Slide Switch Wiring Help

[maxwell]

Hi guys,

I'm brand new to the forum. Please let me know if I'm in the wrong spot.

I'm hoping someone can help me with a wiring project. I'm looking for a schematic for 2 x Humbucker (single wire), 1 x Master Vol, 2 x Tone, 2 x On/Off Slide switches. As per the image below. 

Cheers

[newey]

maxwell-

Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!

Sorry for the "shaghetti" wiring here. I used your diagram as a starting point, but the end result would have been easier to read if the pot lugs were rotated downward. Also, let's get another set of eyes on this to be sure it's right before you start wiring

Some notes, I apologize if you already know this stuff, but I don't know how experienced you are with rewiring guitars. So, being very simple here:

1) You want what you want, but be aware that, with 2 tones and a master volume, when both pickups are active, your tone controls will not operate independently. Turning one will affect both pickups.

2) You said that your HBs are "single wire". I assume you mean they have the single (insulated) conductor surrounded by a wire shield. The shield is the ground wire, and needs to be separated at the end so that it can be soldered to ground (shown as the backs of the pots). Also, be careful soldering to the backs of pots, it's easy to destroy them with too much heat. Use a heat sink and don't leave the iron on them too long.

3) I suggest you redraw the diagram yourself so that you get a visual understanding of how it all connects together. The order of components is: pickup(s)>>>tonepot(s)>>>>switch(es)>>>Vol pot>>>output jack

[Yogi B]

Jul 28, 2022 5:14:19 GMT -5 newey said:

Also, let's get another set of eyes on this to be sure it's right before you start wiring

Assuming we are looking from the base of the pots, then the tones are backwards (you've used lugs 2 & 3, rather than 1 & 2).

Plus, since it appears that we have DPDTs to work with — and a spare pole on each — we could use those to short the output jack when both pickups are turned off — in order to better ensure silence.

[newey]

Jul 28, 2022 15:36:57 GMT -5 Yogi B said:

Assuming we are looking from the base of the pots, then the tones are backwards (you've used lugs 2 & 3, rather than 1 & 2).

Dang it, I looked at that three times, and had it drawn up the opposite way then second-guessed myself and changed it. Can't seem to roatate things in my mind . . .

But if that's true, isn't the V pot also wired left-handed then?

And, yes, shorting the pickups when off is a good idea, as long as I have to redo it anyway, I'll add that.

maxwell- You see the reason for the second set of eyes! I'll fix it soon.

[maxwell]

You blokes are amazing Thank you. I've very good at soldering and following schematics but terrible at working it out. I can send through another diagram with the pots spun. 

[maxwell]

[maxwell]

Thanks in advance Newey

[maxwell]

Hi Newey,

I wired it up. I changed the tone pots to be lugs 1&2 as suggested by Yogi. I left the volume as is and it worked a treat. As you say it does mean that when both pickups are engaged the you can't individually use the tone for each pickup but I'm ok with that. Perhaps I was better off going for 2 x Volume and I master tone? Anyway thanks for your help, much appreciated. 

[newey]

Perhaps I was better off going for 2 x Volume and I master tone? Anyway thanks for your help, much appreciated.

maxwell-

Glad you got it working. 2 Vs and a master T will exhibit similar issues with both pickups turned on. The better approach is to use a "dual-gang" pot for the single tone control (or for the master volume, if 2 tone controls are being used). A dual-gang pot is just 2 pot elements on a single shaft, so the 2 tone pots and one volume (or vice versa) get wired just like the 4 pots on a Les Paul.

YogiB suggested shorting the pickups to ground when off, using the other half of the slide switches. This can be easily done if the "both off" position proves to be noisy. My suspicion is that it will be fine if you're just playing in your bedroom, but if you use the "both off" position as a stand-by when on stage, leaving the guitar plugged in as a backup, you might get some extra noise in that circumstance. Or, perhaps not, but like most problems, if it becomes an issue, it does so at the worst possible time. (one of the corollaries to Murphy's law, of course )