Push/Pull Switch and Spin-a-split?

[bagpussandco1977]

Hi Guys,

Is it possible to combine a standard series/parallel using a push/pull pot with a spin-a-split pot?

I've got a SD JB and I've seen a schematic somewhere that utilises one push-pull for series/parallel switching and another to activate a coil tap instead.

I was just wondering if it was possible to replace the coil tap push/pull with a spin-a-split pot.

Any suggestions would be appreciated.

Thanks

Chris

[newey]

bp&c'77-

Hello and welcome!

I wondered what you meant by "spin-a-split", but found this on the SD website:



As far as my institutional memory around here goes, I don't recall a discussion of this technique, but it's really just another use of a tone pot for blending purposes.

As to whether you can use the DPDT switch on a push/pull for series/parallel and also split the coils with the pot, I don't know- I'll await the arrival of the wiring gurus.

I assume you're talking about just the one HB pickup? IOW, you want to be able to put the 2 coils into either series or parallel with the push/pull, and split off one coil of the same pickup with the pot?

[JohnH]

I think this is a smart idea -it lets you get all three sounds, and blending of single to humbucker, all on one knob for which you may not have to drill a new hole if you can sacrifice an existing knob function.

I reckon you can do it.

Heres the series/paralel switch, nicked from Wolfs site:



Wire your pickup to that switch (and not directly to the pot), then, using the diagram that newey posted, connect the middle lug of the tone pot (now the spin a split), to the switch centre left lug. What that does is, in series mode, shunts the centre connection between the coils to ground using the pot, hence letting you transition from series to single coil. In parallel mode, the pot does nothing since it is then connects between two grounded points.

cheers

John

[bagpussandco1977]

Thanks guys...this is exactly what I meant I'm putting together a single humbucker rear drilled Strat from Warmoth parts and as it's intended to be a bit of an 80s tribute I thought a tone pot was a bit unnecessary but I needed to find something to put into the second pot hole.

Just to make sure I've got this right...is this what it should look like?

[pete12345]

yep, but I would connect the right lug of the pot to the lower left lug of the switch- its bad wiring practice to rely on the shielding as a ground connection. If you had a les paul type guitar, and using a concentric pot for volume/tone, you could have total pickup control with only 2 knobs for each.

[ashcatlt]

Some people will tell you that it's poor practice to have two parallel paths to ground (ground loops), in which case you'd want to eliminate the connection from the pot lug to its case, before connecting the wire mentioned above.

To the question at hand, I think the parallel setting will be so close to a single coil sound that you won't ever use the split, unless you really want a bit of extra buzzing.

[bagpussandco1977]

I worked out how to get the three different options with a standard tele 3way switch one and there is a difference between coil cut and parallel....and it's not just hum lol.

The main reason for me wanting to do this is that the Warmoth body is rear-mounted and I requested them to drill the positions for the two tone pots only so I could have Volume and Tone but out of the way of my picking hand.

The only thing is as it's a "back to the 80s" Charvel type guitar I think have a tone control on it would be a bit superflous so I thought I'd maximise my wiring options.

I'm wiring it up sometime this week and I'll let you all know how I go on.

Thanks guys

Chris