NS Guitar pickup connectors

[matsickma]

I'm interested in swapping pickups on the various NS guitars. On my immediate list is a NS Aristocrat, SF1 DC and a SF1 Jet. I haven't looked at the connection for the SF1's yet but I know the Aristocrat Franz pups have a little white connector.

I perfer not to have to snip and splice the connectors from one pickup to the other.

If you're wondering why I'm making pickup changes it's not because I don't like the stock pickup. But I am a guitar-a-holic and typically purchased more than one of the same model with the expressed purpose of doing some modifications if I like the model.

Thanks,
M

 

[SFIV1967]

So far I was never able to figure out the specific type of the connector (make or part number), not even Guild was able telling me.
I also had asked Gretsch as they use the same connectors (all BHK made pickups) and also got no answer (well I got the answer that they also don't know the type).
An Epiphone forum also was trying to find info from Gibson or Epiphone with no success.
GAD also never mentioned a specific type in his many reviews so I guess he also did not figure it out yet. It's no standard connector you can easily find.

EDIT: Finally found the manufacturer and partnumbers, see post #12 below!

Ralf

 

[Default]

Go to a computer store. Those are box stock connectors for fans and whatnot.

 

[SFIV1967]

Go to a computer store. Those are box stock connectors for fans and whatnot.

No, they are not. Sorry, that would be way to easy! On almost every guitar forum (Gretsch, Epiphone, Fender) members tried all kind and not a single one fits.

Ralf

 

[GAD]

Yeah they LOOK like standard JST connectors but they're not that I can see.

I tried figuring it out for a while and just gave up. If and when I ever do my planned pickup swap experiments I'll just use my own sourced connectors.

 

[Default]

A minute with a soldering iron.

<shrug>

 

[Default]

What exactly are those fittings called? Latching connectors?

 

[matsickma]

Thanks for the details and excellent vlose up photos!
Lot of information in the last few replies.
I was anticipating making the swapping process "easy" on the connection side. Any opnions on using RCA or mini phonoplugs?
M

 

[GAD]

Thanks for the details and excellent vlose up photos!
Lot of information in the last few replies.
I was anticipating making the swapping process "easy" on the connection side. Any opnions on using RCA or mini phonoplugs?
M

Not a fan due to size.

I could argue that pickups should not be quick-disconnect since a properly soldered connection is always better. The only reason I've entertained the idea was because I had planned on testing and recording a pile of different pickups in the same guitar. I can totally understand the desire, though - especially if you find soldering onto pots to be a colossal PITA, which it absolutely is if you don't have a powerful soldering tool with a big tip.

Anyway, every connection that has the core wire removed from the shielding is a chance for induction of hum, noise, signal loss, and a host of other problems that *probably* won't matter at the frequencies in use. In the world of RF any of the connectors we've been discussing would be abhorrent, but that's due to the frequencies (RF vs audio) and the wattages (100s or 1000s of watts vs milliwatts). Since most guitar wire is a form of coax (one signal wire enshrouded in another) I could further argue that similar connectors should be used, such as these SMA connectors that you may also have on cell phone or antennas:

Or BNC:

Both of which are super-overkill for guitar, and besides require good crimpers or even more advanced soldering AND have the same problem of being as or more bulky than the aforementioned RCA or mini phono plugs.

And if you want the connectors in the same cavity as the pickups themselves, then none of these will work.

 

[GAD]

Also if you're going to entertain different types of pickups then you also may need to consider 3 and 4-wire setups in which case things just got even more complicated.

 

[Nuuska]

Ralf

Can you give us the dimensions?

For obvious reasons metric preferred - but "inchic" as well.

You know the essentials - pin size - distance - etc

THX

 

[SFIV1967]

Found them! Took a while...

Manufactured by a Korean Company called "Yeon Ho Electronics Co., Ltd" in 506-2, Hanam-dong, Gwangsan-gu, Gwangju, South Korea.

Makes sense as BHK (the pickup manufacturer) is also in Korea.

Their bags of connector housings have this print on them:

To confirm this it would be nice if one who might have a pickup can check the back of the connector where the cables come out if there are letters visible, either possibly YH for Yeonho or LHE (in that case it would be a Chinese clone of the YH connector).
EDIT: See posts #16 and #18, they are made by Yeon Ho.

Part number "SMH250-02" (2.5 mm pitch and 2 wires) for the female part:

Part number "SMP250-02" for the male part:

Plus you need the matching female YST025 Wire-to-Board Crimp Terminal / 2.50mm Pitch / AWG #22~#28:

And the male SMT025 Wire-to-Wire Crimp Terminal / 2.50mm Pitch / AWG #22~#28:

You can download the datasheets when you click on the part numbers.


Hope that was detailed enough... Now have fun sourcing them! (Plenty of sources in China and Korea)

Ralf

 

[GAD]

Damn Ralf! Wow

 

[shihan]

Yikes! I’m impressed, Ralf; well done!

 

[SFIV1967]

You can buy them in bags of 1,000...Should last for a while for pickup experiments...

Ralf

 

[Default]

YH1, looks like.
3J

 

[matsickma]

Outrageous info!!!

 

[SFIV1967]

YH1, looks like.

Excellent! That confirms it, they are made by Yeon Ho in Korea and not LHE in China. If only one would have posted such a picture with the YH before, that would have saved me hours of research...It's sometimes such little info that is the key.

Anyway, riddle solved after so many years! Maybe one should tell the Guild/CMG and Gretsch/FMIC hotlines...

Ralf

 

[jp]

Anyway, riddle solved after so many years! Maybe one should tell the Guild/CMG and Gretsch/FMIC hotlines...

Ralf, I think you should be the Guild/CMG and Gretsch/FMIC hotline!

 

[SFIV1967]

Ralf, I think you should be the Guild/CMG and Gretsch/FMIC hotline!

No thanks...Don't think they would pay me for...
Ralf