Wiring an L6-S with T-top humbuckers

[wrecktafire]

Background: I have an L6-s that had its pickups replaced, apparently with Gibson 2-wire, uncovered T-top humbuckers (whereas the original had covered pups, 3-wire at the bridge and 2-wire at the neck). I get a couple unique sounds out of the six position switch, but several of them are indistinguishable from each other.

Question: I'd like to try to get something closer to six sounds (I know this sounds like an old gn2 thread, but bear with me!). Not necessarily original or vintage or "correct" sounds, but just distinct and useful. Before I start unsoldering and embarking on a possibly fruitless exercise, I'm wondering: could my pair of 2-wire T-tops make 6 distinct tones (without hum or outrageous volume differences), or is the key to getting the 6-way switch to work somehow to be found in that 3-wire humbucker?

I have read a lot of stuff, and there seems to be support for both, i.e.:
a) yes, a pair of 2-wire pups is part of the L6-S design, as shown in a Gibby schematic, and
b) no -- I need a 3-wire and a 2-wire.

Thanks in advance!

[sumgai]

firesnuffer,

Hi, and to the NutzHouse!


In essence, you can get 6 (six) unique tones from a six-position switch, using pickups that have only two leads. Those combos would be:


N
N + B
N + B oop
N * B
N * B oop
B

(and not necessarily in that order).

Having 3-wire (or even 4-wire) pups makes it easy to "split" a humbucker into a single coil, which gives much greater opportunity for tonal variance. But in your case, that would entail some wallet-deflation. Not a lot, but some.

If you like the sound of your current pups, then why not try the above combos first, before stepping up to the counter and giving the nice man all of your lunch money?

HTH




sumgai

[newey]

Here's the Official Gibby schematic:



Notice a couple of things. First, sg's idea is, in fact, the stock wiring, (although not in the same order). Not sure if that's what you have now or not.

Second, the schematic shows only 2-wire humbuckers. I'm no expert on Gibson's models, so I don't know if they also used 3-wire HBs with a different wiring or not; this schematic is the only one posted on Gibson's site.

In any event, with 2 wires there are only the 6 possibilities shown, although I suppose that a cap could be added- maybe lose the parallel OOP setting and add N * (B + cap)?

[wrecktafire]

Thanks SG and newey. You have given me the encouragement I have been dreading: that I should take up my solder gun, cinch my loins and have a go at it. Much obliged!

[sumgai]

Jun 6, 2011 23:34:44 GMT -5 wrecktafire said:

I should..... cinch my loins

Well that certainly tightened up the ol' sphincter!   I don't think I'm cut out for that kind of treatment....