For review: 3-way toggle, 1 vol, tone switch, global series

[David Mitchell]

This is the simplest of a few schemes I've been working on for my guitar — hoping to attempt it very soon, and work my way up later.

The points of interest, I suppose, are that I intend it to have a global (overriding) series switch on the volume push-push pot, and a DPDT to switch between two different caps or bypass. I'll be experimenting with the values. I have a Redeemer buffer, which isn't particularly important to this scheme, but may be moreso later, and I want to have an option that's something like typical cable capacitance, and another that will modify the Filtertron response to something like that of a P90 (based on GuitarFreak modelling). That's beside the point, but in case anyone's curious what it's for, there you go. I think I put the DPDT upside down compared to what I actually want, but that's easy to reverse physically. (I do wish DIYLC had hints about switch terminal connectivity and toggle position.)

What say the experts?



Here's DIY Layout Creator's analysis:

SPOILER: Click to show

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON1]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: ((Volume.1-2 + R2) + (C2 || R3)) ||  (Volume.1-2 + ((Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) || (Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in parallel   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling


Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON2]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + ((Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) || (Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in parallel   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge' and 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON3]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + ((Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) || (Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) || (R1 + C1))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in parallel   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge' and 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON1]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: ((Volume.1-2 + R2) + (C2 || R3)) ||  (Volume.1-2 + Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3 Notes:   
'Neck' is the only engaged pickup   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON2]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3 Notes:   
'Neck' is the only engaged pickup   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON3]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + ((Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) || (R1 + C1))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Neck' is the only engaged pickup   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON1]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: ((Volume.1-2 + R2) + (C2 || R3)) ||  (Volume.1-2 + Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' is the only engaged pickup   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON2]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' is the only engaged pickup   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge'  
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON1:Tone Switch.ON3]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + ((Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<-) || (R1 + C1))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:
'Bridge' is the only engaged pickup   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON1, Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON1, Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON1]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: ((Volume.1-2 + R2) + (C2 || R3)) ||  (Volume.1-2 + Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<- + Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in series   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON2, Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON2, Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON2]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<- + Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in series   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge' and 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

Switch configuration: [Pickup Selector.Treble:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON3, Pickup Selector.Middle:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON3, Pickup Selector.Rhythm:Series/Parallel.ON2:Tone Switch.ON3]
Parallel/Series connectivity tree: (Volume.1-2 + ((Bridge.North<- + Bridge.South<- + Neck.North<- + Neck.South<-) || (R1 + C1))) ||  Volume.2-3
Notes:   
'Bridge' and 'Neck' pickups engaged, wired in series   
'Bridge' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Neck' pickup wired in humbucking mode with series coils   
'Volume' potentiometer acts as a volume control for 'Bridge' and 'Neck'   
All pickup coils are wired in-phase   
This configuration is hum-cancelling

If anyone has suggestions for a better diagram, I'm also open to suggestions there!

[MattB]

The cap selector wiring doesn't look right. I think this is what you want (reposted diagram because I saw it could be done with an SPDT):

Apr 21, 2023 10:00:43 GMT -5 David Mitchell said:

 I think I put the DPDT upside down compared to what I actually want, but that's easy to reverse physically. (I do wish DIYLC had hints about switch terminal connectivity and toggle position.)

I think you have it right. Lugs closest to the pot = Up.

[David Mitchell]

Apr 21, 2023 11:53:42 GMT -5 MattB said:

The cap selector wiring doesn't look right. I think this is what you want (reposted diagram because I saw it could be done with an SPDT):

SPOILER: Click to show

Thanks! I should have stated that that switch is a "DPDT" on-on-on switch. Your example would be an on-off-on switch, correct? I tried doing it like yours, but so far I always end up with one or the other resistor-and-cap set being active. The way I did it was the only way I could work out, but that doesn't mean it was the best way. 

Apr 21, 2023 10:00:43 GMT -5 David Mitchell said:

 I think I put the DPDT upside down compared to what I actually want, but that's easy to reverse physically. (I do wish DIYLC had hints about switch terminal connectivity and toggle position.)

I think you have it right. Lugs closest to the pot = Up.

Oh yes, the volume pot switch I think I got right, but I actually meant I think I want the cap switch oriented the other way — unnecessary detail there!

[MattB]

Apr 21, 2023 13:45:09 GMT -5 David Mitchell said:

Thanks! I should have stated that that switch is a "DPDT" on-on-on switch. Your example would be an on-off-on switch, correct?

Yes, my diagram uses an on-off-on. I still think your wiring won't work as you want it to, because the 10Meg resistors are always in series with the signal passing through the switch, and so the caps aren't really doing anything. It's like a 10Meg tone control turned up to 10. I'm guessing from the value that they were meant to prevent switch popping. For that to work they need to bridge the gap across the open switch contacts, and be shorted out when that switch position is selected. There also needs to be a complete circuit for charge stored on the cap to bleed off when the switch is open. A de-popping resistor won't work if the other end of the cap is unconnected.

I think this should work for a DPDT on/on/on:

[David Mitchell]

MattB, thanks so much. I got confused by the circuit analysis in DIYLC, because I was thinking that those caps should be disconnected with the switch in the bypass position; when, if I'm understanding correctly now, they're technically always connected, but "behind" the 10M resistors.

Also, it seems that an on-off-on switch would be a much better choice for this application, and I might just go on and get one — I realized there's something else I need to order anyway....

[David Mitchell]

Before I post the updated full diagram....

If I use an on-ON-on switch:



If I use an on-OFF-on switch:



Looking right now?

[David Mitchell]

For completeness, here's the full, hopefully-fixed, diagram: