# Seymour Duncan humbucker wire colors

Canonical page: https://guitarwiring.app/wiring-guides/seymour-duncan/wire-colors

See the pickup, recognise its two halves, and learn where each coloured wire goes.

Applies to: Conventional passive, four-conductor Seymour Duncan humbuckers. Check model-specific instructions for active pickups, connectors, stacked pickups and vintage braided leads.

## Match the lead to its job

The table below describes the conventional series connection. A modification can change a colored lead’s job; the bare shield still belongs to ground.



## The standard series connection

Black is the signal output. Red and white join the two coils in series. Green is the coil return; green and the bare shield connect to ground in this arrangement.

- Identify the pickup model and confirm its lead code.
- Join red and white, then insulate the joint so it cannot touch ground or another terminal.
- Route black to the pickup’s signal destination shown in your complete diagram.
- Connect green and bare to the diagram’s ground network.

## Changing brands? Match functions, not colors

The source chart also includes other manufacturers. Their colors are not interchangeable with Seymour Duncan’s. The source chart’s north/south labels identify magnetic polarity, and start/finish identify coil ends. They do not mean neck/bridge. Confirm those functions using the exact pickup’s documentation before translating a circuit.

A brand name alone does not establish compatibility with every model or production revision. The bare shield is not an extra coil lead.



Source chart brand | North start | North finish | South finish | South start
--- | --- | --- | --- | ---
Seymour Duncan | Black | White | Red | Green
DiMarzio | Red | Black | White | Green
Gibson | Red | White | Green | Black
Lawrence | Red | White | Green | Black
Fender | Green | White | Black | Red
Jackson | Green | White | Red | Black
Peavey | Red | Green | White | Black

## Before connecting the pickup

Keep the insulated series joint separate from the grounded shield. If you are adding coil splitting or phase switching, use the complete modification diagram instead of applying the standard series connections unchanged.



Sources: WD_Pickup_Color_Codes. https://www.seymourduncan.com/resources/pickup/wiring-diagrams

Independent explanation by Tinkercaster; not endorsed by Seymour Duncan.