Wiring Logic?

[morningstar]

I have followed a LOT of wiring diagrams. Connect the dots with the pretty colored wires is not much of an accomplishment.

I kind of get that there are a positive and negative for each coil and with shielded four wire pickups there is a ground. I guess the real issue for me is the WHY of wiring, especially to and among the switches and pots. Push pulls and mini-switches give me serious fear.

I want to understand: What is the function of each wire on a pickup?

WHY do I connect a specific wire to a pot body, a specific pot post, or to a particular position on a switch?

Why do some setups seem to have capacitors and some don't?

If I were to sit down with some four wire pickups with all gray wires how would I know where to connect what and why?

Please keep it to a 7th grade explanation. I am not terribly bright but I can be trained.

Thanks

morningstar

[murkat]

http://www.aqdi.com/pickups.htm

http://www.guitartechcraig.com/techpckp/pickups.htm

First understand, then i will add more senpai