HSH + 5W + VT Wiring Diagram

One single-coil with two coil-cut humbuckers
HSH + 5W + VT

Understanding the color-coded leads
Humbuckers have two coils, with opposite magnetic polarity (North/South facing up). The two ends of each coil wire are connected to the Start lead and the Finish lead. The fifth lead is a bare ground wire (some humbuckers do not have this fifth lead).

Series-linked coils: humbucking
Standard humbucking wiring: solder the red and white leads.

Parallel wiring: stand-alone coils
Allows access to each coil independently, for custom options using a switch.

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Setting your pickup height
Humbuckers are usually set closer to the strings than single-coils, because they have less of a focused magnetic pull. Start with a gap of about 3/32" under the bottom of the Low-E string when fretted at the highest fret, and a 1/16" gap under the High-E string. Raise or lower the heights of the neck and bridge pickups to find the tone/volume balance you like best.