Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 14, 2011 12:05:16 GMT -5
Hello all. I am looking for some help on installing 3 hot rail p/ups, i have looked at a few wiring schematics, and found many that come close, but what i would like to do is, keep the pick guard intact, and use some push/pull switches to split all three p/ups in a series/parallel combination, I've seen the Seymour Duncan stacked hum-bucker schematic but found that it does single or double, but no combination like bridge full, middle single, neck single, any help i can get in the right direction i would be very grateful, I've been starring at it to long. the wire code for the p/ups, i have are the following. green is hot. black & bare are both grounds. red & white are tied together. i will be using a 5 way fender switch. i bought 2 push/pull pots, and a blender switch, i was going to do mega strat, but changed my mind. thanks, Gman
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Post by irwired on Jul 14, 2011 12:23:36 GMT -5
Hi Gman Let me be the first to welcome you to the Nuthouse. ;D The powers that be will be moving this thread to Guitar Wiring, I'm pretty sure. As a new member you get an automatic pass for posting in the wrong category. There are folks better qualified than myself to help with your project and I,m sure they will be chiming in any time now. Last august I came here looking for some help and have been hanging around ever since. I hope you will enjoy the company here as much as I do ;D Cheers Wirey
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 14, 2011 12:30:49 GMT -5
Thanks Wirey...
i got to take time to make sure i posting in the right place, it like my wiring skills, there there but need to be fined tuned. i really enjoyed reading the posts, their is a treasure trove of info here.
thanks again Gman
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Post by roadtonever on Jul 14, 2011 13:32:43 GMT -5
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Post by newey on Jul 14, 2011 13:45:32 GMT -5
gman777- Hello and welcome to G-Nutz2! irwired was right, sorry but I had to move your thread. No worries, as a first-timer you get a mulligan on mis-posting. But we do try to keep things in some semblance of an order here, and Guitar Wiring is where this belongs since it's about, err . . . guitar wiring. We'll need a bit more clarity on exactly what you want here. If you really mean that you want to be able to split each of three pickups to single coils, and also have each one be able to be combined in either series or parallel with the other 2 pickups, you're looking at a lot more switching than 3 p/p pots can give you. 3 p/ps are about all you will have to work with to keep a stock look on the pickguard, unless you can sacrifice one tone control for a rotary switch and use the other as a master tone. Even a rotary may not give you every possible single coil and series/parallel option. It is also unclear whether you mean series/parallel between the 2 coils of (one or more of) your rails, or if you mean each one will remain in intra-pickup series and 2 (or more) pickups will be placed in series vs. parallel. Bear in mind that getting "all possible combos" may be satisfying as an exercise in wiring, but may not yield all useable sounds. For example, many folks around here think 3 HBs all wired together in series sounds too muddy to be of much use. Splitting the rails to SC may not sound all that different than both coils in parallel, just noisier. So there are always trade-offs in any scheme. Once we can "zero in" a bit more on exactly what you want, we can point you toward a specific scheme or draw one up if nothing around here fills the bill.
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 15, 2011 7:33:20 GMT -5
thanks for your reply Wirey.... sorry for the confusion... i like the wiring diagram that Roadtonever mentioned. Seymour Duncan's 3 Lil humbucker 1 vol. 2 tones, 5 way switch, 3 splits. i thought i would want to use the 3 push/pull switches to get this combination, full hum at bridge, single in middle and neck, i know that some combination's are useless, but what do you think of this, i came across looking for what i had in mind. t1.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcTUITyfkBZ3ZUkDfjDJphVnkeABpdRY1d75wXQ15SJmEvLGyOI1This is my first project guitar and i thought i would try something that would be pretty versatile. but maybe i should try a combination of HSS or HSH, i would like to have the sound and quack of the fender but the blues/jazziness of the humbucker, i know you can't have it all, and i think by reading schematics way to long, i am thoroughly confused on series / parallel splits to a degree, anything you or anyone could add to direct this project to a better conclusion would be meant with great appreciation. ( i just keep hearing in my head) i don't want to work, i just want to play my guitar all day...... Thanks again ...... Gman Edited by Newey to fix link
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Post by newey on Jul 15, 2011 15:43:24 GMT -5
gman-
I fixed your link, but the diagram is way too small to read. You apparently saved it as a thumbnail.
If you need a better idea of what series/parallel/split sounds are like, check out some of the Sound Samples on the board down below. Of course, with different pickups, guitar, amp etc. it's not going to be exactly alike, but it ought to give you an idea of the various sounds.
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Post by roadtonever on Jul 15, 2011 16:10:03 GMT -5
Heres a link to an aticle that details the diagram including a larger drawing than Gman777 posted: www.christianmusicweb.com/Guitar_wiring.htmlIt uses start-sized humbucker and 500k pots. The tone control is moved from the middle pup to bridge pup. The three p/p's function as split neck AND bridge, split middle and bridge ON. It looks lite a decent way to get your feet wet and no doubt would give you a lot of versatility. If I would do anything differently in that scheme I'd maybe go for parallel instead of split which sounds simmilar to split but still bucks the hum. Also I prefer to solder the grounds to the lug that sticks out at the edge of the switch part on the P/Ps pots.
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Post by newey on Jul 15, 2011 17:00:16 GMT -5
Yeah, RTN's idea for three p/ps has merit. However, while one p/p can be used to split both the neck and bridge pickups simultaneously to SC, you can't use one P/P to put both neck and bridge into intra-pickup series/parallel.
Another idea to get the most options while keeping a stock look is to use one P/P as a mid on/off, and another P/P as mid series/parallel (that is, it puts the middle pup in series or parallel with whatever is selected on the 5-way. The 5-way is then used to select N and Bridge combos only, or it can be replaced by a Superswitch to do series/parallel/SC combos of N and Br pups.
This gives a range of the "broad-spaced HB" sounds, by putting the mid in series with either the N or the Br pups, and also allows for the N + Br and "all three pups" options.
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 16, 2011 12:22:14 GMT -5
First i want to thank you guys for all your input and help, i think that newey has explained what i really have in mind, i was thinking about a super switch, but thought i could use the new fender 5 way i just bought. But if i need the super s. to connect and achieve 3 splits/ series/parallel and if it would make it a lot easier to get bridge,neck, middle combo's, then I'll sure would like to do that. i looked at the diagram roadtonever send over by the link, and i think newey's add on makes it a better plan, again thanks for all your help and input, i am very grateful for those who been their done that. i know i will need a schematic to walk me through this, would it be possible anyone to direct me to one?
thanks again Gman
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Post by roadtonever on Jul 16, 2011 15:02:49 GMT -5
There's a chance what you want has been drawn by someone possibly on this very forum. I'd do a google image search with the terms 'superswitch', 'series' 'parallel' and any other relevant terms and see what comes up. It's easier than sifting through a lot of text at the very least. Hope this helps.
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Post by newey on Jul 16, 2011 15:02:52 GMT -5
A year or so ago, Ashcatlt and I were discussing this scheme, which is for a three-SC Strat-type guitar using the "Baja" Tele 4-position switch and a P/P pot to turn the mid pup on/off. The Baja switch gives series/parallel and each alone for the N and Br pups. guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wiring&action=display&thread=5032This could be adapted to add a series/parallel switch on the mid pup as I suggested, and a 5-way Superswitch could be added instead of the 4-way Baja Switch. The regular Strat 5-way switch limits your options, there's no way to get series/parallel between two pickups and still get each alone. But a version of this using a regular 5-way can be done. How wedded to the regular Strat 5-way are you?
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Post by JohnH on Jul 16, 2011 21:10:39 GMT -5
There’s too many possibilities with three humbuckers if you seek to find them all. I’ve been interested in developing a series of designs for three pickups and a 5-way switch, based on the idea that three pickups on all together is too many, and the best sounds come from one or two. Take a look at these, first for SSS pickups: Strat SPAnd for HSS: Strat SP for HSSFor an HHH version (such as yours), Id suggest keep S1 as series/parallel between pickups, and lose the phase switch. Then have S2 cut both neck and middle to single coil, and S3, turn the bridge pickup to local parallel. Those designs need a 5-way superswitch, and may be more than you want to tackle – but would look stock. cheers John
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 18, 2011 7:20:21 GMT -5
thanks newey; roadtonever and others for piping in on this. but i think i need to make it clearer on what i want to do , I've looked at the combo's i should get with the 3 single stacked humbuckers, and i should be able to get,sss,hss,hsh,hhh, and really that's all i am shooting for. I am not dead set on using a five way switch, if a super switch can fit in to a strat. great. but i have read where some will not. if i can use push/pull switches to get the combo's i want,and the ones i really want, are sss,hss,hsh,and hhh.all the rest to me are pretty much meaning less. i want the pick guard to remain stock as possible, i really dislike toggle switches, no offense to those who do, but i have heard these 3 combo's and think that it is the back bone to the tones i like. i pretty sure it can be accomplished with 3 p/p like the diagram that was sent me in the link, the one thing i didn't like is you lose a tone on the center, but i think i could live with that. if... it means i don't have to deface the pick guard. i hope i didn't muddy the waters any further. i know series will have to come in to play, the guitar i am using is a Lefty 93 Korean squire series, and it has a great sound, made by Cort, 500k pots, a cheap sealed five way (replaced) switch but still plays and feels fantastic, i just traded a snow blower for a Peavey special 130 series amp, 300 watts, made in 88 i believe. the widow maker speaker will knock you out. thanks to the guys who are giving me a hand,and know what they are talking about. i just don't want to improve the sound ,but my understanding,hoping to make a few friends along the way. the sound i can experiment with, knowledge and know how is priceless. hope all is well, and having a good summer. Gman
GMan
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Post by newey on Jul 18, 2011 11:59:14 GMT -5
OK, so no series/parallel switching needed. This does clarify things.
The diagram you linked to with the three P/P pots will do everything you want except HSS. This is because the scheme uses one P/P pot to split both the neck and Bridge HBs simultaneously, meaning SHS and SSS are both possible, but not HSS.
As for the other 2 P/Ps in this scheme: One splits the Middle HB, and the other turns the bridge pup on, thereby giving the N+Br (which you don't care about, apparently) as well as HHH and SSS (which you do).
So this scheme won't do it exactly, but it's close to what you want and can be used as a starting point. What you could do is as follows:
1) Lose the "Bridge On" switch, and use that P/P pot to split the Bridge pup to SC. That way, you have 3 pots, one splits the neck, one does the middle, and the last one splits the bridge to SC. That way, you have all the SC options possible and can split the neck pup separately from the bridge.
2) But you no longer have the "Bridge On" switch- no worries, you can use the 5-way switch to get the "all three pups at once" option you want, thus giving you the SSS, HSS, and HHH options. Since you don't indicate that you care about the "middle only" position (Position 3 on your 5-way switch), you can lose that position and wire position 3 to give you all 3 pickups at once. Doing so is one of the classic Strat mods, we have a diagram to do so around here somewhere . . .
To modify the prior diagram so that one P/P pot splits each of the pickups, just wire each P/P in the same way as the P/P for the middle pickup is shown.
The downside of doing this are that you lose the std. Strat setting of "middle pup only", and you lose the N + Br option since you no longer have the "Bridge On" switch. But, you indicated that those settings don't float yer canoe anyway. You gain the HSS you want, as well as SSH.
(BTW, your designation of HSS is not clear as to whether you want the "H" to be the bridge or the neck; this scheme gives you either SSH or HSS, so it doesn't matter. With some other schemes, it may matter which pup we designated as being the bridge.)
We have not spoken (yet) of hum-cancellation, either; proper choice of which coils get split for each pup can maximize humcanceling in your HSS and SSH positions. SSS will only be partially humcancelling in any event.
You do not need a Superswitch to do what I have suggested.
The scheme you linked to puts the tones on the neck and bridge, presumably because the "Bridge On" switch seemed like it ought to have its own tone control. And, indeed, moving the middle tone to the bridge is another of those classic Strat mods that folks do even when they don't have a Bridge On" switch.
But you can have your 2 tone controls on the neck and middle like a std. Strat if you like. You can assign the tone controls to any two pickups you want. Or, you can put two pickups on one tone control, and thereby have tone control over all three pickups. Note that you will get interaction of the 2 controls when you are in the "all three" mode (i.e., HSS, SSS, HHH, etc.) no matter what you do.
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 18, 2011 13:11:57 GMT -5
hey newey: i thought i could achieve the combo's i wanted , but i like the idea of having tone control over the bridge more then the middle, but you say i can have both? i printed out the diagram of the link roadtonever sent me, i do care about the neck and bridge. the hss and the hsh will be from the bridge position, the hum cancellation will not be a concern for now, but their are some things i can do, but for now i am just focusing on the getting it wired into the combo's i like, i know this is a learning process for me, but if i can control the tone over these sss,hss,hsh,hhh, then this is what i want, if i need a super switch to make this easier i am willing to do what ever it takes to get this combo. so from your perspective, can this be done with out adding anything more to the pick guard, i have 1 vol.2 tones and a 5 way switch, but more i read about the super switch the more i like it. but if its not necessary, i can live without it. the hss is one i don't want to lose if its possible, what do you say.
Gman
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Post by newey on Jul 18, 2011 22:23:00 GMT -5
OK, well then, scratch that idea! What about N + M and Br + M, the std. Strat 2 and 4 positions? If you don't want or care about those combos, and if you're willing to substitute a Superswitch, something might be able to be done. By specifying that you want to get HHH, SSS, HSH and HSS, you dictate that all three pickups must be coil split independently of each other. This mean switching 3 things independently- there's your 3 P/Ps right there. If, on top of that, you demand N + B, N + M and Br + M (i.e., all 3 possible combos of 2 pickups) we will rapidly run out of switching without losing the stock appearance. One possibility we haven't mentioned is the ChrisK's "Free Neck On" switch, which uses one of the tone controls to switch the neck pickup to "always on" mode. This may be the only way to get all you want and keep a stock appearance. With this mod, the neck tone control puts the neck pickup "always on" (regardless of the position of the 5-way) when the tone is at 9 or 10; below about 8 it acts as a regular tone control, and the neck pickup is on only if it is selected on the 5-way switch. The same concept can be transposed for a "Free Bridge On" switch, or a "Free Mid On" for that matter.
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Post by JohnH on Jul 19, 2011 5:04:02 GMT -5
I was wondering if the four selections of HHH, HSS HSH, SSS could be contrived to occur using the four possible positions of just two push/pull switches. Unfortunately, It seems that this would need one more pole than is available on these switches.
How about swapping one tone pot for a rotary switch? A three-pole four-way rotary could give those settings, together with a master volume and master tone pot. One push/pull switch would do bridge-on, to provide the required options with a normal 5-way switch.
john
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 19, 2011 8:52:03 GMT -5
thanks John,newey. for your input, i contacted Scott at Seymour Duncan, he gave me a few leads to contact, he said it is a reasonable cool design, but directed me to the forum, but did not know who has done this type of set up. there are others who have done the 3 Lil humbucker 3 splits with the 1vol,2 tone 5 way switch, but to get the other combo's he thought it was possible. i talked to Steve at S&K guitar specialties he had this to say.
All you have to do is wire the pickups individually to a push pull SW for coil cut prior to the 5 way. The wiring for the 5 way/vol/tone etc would be "standard". This will allow the options you want plus more. (i.e. SHH, HHS etc.
but didn't go into the the tone control factor. i believe you can use the same push/pull SW. for tone control, i think the reason you can't find a diagram for this, because i tried contacting people who have this set up, is that they paid someone to do it, and they can't take some ones design and put it on the net, i think i would pay, if it speeds up the process, all i need at this point is a wiring diagram to get me there. with the Lil humbucker Seymour split, he uses 1 push/pull to split 3 humbuckers, i don't see why you cant use 3 p/p to control each individual pick up. 1 for the bridge,1 for the middle,1 for the neck. control tone on bridge.up splits the bridge,middle,neck. down all 3 full humuckers. so all you do to get hss,would be down bridge, up middle, up neck, etc. i am not interested in the other options like he stated shh,hhs, tone control would be nice over all of it, not just at the bridge, but i would not mind losing the middle tone control so i could control the bridge & neck. So, if anybody has a working wire diagram or knows how to achieve this with out guessing, i would be very grateful but i think i might have to buy one.
Gman
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Post by sumgai on Jul 19, 2011 12:42:46 GMT -5
(I begin to see why ChrisK was sometimes so irascible....) Gman, Hi, and to the NutzHouse! Let me see if I can re-rail this thing back to where we can help you. I'm having trouble parsing your desires. So far, all I can figure out is that you want X switch to achieve Y function. But that's in the generic sense - your paragraphs are written such that they run all these things together, and that's not making it easy for the rest of us to "get on the same page" with you. (Witness the guess-work that's been posted so far....) What I'd like to see is a simple list of what tonal combinations you wish to achieve, like this: 1. Combo M + B 2. Combo B * N 3. Combo N + M + B Describe your combinations in further detail if you wish, but keep it to one combo per list item, please. For bonus points, you can list what parts you already have on hand to work with, and whether or not you're willing to accomodate other parts, should such be required. This will make it easy for us to see what you're after, and present you with designs that you might choose from. From then on, discussion between all of us remains on point, with less guess-work. Give-and-take, so to speak. And if you change your mind about something during that discussion, no problem... we do it all the time! ;D Looking forward to seeing what it is you want to pull out of your 'monster' guitar..... sumgai
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Post by newey on Jul 19, 2011 13:30:04 GMT -5
sg's right, we have a bit of confusion here over this. Your latest post says:
Unless I'm really missing the boat here, this is exactly the solution I have been offering you. The 3 P/Ps take care of the coil splits; we still have the issue of getting your 5-way switch to take care of the "all 3 pickups on" setting you want, since this is not part of the standard Strat switch settings. If you want N + Br as well as all 3 pups together, then a Superswitch will be needed and you will have to lose either B + M or N + M (whether it's a Superswitch or a 5-way, it can only give you 5 discrete choices.)
So, please do list your preferred choices.
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Gman777
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 20, 2011 9:34:57 GMT -5
Sorry for the confusion: bear with me... in order to get sss, hss,hsh,hhh, it has to be worked out on the 5 way switch. i have 3 push/pull switches to split the 3 stacked humbucker's. a 5 way switch. but the 5 way wont do all the combo's sss, hss,hsh,hhh, stated by newey. so a super switch is needed, but still limited.
so if i understand correctly, i would have to add toggles to the pick guard, or neck or rotary switch, something that would get me more then 5 choices. is this correct?
quote " By specifying that you want to get HHH, SSS, HSH and HSS, you dictate that all three pickups must be coil split independently of each other. This mean switching 3 things independently- there's your 3 P/Ps right there. and IF on top of that, you demand N + B, N + M and Br + M (i.e.,all 3 possible combos of 2 pickups) we will rapidly run out of switching without losing the stock appearance.[/u] if you mean adding other combo's to sss,hss,hsh,hhh. No.. i am just shooting for the ones mentioned. in my very limited knowledge, i know that the bridge,middle, and neck combination is what i need to get sss,hss.hsh,hhh.
the limits on switching combination's misunderstood by me, is the problem. so if its possible to keep the pick guard stock OK. if not, then i should either consider more switches( toggles) or adjust my possibilities that will work with a 5 way switch.
do i have that right? if not i should stick to a acoustic guitar.
the tonal combination stated by sumgai,
1. Combo M + B 2. Combo B * N 3. Combo N + M + B
the above is a little confusing for me, knowing the tonal combination that i am trying to reach, is some but not all of the above.
if i understand that correctly. mine would be B+M+N. this will achieve the combination's of sss,hss,hsh,hhh. these splits/ or coils that needed to be split are the tonal combination's through the p/p switches , the five way cannot accommodate all these combo's.
so how do i get the combination's i want? if it is all possible.
if you were building a strat, in these combination's sss,hss,hsh,hhh
what would you do, to keep it as simple as possible.
thanks for listening.
Gman
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Post by sumgai on Jul 20, 2011 12:07:57 GMT -5
Gman, When building a guitar and installling a set of pickups (more than one), the installation is called a "pickup configuration". It is usually denoted as "HSH" or "SSS" or some-such. Those are abbreviations for Humbucker-Single-Humbucker, etc. The initial letters represent a shortcut to describe what kind of pickups are installed, and that's all they're meant to represent. Now. When we put any pickups into a guitar, no matter if they're Single Coil or Humbucker, they can be combined in various ways - two in parallel, two in series, if there's a third pup available, then all three can be combined, again in parallel or series. And that's just scratching the surface, we can get really crazy, given the desire...... Add one or more Humbuckers to the mix, and it gets real interesting, real fast. You can now state things like Hn (Humbucker, implied split to north coil only), or Hsoop (Humbuckers coils in series but out of phase), etc. etc. I could go on and on..... So by you telling us that you want HSS, HSH, SSS, etc, that tells us nothing we can get our teeth into. Wanting to split some (most? all?) of the humbuckers you've installed into your axe is fine, but at the risk of sounding repetitive, that tells us nothing we can use to help you. All I'm asking here is that you refrain from using the terms HSS, SSS, HSH, over and over and over. Physically, you can have only one configuration in your guitar at a time - it's the law! ;D Once you've settled on that configuration, then we can help you determine how to obtain various pickup combinations (parallel, series, in or out of phase, etc.). So far, all I can do is guess that you want all three pickups to be humbuckers, and that you want all three of them on all the time. Add to that the ability to to split each humbucker to act as a single coil, while it's still in combination with the other two pickups..... am I right, or what? (Personally, I'd find that restriction on my tonal pallette to be too..... restrictive. ) In short, am I asking too much to just see a list of what pickups you've installed, and another list of what combos you want to obtain? Please, I beg of you - leave the push-pulls, the tone and/or volumes, all lthat stuff out of it - we are not yet at that stage of the game, design-wise. In other words, it's not yet time to run, we're still trying to walk without falling over! Hope that helped. sumgai
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 20, 2011 14:30:56 GMT -5
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Post by JohnH on Jul 20, 2011 17:54:41 GMT -5
Try this as a summary:
1. I think we are clear that your main wishes are to have your four combinations HHH, HSH etc as you have described, in which H is a full humbucker and S a pickup cut to a single coil. We assume that this means that in each of these four settings, all three pickups (neck, middle and bridge) are all to be switched on at once. Is that correct? 2. All three pickups switched on is denoted N+M+B (for conventional parallel wiring) 3. What we don’t know is what other combinations are needed. It would be very unusual to have a guitar with three pickups, where all three are always on. I would have assumed that you would also want to have some options to select pickups singly or in pairs Is that true? 4. A standard Strat 5-way switch has 5 settings, which select N, N+M, M, M+B, B ie, it selects one or two pickups at a time. It does not do all three at once. To get that, you need a different switch, or an extra switch. If you want the 5 standard options, and also get N+M+B that you need, the easiest solution is to have an extra switch to force the bridge pickup on. So N becomes N+B (another useful setting) and N+M becomes N+M+B, (which is the key to your stated pickup selections). 5. If you don’t want to add another switch for bridge-on, you can change your standard 5-way to a 5-way superswitch, which is a more versatile unit. You can then choose any 5 combinations of N, M and B for the 5 positions. One position can be N+M+B, and you need to choose four other, one or two pickup, combinations. 6. On the coil cuts to get your stated selections, you can do this with push pull switches, and you need one for each pickup. This will allow you to pick the four that you want, and will also provide four other combinations. 7. But three push pulls, and an extra bridge-on switch, implies an extra hole in the pick guard – probably for a mini-toggle switch. 8. I also noted that you could alternatively use a rotary switch for your coil cutting, in place of a tone pot – then you can use a push pull switch for bridge on, and no extra drilling is needed. Or, newey posted a way to use a tone pot in place of a bridge-on switch.
The way I see it, the switching you need, and whether or not you can have it without extra drilling of the pick guard depends on what other combinations you want.
So if you could review 1-7 above, and let us know if you agree/disagree or its not clear, and think about other settings, then we can move onwards!
Cheers John
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Post by newey on Jul 20, 2011 21:33:36 GMT -5
Gman- With a std. Strat switch, this is as close as I can get to what you want. Notice that, in order to get the "all 3 pickups" setting at position 2, you get a duplicate B + M at position 3. You lose the N + M setting. It also doesn't do the N + B you wanted. It could also be wired the reverse of this, so that N + M + B would be at position 4, and you'd duplicate N + M instead of B + M. (Notice that I'm counting the neck as "1", which is really backwards from the way Fender does it). I have only shown one P/P pot, on the bridge pickup, and I omitted the pots for clarity- they get wired just like regular Strat wiring. Of course, you will actually have 3 P/Ps, so that any or all pickups can be switched to the N coil alone for your SC combos. Also note that I did not address any hum-cancelling for the SC modes, you may want to choose the south coil on one of the pickups so as to maximize hum-cancelling. This can be easily done, just ask if you're interested in doing that as well. Now, with a Superswitch, you could have any 5 combos of your 3 pickups you want (given that we're only talking about parallel combos here). But you can only have 5, since the switch just has 5 positions. If you want N + B at one position and N + M + B at another, then you've used up 2 of your 5 and you won't have 2 of the std. Strat choices. To get more combos would require, as we've all noted above, more switching of some sort or other. If the above isn't exactly what you want, hopefully it can serve as a starting point to zero in on your wish list.
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Post by newey on Jul 20, 2011 22:53:37 GMT -5
On further reflection, this may be a better solution than my first one, as it gives you your N + B, and has no duplicate positions, but you have to give up either the N alone or the B alone (your choice!). I also need someone to vet this one, I think it'll work as shown but I'm not as sure of it as the first iteration. The diagram shows only the 5-way wiring, everything else stays the same as the first one.
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Gman777
Rookie Solder Flinger
JN.3:16
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Post by Gman777 on Jul 21, 2011 9:21:26 GMT -5
Hey guys:
i will try to stay on Que.
John stated. I think we are clear that your main wishes are to have your four combination's HHH, HSH etc as you have described, in which H is a full humbucker and S a pickup cut to a single coil. We assume that this means that in each of these four settings, all three pickups (neck, middle and bridge) are all to be switched on at once. Is that correct?
this is correct... if possible. that's where i thought the push/pulls could be controlled individually.
What we don’t know is what other combination's are needed. It would be very unusual to have a guitar with three pickups, where all three are always on. I would have assumed that you would also want to have some options to select pickups singly or in pairs Is that true? ....
Yes, this is correct... to have control over all singly or in pairs.
4. A standard Strat 5-way switch has 5 settings, which select N, N+M, M, M+B, B ie, it selects one or two pickups at a time. It does not do all three at once. To get that, you need a different switch, or an extra switch. If you want the 5 standard options, and also get N+M+B that you need, the easiest solution is to have an extra switch to force the bridge pickup on. So N becomes N+B (another useful setting) and N+M becomes N+M+B, (which is the key to your stated pickup selections).
I agree : at fist i thought all 3 p/p switches would do this. and wiring the 5 way would be my only problem.
But three push pulls, and an extra bridge-on switch, implies an extra hole in the pick guard – probably for a mini-toggle switch.
If it takes just one toggle to achieve this i would do that no problem. but if not... 2-3- etc.. i would be willing to scale down my options and pick the best tonal values.
I also noted that you could alternatively use a rotary switch for your coil cutting, in place of a tone pot – then you can use a push pull switch for bridge on, and no extra drilling is needed. Or, newey posted a way to use a tone pot in place of a bridge-on switch.
this would be excellent.... sometimes less is better.
The way I see it, the switching you need, and whether or not you can have it without extra drilling of the pick guard depends on what other combination's you want.
I would like to stick to the 4 options stated, but if i received additional options from doing just the 4, great... but the 4 is really all i want.
about the first schematic : i think i would like to keep the wiring and switch combination's close to stock as possible, but reverse would be a bummer.
the 2nd schematic: looks good. but if i have to give up the N or B would it be possible to get either back say with one toggle switch? or for that matter 2 if necessary.
i see now, that the 4 combination's i would like to get, means the pick guard cant remain stock. I'm trying to put to much on standard controls. is this true ?
Now that you gave an education on controls, i would still like to get
the 4 that i like, but i am opened to adding to the pick guard to get it.
thanks guys on helping me out.
Gman
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Post by newey on Jul 21, 2011 14:15:51 GMT -5
One extra switch for either a "Bridge On" or a "neck On' switch would do the trick. This would allow you to keep the standard Strat wiring on the 5-way (N, N+M, M, M + B, B) and avoid all the messing around with the 5-way that I had to do in order to get the "all 3" options and the N + B onto the 5-way, all at the cost of one or more of the stock settings.
This would work as follows:
1) Each pickup is wired first to a P/P pot to select SC or HB mode
2) The Neck (or Bridge) would have a separate toggle switch to turn that pickup on, regardless of the 5-way setting. Flipping this switch one way leaves you on the std 5-way settings; flipping it the other way would turn the neck pickup on (or bridge, depending), thus giving you the following settings on the 5-way: N, N+M, N+M, N+M+B, N + B- you get your "all 3 pickups" setting as well as N + B.
3) 5-way is wired as normally done, and Vol and tone pots are Std Start wiring. You can move one of the tone pots to the bridge pickup if you want to do so, as discussed previously.
The only drawback, and a minor one as I see it, is that you have a redundant setting on the 5-way with the toggle flipped to "neck on"
This is just one way to do this; a "middle On" switch would do the same, and there are options for rewiring the 5-way with the toggle as well.
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Post by JohnH on Jul 21, 2011 21:00:46 GMT -5
neweys last post = way to go!
That's going to give you a very sensible and versatile guitar, that is not quirky - anyone who knows a Strat would easily get it. IMO I think it will cover all the best possibillities with your pickups with a simple design.
Beyond that, we sometimes add phase switches (thin sound - fun but not really much use in practice), and series wiring of pickups (ie pickups are wired end to end instead of in parallel as normal). Series wiring makes a louder, thicker sound which is often a good addition to a guitar with single coils. But you already have humbuckers which have coils in series, so you have that angle well covered.
Onwards...
John
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