3 humbuckers

[grillking]

I am anewbie and this is my first time installing new pickups. Any opinions on how to install 3 HB in my guitar. I am looking at a Lil 59 in the neck, a JB JR in middle and Dimarzio Tone Zone in bridge. How difficult is it going to be since I have pups from different companies? What are my coil tapping options? I have one, volume, and one tone. I am currently running with a standard 5 way switch but I am willing to upgrade to Superswitch and or get push/pull pots.

[JohnH]

Hi grillking - welcome to GN2

Since this is a new adventure, how about a staged approach? What you are proposing has heaps of possibilities, but it is also good to start with something that you can get working easily.

As a suggestion, how about wiring it up fairly simply to start with, with your 5-way switch (I'm assuming its a standard type) to select N, N+M, M, M+B, B, based on the full Hb on each pickup. An advantage of this is that it at least lets each pup operate simply on its own, and you can explore the sound of each. The switch wiring would be basically standard as a Strat, but simpler without switching tone pots Then later when that is working, swap the two pots for push pulls to do some variations eg:

One pot could coil cut both the neck and middle to single coils, and with care ensure that those single coils when combined together, are still hum canceling

The other pot could either be used to coil cut the bridge (if you like bright), or put the bridge in series with the other pups (if you like dark and loud - thats what I'd do!)

A phase switch is another option that could be added, maybe as an extra toggle switch, and done later or at the same time.

cheers

John