Hey Hastings! and any familiar w/the "Killer Mod"

[soldercaster]

Hello everyone!

Yes, I am new to the site and if you see that I joined at 4:30am, you know I too am a member of the "Cold coffee, Hot soldering Iron Club". Thanks for being Here.

My question refers to the Killer Mod on the Guitar Nuts site. If I understand correctly, I should be able to series the Neck and Bridge pickups using a stock selector switch.

I want to do this Mod using 2 SC, no tone controls, Stock 3-way sw in my strat. Is it possible w/o using a push pull? = 1 neck , 2 N/B series, 3 Bridge. Thanks

[soldercaster]

P.S. I am more drawing, less schematic oriented. If anyone could show me The original Hastings Killer Mod in a drawing, I could probably answer my own question. Thanks again.

[TooManyWires]

Hey, I drew up a picture of the killer mod, (What a genious of a mod, eh? I did it on a HSS super strat and love it!) but I can't seem to figure out how to post the picture on here, so if you leave your e-mail address, I'll send it to you. I'd try to help you out with your specific problem, but I don't know enough about the switch. A 3-way in a strat with only 2 SC's...I'm not really a strat person, so I can't say I even knew that existed. It probably switches exactly the same as a tele. Another option that you could consider would be to put in one of those 4 way tele switches. That would allow you to have both the standard N+B sound, and the NxB sound. I have a diagram for that too if you'd like me to pass it on to you, let me know.

[TooManyWires]

Hey, actually, I just had a look, and based on a standard tele style switch, (which I'm assuming is what you've got there, I drew up a diagram (a picture, not a schematic) that would give you a series connection in the middle position with only a volume control. Again, leave me your e-mail, and I'll pass it along.

[soldercaster]

Well, I'm going to date myself a bit I suppose, but in the 70s Strats came with a three way sw. and the big mod was to get the 5 way - woohoo! My 73 was Natural wood walnut which is pretty rare (to my dismay since I sold it for next to nothing before it became worth the down payment on a house!).

Anyway, back on subject. I rarely to never use the middle pu in any of my strats and the push pull pot method works fine to get the series, but I needed to fill the dead middle position on the sw - I built a "Blackmore clone" w/2 SD 1/4 pounders and a dummy in the middle and the 3way. I saw the "KM" on Guitar nuts and said that's it.
( no tone because "I like 'em bright and sparky" too and the SD's have enough bottom to make the small clubs I play in sound like a 20,000 seat arena.)

Thanks for the drawings in advance. I sent you my email address.

[CheshireCat]

I'm having a Vision . . . .

[CheshireCat]

soldercaster said:

I want to do this Mod using 2 SC, no tone controls, Stock 3-way sw in my strat. Is it possible w/o using a push pull? = 1 neck , 2 N/B series, 3 Bridge. Thanks

Alright, assuming a three position, two pole Tele blade switch, it's easy.

I'll see if I can whip up a diagram, but in essence, one pole is the selector, and the other pole feeds either the N or the B pickup with the other pickup in the middle position.

So, iow, let's say that the N feeds the B pickup (N>B). The (-) or ground from the B pickup connects to the output terminal of the second pole. In the N position, nothing connects because the B pickup isn't in play. In the B position, that terminal runs to ground. In the middle position, the output from the N pickup runs to the middle terminal, thus feeding the B pickup, which in turn goes to output.

Incidentally, on the main pole, which controls the ultimate pickup selection, the N position has N, the B position has B, and the middle position only takes a lead from B, the N pickup already being present in the signal in series with the B pickup.

Does that make sense?

Chesh

[TooManyWires]

Ha, I think I figure out how to post images! Sorry for the low quality drawings, I put them together pretty quick, and the way they're saved doesn't take up much space, but also doesn't allow for a really high quality.

Well, here's what I came up with, I don't think it's the same as what you're suggesting, but I think I can see where you're going. So then in your diagram, the negative lead from the neck would connect strait to ground?



So this would be what you're saying then Chesh?



Either way should work, I think, however that since Chesh's diagram has only the neck pickup hanging by one end at all times, whereas mine has both the neck and the bridge hanging on, that Chesh's idea would make less noise. (I think...?)

[soldercaster]

Thanks to both of you for all of your time on this. Now taking all of your information and drawings into account, I think I have combined your Ideas and landed somewhere in the middle... Since I'm not yet sure how to post drawings myself I will explain it like this:

Tele/strat 3 way 2 pole switch, like this:


1st pole = C: B+ 1: N+/ out to Vol+ 2: #2 on 2nd pole 3: not used

2nd pole= C: N- 1: not used 2: #2 on 1st pole 3: ground

Bridge - : direct to gnd

will this work as well?

Chesh, is toomany's 2nd drawing what you mean? They both make sense.

I think basically we are all saying the same thing - just a matter of choosing which pup feeds which. Until I saw the Hastings, every drawing I saw said to use a push/pull. Now, thanks to you two, it seems there are a couple of different ways to do it without one. Thank you !!! I hope I can be as helpful to you in the future...

[CheshireCat]

soldercaster said:

Chesh, is toomany's 2nd drawing what you mean? They both make sense.

In essence.

However, I'm not really sure what you are doing in your set-up. I'll see if I can post a pic. I'll draw it up good and proper.

Incidentally, what I originally envisioned is pretty simple and straightforward, and very clean. Wait until you see my version before doing anything, just for the sake of completeness.

Also, could you sketch something out by hand and show us what you are trying to describe?

Chesh

[TooManyWires]

I see what you're saying soldercaster, it's the same thing as my idea, but with the positions for neck and bridge reversed. I usually don't think about that. If it was wrong, I'd have physically turned the switch 180 degrees, so it's probably best that you're thinking ahead. But I'm with Chesh, wait and see what his idea looks like, he's had a lot of crazy good ideas for that guitar that he's building. (You're still building it I assume? That bass idea in the other thread is an awesome idea, I'm thinking of trying it myself if it works out well.) Here's what I think you're saying 'caster (as a schematic, and as a drawing, with the switch in the drawing having the terminals in the correct places as far as I understand they should be):



Does the order in which pickups feed each other really make a noticeable difference to the sound? I mean, I figured it might on a 3 pickup guitar, but with just neck and bridge does it really make an audible difference, I've never really experimented with that, I might have to.


PS: For posting images I use this: www.imageshack.us/ go there, upload your image and it'll give you a link to post to it. If you go to the bottom and use the "Direct link to image" link, paste it in here, then highlight it all and click on the postcard looking picture in the toolbar above the smileys, the image will show in the thread.