Code001]

In the tech world, there’s a famous concept: "There are 14 competing standards. We need one universal standard that covers everyone's use cases." But now there are 15 competing standards lol...

I sometimes help write these standards for the govt. It's awful

 

[FourT6and2]

I sometimes help write these standards for the govt. It's awful

I just looked up the DiMarzio system. So yeah, that's exactly what I was thinking haha.

https://d2emr0qhzqfj88.cloudfront.net/s3fs-public/2025-01/ALTERNATE 4CON PLUG-IN INSTRUCTIONS.PDF

https://www.dimarzio.com/hardware/wiring-kits/quick-connect-cable-4-conductor

But do they make baseplates that other pickup manufacturers can use? I would totally be on board for this kind of thing. I don't see a downside for end users if every manufacturer moved to this standard going forward.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

I have a few guitars to rewire and I think I'll use some 5 pin JST connectors for the pickup connections so if I want to swap I just have to solder a new connector to the pickup.

 

[FourT6and2]

I have a few guitars to rewire and I think I'll use some 5 pin JST connectors for the pickup connections so if I want to swap I just have to solder a new connector to the pickup.

Yes, that's the general idea. But that still involves a soldering iron, wire stripper, tools, and time—which is no different than just soldering a pickup in like normal. If pickup manufacturers adopted a universal 5-pin connector on the actual pickup baseplate, we could all just use a $5 wiring harness on the guitar and never need to fuck around again. You wire the new harness to the guitar one time and it just stays there.

 

[311boogieman]

I want this. I feel like I'd be more willing to experiment with pups if I had it.

I made a thread on this a few years ago but IIRC - it was a whole guitar brand and not a one size fits all retro fit.

 

[Mike Oxhuge]

Yes, that's the general idea. But that still involves a soldering iron, wire stripper, tools, and time. If pickup manufacturers adopted a universal 5-pin connector on the actual pickup baseplate, we could all just use a $5 wiring harness on the guitar and never need to fuck around again. You wire the new harness to the guitar one time and it just stays there.

Oh I agree I wish it would happen too. But I doubt it will happen anytime soon.

 

[FourT6and2]

I want this. I feel like I'd be more willing to experiment with pups if I had it.

I made a thread on this a few years ago but IIRC - it was a whole guitar brand and not a one size fits all retro fit.

Exactly. I think it could be in pickup manufacturers' best interests to adopt a standard quick connection. People would most likely buy more pickups to experiment with because installation would no longer be a hassle.

Pickup manufacturers wouldn't even need proprietary baseplates or pay licensing. All that needs to happen is an agreement on a specific 5-pin connector and agree to a specific pinout. i.e. Pin 1 = ground, Pin 2 = hot, etc. The connector itself already exists. Pickup manufacturers just need to get on the same page is all.

 

[311boogieman]

Exactly. I think it could be in pickup manufacturers' best interests to adopt a standard quick connection. People would most likely buy more pickups to experiment with because installation would no longer be a hassle.

Pickup manufacturers wouldn't even need proprietary baseplates or pay licensing. All that needs to happen is an agreement on a specific 5-pin connector and agree to a specific pinout. i.e. Pin 1 = ground, Pin 2 = hot, etc. The connector itself already exists. Pickup manufacturers just need to get on the same page is all.

The only negative I can think of would be for the guitar manufacturers IF they have some exclusive partnerships etc etc

But if it is a retrofit, then it would seem that if you could get DiMarzio, Duncan and maybe a Fender or Gibson behind it it could take off

 

[FourT6and2]

The only negative I can think of would be for the guitar manufacturers IF they have some exclusive partnerships etc etc

But if it is a retrofit, then it would seem that if you could get DiMarzio, Duncan and maybe a Fender or Gibson behind it it could take off

It would take convincing. Would need to show financial benefit (increased sales frequency due to eliminating a consumer barrier, new product lines like high-end harnesses, simplified assembly lines and reduce labor costs, etc. ).

Would need to show how this isn't a proprietary product. It's a shared language. Brands get to keep their internal secret sauce. The only thing that changes is the "handshake" that happens between the pickup and the guitar's electronics at the pickup connector. It could be a way of unlocking the aftermarket.

 

[311boogieman]

Yep. Kind of like USB

 

[ners]

I'm in the middle of upgrading an MIJ Strat I got recently and had this exact thought. Ultimately bailed on the idea because it was still going to require soldering and this likely won't ever be my number 1 (or even number 2).

I do want to do a full custom build myself with a swimming pool route so I can swap pickups/guards to my hearts content though. But even then if EVERYTHING is on the pickguard it doesn't really help me...maybe with the input jack still though?

 

[FourT6and2]

I'm in the middle of upgrading an MIJ Strat I got recently and had this exact thought. Ultimately bailed on the idea because it was still going to require soldering and this likely won't ever be my number 1 (or even number 2).

I do want to do a full custom build myself with a swimming pool route so I can swap pickups/guards to my hearts content though. But even then if EVERYTHING is on the pickguard it doesn't really help me...maybe with the input jack still though?

That's kind of what Reddick and Shark are trying to do. But those involve their own proprietary guitars.

DiMarzio is already doing it. Their quick connect cable is $5. It's peanuts. All that has to happen is for other pickup companies to agree to a pinout standard.

Imagine if devices like USB drives, computer mouses, or any other peripheral was sold with just a length of wire sticking out of it. And then consumers had to bust out a soldering iron every time they wanted to plug in a USB drive.

 

[ners]

Wago connectors can be used for this actually. You'd still have to do some switch/ground soldering and your wiring choices would have to remain static, but in theory if all you're doing is like for like pickup swapping it'd be quick and easy.

 

[FourT6and2]

Wago connectors can be used for this actually. You'd still have to do some switch/ground soldering and your wiring choices would have to remain static, but in theory if all you're doing is like for like pickup swapping it'd be quick and easy.

View attachment 432094

Sure. Or just use spade connectors on all the pickup wires and push onto pot lugs. But that also defeats the purpose of not having to mess with wiring or soldering or wire strippers or tools.

If I'm simply wanting to swap pickups for experimentation on my own... not a problem. But the point is 90% of guitar players don't do that because it's too much trouble or they don't know how to solder or wire stuff. Plug and play is where it's at for mass market.

It should really be this simple for all passive guitar pickups, just like EMGs. Unplug old pickup. Plug in new pickup. Never touch a soldering iron or have to open up your guitar's electronics cavity.

 

[311boogieman]

Here is the thread from 2 years ago that I made. Your idea is way better because you are talking an industry standard. I think I even mentioned in my thread how cool it would be if Duncan, for example, would send you a new pick up to try once a month and you either keep and pay, or send it back


my thread

 

[SgtThump]

Did

DiMarzio and EMG both have passive versions of exactly this. Don't think Duncan has anything non-active that's this connector. I remember when Gibson tried doing stuff like this, and people rioted. Guitarists are fickle is the real answer, I think.

Gibson is still doing this on some guitars like the LP Modern.

I love the idea and wish there was a standard that everyone used. It seems like the pickup industry would benefit from people buying and trying more pickups than they do today?

 

[FourT6and2]

I love the idea and wish there was a standard that everyone used. It seems like the pickup industry would benefit from people buying and trying more pickups than they do today?

Absolutely. Instead of someone buying 1 new pickup every 5 years, they might buy 5 new pickups every year. There are a bunch of pickups I want to try but I don't bother because it's too much trouble.

A potential issue is a company having an ego, though. They want to have their own proprietary quick-connect ecosystem to lock customers into their products. Whereas a universal standard would allow someone to buy pickups from any company using that standard. But in the end, a standard would benefit the entire industry at large.

Hell, look at Apple. It took the entire E.U. to force them to adopt USB-C...

That said... there's already sort of a standard: bare wire and let the customer sort it out.