Lollartrons 2 wire in a strat quandry

[redstrand]

You guys helped me big time with my Jazz bass, sounds killer and did the same mod to my TBird(the boost is fantastic).
I have a partscaster Strat, Two Lollartrons that were connected to a volume, ton and a 3 way. Always kinda blah. At first I wanted to add another volume so I would have ind volume for each pickup.
The problem I'm running into is the trons are 2 wire or vintage wiring which doesn't let me see the splitting possibilities and so on.

I would like to be able to wire them to stacked pots ala a Les Paul, a 3 way and I have a varitone switch ready to go it as well.

I just get a little confused by some of the diagrams because they don't explain what's wired to what. Could someone clarify or forward a link or drawing for this?

Thank you in advance.

[newey]

The problem I'm running into is the trons are 2 wire or vintage wiring which doesn't let me see the splitting possibilities and so on.

Splitting coils will not be possible without surgery to transform these into 4-wire pickups. That can be done, provided the coils aren't encased in some sort of epoxy resin or wax. It is a procedure, however, not for the faint-hearted.

I would like to be able to wire them to stacked pots ala a Les Paul, a 3 way and I have a varitone switch ready to go it as well.

This can easily be done, and without any modifications to the pickups. I assume you mean to have stacked pots for both V and T? If so, find a wiring diagram for an LP (one that shows 2-wire pickups). Your wiring will be exactly like that, but instead of 4 separate pots, you'll have 2 stacked pot elements for each control. The wiring is exactly the same.

The Varitone switch goes last in line, after the 3-way switch. Diagrams for these abound, both here and elsewhere. Search for something like "LP with Varitone" and you may find a complete diagram for the whole shebang.

[redstrand]

I figured as much on the LP wiring, I know I'm not splitting coils and I had a varitone in it already. I'll just wire it up LP standard style I just have to keep track of what goes where. By that I mean that in most diagrams the lugs face each other instead of being on top of each other.

[newey]

By that I mean that in most diagrams the lugs face each other instead of being on top of each other.

If you wire it backwards (easy enough to do),the control will work in a left-handed fashion. If so, swappping the wires to the outer lugs will fix it.

[wolf]

As far as a diagram, here is the typical 2 humbucker Les Paul type wiring:




If you want to change 2 wire humbuckers to 4 wire, here are instructions on how to do it:
www.1728.org/guitar1a.htm
Yes as Newey said it is very tricky. Is it worth having 4 wire humbuckers? In my opinion - incredibly well worth it!

[JohnH]

Watchit Mr Wolf! That's not typical LP wiring, that's 'independent' wiring with outer volume lugs to output. Severe tonal destruction can ensue as volume is reduced.

[redstrand]

yeah, that's not what I have and I'll stick with the 2 wires and make it work

[wolf]

Thanks for the "warning" JohnH

[redstrand]

I ended up doing 2 volumes and a tone with a 22 cap. Nice and open. Just did away with the switch all together so i can blend pickups now.