advice: Fralin high-output humbucker configuration

[program3]

Hey, how's it going. I'm new to the board and to wiring. So thank you already in advance. I'm trying to figure out a configuration for two fralin humbuckers (12.5 and 13.5 K) that is simple enough, but will also let me dial in some better sounds for chords and even a little vintage. It seems wise to have a volume pot for each pup, and perhaps just a master tone, but I cannot decide whether I should put a tone choke, coil tap one or both pickups (and with one or two switches), etc. Any advice? Also, are humbuckers arranged with alternating poles -- i.e. NS NS or SN SN? and any change for lefty?

Thanks a lot; I really appreciate your help.

All best,

Ian

[wolf]

program3
Hey, I bet that's you that sent me the E-Mail. I said I was a member here. Anyway, I'm at work now but I'll have more to post when I can get at the diagram on my computer at home.

Welcome to the board!!!

[flateric]

My favourite setup for 2 HB's is PRS McCarty-type wiring; a standard 3-way toggle switch for p'up selection, a single master tone and single master vol but the tone pot being push-pull or similar for coil split. This gives you 6 easy and diverse tones that are also very user-friendly in the heat of a gig, poor lighting and sweaty hands. There's plenty of diagrams for this basic type of setup on the Seymour Duncan site as well as on here.

[program3]

Thanks a lot! Are you coil splitting both pups or just, say, the bridge? Talked to the Fralin guys and they seemed to think it wasn't a bad idea to have a series parallel switch for the two humbuckers. it seems i'm only going to have two knobs to deal with. so it's a master tone and master volume with 2 dpdt switches or two concentric volume and a tone with a dpdt switch. I guess the question is - two volumes worth it for just one coil tap? Or one master volume with the ability to coil tap either humbucker? Or master volume with the ability to tap one humbucker and change the whole setup between series and parallel?

[Sebster5696]

Hi,
You could try this circuit which has series/parallel switches and coil-taps. I have used this circuit on my guitar and i think it's great. Although it has 1 Volume and 2 tones, and you said you wanted a volume for both pickups, and a master tone control... but I'll leave that to someone else.
BTW I used push-pull pots for the series/parallel switches.


Seb

[wolf]

Sebster5696
Wow that sure looks like a pretty complex wiring there.

First, don't you think we should discuss the fundamentals?
For example, what are the color codes for Lindy Fralin humbuckers?
From what I could determine from this page on their website:
www.fralinpickups.com/images/phazrev.jpg
it seems that they are the same as DiMarzio pickups.


Notice that the wiring of the neck pickup is an "inside out" version of the
standard wiring? This is not an out of phase arrangement.
Instead, it allows the inner coils to be active when the coil cut switch is thrown,
making the circuit humbucking.
Of course the coils would be wired in parallel and it would be nice to
have a series option for this too.
Well, that's a lot to consider for one posting.

Again, are the pickup wire color codes the same as DiMarzio?
(It would be nice if they showed a diagram
instead of their "slug coil start" explanation.)

[flateric]

Program3: I'd go for single vol and tone with the tone push-pull splitting both coils, basically as per wolf's schematic above but with JohnH (God) twist of reversing the wiring in the neck pup so that when both pups are selected together in coil tap mode they remain hum-cancelling.
I find separate vol pots for each pup a pain when playing live. The coil tap switch has an added benefit of acting like a lead boost button. With coil tap selected you can set your amp to just before it starts to break up into crucnh and play rhythm parts nicely. Then for lead/solo stuff just push the tone knob in to engage humbuckers and give the signal an extra boost which can push your amp nicely into overdrive with a fuller, fatter and stronger sound.

[Sebster5696]

wolf said:

Wow that sure looks like a pretty complex wiring there.

First, don't you think we should discuss the fundamentals?

Wolf,
Yes it is very complex wiring and yes we probably should discuss the fundamentals first, then later jump in with the schematics.
It will save time because we won't have to problem solve, in other words everything will be pre-solved.

Seb

[wolf]

falteric
If you notice my schematic above, the neck pickup is wired "inside out" so that the inner coils are active and hum-cancelling.
Sebster5696
Oh I agree that it is good to have a neat, well-drawn-out plan. Still if the pickup wires don't go to the proper places, the sound will not be what you want. Also, I believe that program3 is new to guitar rewiring and we don't want to overwhelm him with schematics.
program3
Among other things, do you mind drilling extra holes in your guitar? Yes, this might seem a drastic thing to you but it does have its advantages. (You can use toggle switches and there are no push-pull pots to obtain; you don't have to look for some hard to find 6P3T switch, etc.)

[flateric]

wolf said:

flateric
If you notice my schematic above, the neck pickup is wired "inside out" so that the inner coils are active and hum-cancelling.

I notice now you've edited you post, yes! Didn't originally spot it from the schematic.
I would still recommend easy-to-find push-pull tone pot over having to drill holes in your pride and joy to fit a mini toggle if you want to do the coil-tap thing.

[wolf]

flateric
Honest, I didn't edit my post because of your comment.
I even forget why I did edit that - I think it was to add the Lindy Fralin website link.

[flateric]

LOL, just pulling your leg sir.

[wolf]

flateric
Okay, no problem.

[program3]

thanks a lot! i really appreciate all the responses and help! i'll keep you updated on how it goes.