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Post by peppercorn on Sept 9, 2011 3:24:48 GMT -5
Hi guys! (and Gals)
I have a standard wired strat except for the output. Instead of going straight to the jack I have a switch which sends the output to an onboard Dallas Rangemaster Treble Booster.
It is powered by a 9 volt battery and it works really well and certainly brightens up the tone. When the switch is flipped, it just goes straight out the jack.
The mini switch I use has a fault at present and instead of just replacing it I was wondering if you may be able to help me with changing the setup??
Firstly, I have one tone pot and it is wired up like a normal strat. But I was wondering if there was some way where I might be able to wire the guitar to use the Tone Pot as a kind of master Tone to mix in the Rangemaster with the normal output sound??? So, the Tone Pot would be like a master volume for the Rangemaster without actually effecting the overall volume of the guitar output, just add brightness from the Rangemaster!
To give you the complete picture, I only have 3 holes available to achieve this. Presently the holes are used by 1: the volume, 2: is the tone and 3: is the switch.
Thanks for any help. Wiring is not my strong suit!
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Post by asmith on Sept 9, 2011 6:06:14 GMT -5
Hey Pep, Try this.  That's a variable resistance in parallel with your Treble Booster. At full whack, most of your signal will head through the treble booster. At no whack, your signal will bypass the booster and head straight to output. A "No-Load" pot would be best used here, as it effectively gives inifinity resistance when you want your Treble Booster at full setting. If so, forget that red connection altogether. As always, someone else may have a better solution kicking round. |
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Post by peppercorn on Sept 9, 2011 6:49:06 GMT -5
Hwy thanks Mr Smith!
Now, do I get this correct??
The variable resistor IS a Pot Yea?? The way I read your post (being electrically challenged) The bottom pot connection is wired to the middle connection, and another wire runs from that middle connection to the input of the Rangemaster.
Then, the output of the Rangemaster goes to the 3rd connection on the Pot.
Is that right???
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Post by asmith on Sept 9, 2011 7:03:05 GMT -5
The variable resistor IS a Pot Yea?? The way I read your post (being electrically challenged) The bottom pot connection is wired to the middle connection, and another wire runs from that middle connection to the input of the Rangemaster. Then, the output of the Rangemaster goes to the 3rd connection on the Pot. Is that right??? 10 points. Bang on. Really, think about using a No-Load pot. You'll get a much better response from the Treble Booster with it. Here's a tutorial on how to make one, once you've figured out what pot resistance you think is best for you. |
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Post by newey on Sept 9, 2011 7:53:33 GMT -5
If this will work, asmith has you on the right track. But I question whether mixing the active signal from the Rangemaster with the passive signal will really be effective. The Rangemaster will have a positive gain associated with it, and its output impedance will be different. IOW, I expect the active signal will swamp any contribution of the passive at even a slight move of the knob.
You will also have a dilemma as to what pot value to choose; the passive signal "wants to see" a significantly higher resistance.
This might work better if the passive output was buffered before the mixing occurs.
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Post by ashcatlt on Sept 9, 2011 8:03:56 GMT -5
First problem I see is that when turned toward "bypass" you'll have the low-Z output of the Rangemaster (further reduced by being in parallel with the input) loading down the passive pickups. This will destroy the treble response.
Another problem I see is that you've basically built a "feedback looper" into your guitar. As the pot is turned toward the "bypass" position you'll start getting the Rangemaster's output back into its own input, and it will probably begin to osciallate before it is shorted out. Even when fully "shorted" there may be just enough resistance in the system where that oscillation will come through the final output.
JohnH has posted a number of times on ways to mix passive pickups with active circuits. It's usually in the context of mixing piezo with magnetic pickups, but would work in this application as well. Don't have time right now to poke around for it.
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Post by peppercorn on Sept 9, 2011 9:00:53 GMT -5
What about this?? I found it in a Google Search. If I sent the output of the Volume Pot to the Rangemaster, and then the output of the Rangemaster to the Blendpot, and the output from the Volume pot straight to the Blendpot as the 2nd input. Would that work?? here is the result of the search!!!  This is a great mod for any guitar with a two pickup + 3-way toggle switch configuration like, most Gibson models and several archtop guitars. The goal of this guitar mod is to be able to blend the sound of two pickups in any amount. With a standard 3-way toggle switch, you can only get: 100% neck pickup or 50% neck pickup/50% bridge pickup or 100% bridge pickup. By replacing this 3-way toggle switch with a blend pot you can access 100% neck pickup/0% bridge pickup to 100% bridge pickup/0% neck pickup and anything in between (ex. 71%/29% or 39%/61%). This mod is one of my favorites because it is very easy to perform, not expensive and super practical. Forewarnings and General Info... In the diagram above you see Source A and Source B as well as Output and Ground. Source A and Source B are the hot (+) wires from your two pickups. The Output wire (+) will go to the first lug on the volume pot and the Ground wire will go to the volume pots housing. |
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Post by newey on Sept 9, 2011 10:19:20 GMT -5
A blend pot will have the same issues that ash and I have alluded to, you're still mixing active with passive signals.
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Post by peppercorn on Sept 9, 2011 10:50:55 GMT -5
Ahh OK.....................................timr gir dome sleep now I'll get back in a few hours
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Post by ashcatlt on Sept 9, 2011 12:42:58 GMT -5
Active Pickup Blender or Volume ModuleNote that the actual blending here happens at the far left of the circuit schematic in a simple passive pot. One source goes in one outside lug, the other to the opposite outside lug, and output from the wiper. The active portion is maybe unnecessary, though you might still want a buffer before splitting the passive pickup signal. You could probably use the active portion of JohnH's thing to do that. Do you have a schematic or a something for this Rangemaster thing? We might be able to make a simple mod to the existing circuit to get what you're looking for.
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Post by JohnH on Sept 9, 2011 15:54:47 GMT -5
Yes, the circuit that Ash linked to is what I'd suggest.
If you are willing to try something quick, then get a 500k pot (preferably linear, but log will work for a test) and wire it as described above, one end to pickup output, other end to TB output, centre lug to jack. Its bacically in place of your current switch. It should work, but the things to check for are:
Does turning all the way to 'pickup' completely remove the TB sound? How about with the volume pot turned down a bit?.
How are the 'in between' settings on the blender? Do they sound dull or clear?
The issues above are related to why the extra active stage(s) may be better, but it might be OK without. So if you are willing to try that as a test, reversibly, then it might be instructive.
John
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Post by peppercorn on Sept 9, 2011 21:36:37 GMT -5
Thanks guys!! I'll give it a go and report back!
thanks again
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Post by asmith on Sept 12, 2011 5:53:06 GMT -5
Corn-Dawg,
Apologies for sending you down a wrong track back there. I'm looking forward to reading your results.
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Post by peppercorn on Sept 14, 2011 4:05:02 GMT -5
I have an issue with the circuit atm but once I get some time I'll check out whats wrong with it and get back to ya's. Thanks all for the interest and help I appreciate it!!!!! Lots!
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