HELP! 3 way toggle switch, 2Vs, 1T, 2 humbuckers

[bcrichfan86]

My BC Rich warlock when I first got it had it set-up to where if it was in the middle position, you could play both pickups but could turn one pickup down, and still use the other while still in the middle. I don't know anything at all about wiring, but i've asked some friends about this and they say that what I want is a Series/Parallel/Series set-up, can anybody help me out with this problem? I haven't had this set-up in almost 2 years, i've taken it to shops only to leave sad knowing they couldn't achieve what I wanted, PLEASE HELP!!!

[sumgai]

fan,

Hi, and to these here forums!

You'll actually have to state a problem that you want resolved. From your message above, the only thing I got is that you were, at one time, able to use both pickups (in the middle position of the selector switch), and turn one down all the way without affecting the other. That much you said clearly.

After that, things get, hmmm, how to say this...... things get a bit disjointed. You start talking about your (lack of) wiring knowledge, your friends, years of being setup, guitar shops, disappointment, but you never actually say what's wrong with your Bernardo Rico. See our problem here?

Or were you just trying to follow a friend's suggestion, and add a series/parallel/series switch for "cool" tones? If so, then you'll need to describe your desire a bit more clearly. F'rinstance, are you speaking of the two coils of each individual humbucker being in series, or both humbuckers together? Again, we don't have enough information to go on here. You might want to ask your friends for clarification on this one. Perhaps one of them can lead you to a wiring diagram on the web, or in a book, or......

Beyond that, browse around here, we've got dozens of schematics of many kinds of switching arrangements. Who knows, you might find something that does what you want! ;D

HTH


sumgai

[bcrichfan86]

Alright thanks for the reply, well i'm sorry but I forgot that I have put two sets of pickups since I got it in July of 2004, those pickups were the bc rich bdsm stock pickups, then in later in december I took it to the local shop and got an emg 81 set, then in march of this year I changed to a seymour duncan dimebucker/jazz set, but before when I had the original bc rich bdsm pickups, in the middle position i'd turn down the neck volume, but still be able to use the bridge pickup (easy harmonics, more treble, etc.) vice versa with the neck pickup and what it did. Well when I got my warlock back after the emgs were installed, if I turned down any volume, the other pickup's volume would go down with it also, this isn't why I wanted the warlock, because I also have a NJ series bc rich virgin with emg 81/85 set, but thats because its got one volume and one tone (I consider that my soloist guitar), but I also want a shred guitar that can use what 2 volumes and 1 tone means, kinda like what my friend's ltd EC100-QM, still any suggestions?

[sumgai]

fan,

It would appear to me that your installer followed the instructions handed to him by EMG, and used what is known as 'forward' wiring. This is the most desirable way to connect up volume controls in terms of noise, your amplifier, etc., but it has that "feature" that's irritating you right now - turning down one volume control to zero kills all output.

If at all possible, you'd like to use the "reverse" mode, which is what your B.C.Rich came with. Check with EMG dealers, their website, other EMG users, etc., and see if reverse mode can be safely used with your pickups. I know that EMG does some funny things vis-a-vis active pickups, so I can't tell you for sure that this is a good/safe thing to do. You need more input from better qualified sources.

It happens that we have some EMG users here on GN2, so hopefully someone will chime in soon, with better assistance for you than I can provide. Sorry 'bout that.


sumgai

[bcrichfan86]

alright sounds good, but since then i've changed to the seymour duncan set: the dimebucker and jazz set. But yeah, my guitar's over at the guitar shop and the guy workin on it is also trying to find some wiring ways for it to be how I want, but thanks again because this is also helping me to know more about wiring ;D

[sumgai]

fan,

In that case, you're not using active electronics at all, right? Then have we got a deal for you! B.C. Rich Fan, come on down!! ;D

Here ya go, just what the doctor ordered:



This is what's called "reverse" volume control wiring - the wiper is coming directly from the pickup + lead, and the "top" of the control is going out to the switch, then on to the output jack, thence to the amp. The downside of this is that you'll notice a bit more noise from your amp's speakers. (Because the input isn't grounded, like it would be with forward wiring.) The upside of course, is that you can turn one pup down all the way, and still have output from the other pup. (But why you'd do that instead of just using the selector switch, that just baffles me no end. )


Note that the pickups are shown as "mere" two-wire units. But your current pups are four-wire jobbies, IINM. And if I am correct, then you have several options available to you in wiring them up for many different kinds of sounds. I'd like to suggest that you browse around here and look at several schematics for dual humbuckers, and if you see something that strikes your fancy, take a copy of it to your tech before he buttons up your axe.

HTH


sumgai

p.s. Any tech of repute should already know this stuff, and be able to hook it up in his sleep. If this is just a friend, that's cool, no harm, no foul. But if you're paying this guy, then you might wanna re-think your relationship here. I predict that in two weeks of reading this forum, you'll be the one telling him what to do!

[bcrichfan86]

Alright sweet I just got back from giving bill "the guitar tech" a copy of that, THANKS FOR THE INFO SUMGAI!!!