Post by moosie on Jan 23, 2013 1:24:53 GMT -5
Hi folks. Having got lucky once, soldering my Strat to JohnH's HSS spec, I am now climbing further out on the limb.
I asked the other day about a simple blender circuit, and got a good answer. But on reflection, I wanted a couple more things. None of them critical, but I'm enjoying the game. I've linked my component diagram, and would love someone to look it over. First time I've done this, so don't break a rib laughing.
Note: I noticed I removed the image from my site, breaking this post. Here's the image, but it's the final version, which is probably different from the original that used to display here. This is the version currently in my Strat. I love it!
The design goals are stock Strat with the following differences:
1. Blender (instead of 2nd tone pot). N, N+M, M all can blend in B. M+B, B can blend in N. A simpler design would have been M blends nothing, but I rarely play B alone, and unlike many people, I actually like M at times. A little bit of B bite would be nice. Alternatively, M-blend-N didn't seem useful. Positions 2 and 4 allow for all three pickups, and of course positions 1 and 5 both allow for N+B in varying blends, for a Tele-ish feel.
2. Simple treble bleed mod. I have liked similar values as these, in series in the past.
3. Master tone. This is a no-click no-load pot, designed to go out of the circuit on 10. I'm also trying a couple of things, perhaps too much at once... 50s vintage wiring, connecting tone to volume's middle lug; and the Greasebucket circuit. I do use the tone knob, and hate it getting muddy. Maybe vintage and treble bleed is unnecessary? Too bright for a Strat, all around?
2. Volume pot is push/pull. What I'm calling a Blower switch for simplicity. It's more of a Direct switch. When pulled, the volume, tone, and blend pots are out of the circuit, but the pickup selections are left alone. I don't have the need for a "solo button", so no bridge-only, series, etc. The "surprise" not-really-wanted feature here is that by removing all the pot loads, there is no blend. So, if you were blending, pull the switch and you're not.
The blower does two things: pickup hot connects directly to the middle lug of the volume pot, where it heads out of the guitar; and ground is lifted from the volume and tone pots (and these are differentiated from pot shell grounding). Does this look right?
I'm not sure until I wire it up (feel free to chime in here) how the blender will work. Have I chosen the correct lugs? I've gone to lengths to ensure that the bridge always goes to the same lug, thinking this may keep the direction of turn more understandable. But maybe I've gotten this wrong. It was very cool to figure out how to do that bit, though ;D
The Blender is no-load, clickless, and it's my understanding I need this because otherwise when logically "zeroed", there will still be some of the other pickup coming through. Is that right? Again, correct lugs and all? I just can't quite wrap my head around that part.
You'll notice the star ground wiring. Some of that's needed for the blower-ground-lift, but I also prefer to wire that way. If you see problems with it, fire away.
I'm sure this is a pretty simple circuit for many experienced modders. I'm just getting started, and this took quite a while to figure out. Any feedback before I learn by the trial of hot iron is much appreciated.
And of course if you want to build it first, let me know how it goes But hurry, I'm getting the parts as we speak.
Cheers.
-joe
I asked the other day about a simple blender circuit, and got a good answer. But on reflection, I wanted a couple more things. None of them critical, but I'm enjoying the game. I've linked my component diagram, and would love someone to look it over. First time I've done this, so don't break a rib laughing.
Note: I noticed I removed the image from my site, breaking this post. Here's the image, but it's the final version, which is probably different from the original that used to display here. This is the version currently in my Strat. I love it!
The design goals are stock Strat with the following differences:
1. Blender (instead of 2nd tone pot). N, N+M, M all can blend in B. M+B, B can blend in N. A simpler design would have been M blends nothing, but I rarely play B alone, and unlike many people, I actually like M at times. A little bit of B bite would be nice. Alternatively, M-blend-N didn't seem useful. Positions 2 and 4 allow for all three pickups, and of course positions 1 and 5 both allow for N+B in varying blends, for a Tele-ish feel.
2. Simple treble bleed mod. I have liked similar values as these, in series in the past.
3. Master tone. This is a no-click no-load pot, designed to go out of the circuit on 10. I'm also trying a couple of things, perhaps too much at once... 50s vintage wiring, connecting tone to volume's middle lug; and the Greasebucket circuit. I do use the tone knob, and hate it getting muddy. Maybe vintage and treble bleed is unnecessary? Too bright for a Strat, all around?
2. Volume pot is push/pull. What I'm calling a Blower switch for simplicity. It's more of a Direct switch. When pulled, the volume, tone, and blend pots are out of the circuit, but the pickup selections are left alone. I don't have the need for a "solo button", so no bridge-only, series, etc. The "surprise" not-really-wanted feature here is that by removing all the pot loads, there is no blend. So, if you were blending, pull the switch and you're not.
The blower does two things: pickup hot connects directly to the middle lug of the volume pot, where it heads out of the guitar; and ground is lifted from the volume and tone pots (and these are differentiated from pot shell grounding). Does this look right?
I'm not sure until I wire it up (feel free to chime in here) how the blender will work. Have I chosen the correct lugs? I've gone to lengths to ensure that the bridge always goes to the same lug, thinking this may keep the direction of turn more understandable. But maybe I've gotten this wrong. It was very cool to figure out how to do that bit, though ;D
The Blender is no-load, clickless, and it's my understanding I need this because otherwise when logically "zeroed", there will still be some of the other pickup coming through. Is that right? Again, correct lugs and all? I just can't quite wrap my head around that part.
You'll notice the star ground wiring. Some of that's needed for the blower-ground-lift, but I also prefer to wire that way. If you see problems with it, fire away.
I'm sure this is a pretty simple circuit for many experienced modders. I'm just getting started, and this took quite a while to figure out. Any feedback before I learn by the trial of hot iron is much appreciated.
And of course if you want to build it first, let me know how it goes But hurry, I'm getting the parts as we speak.
Cheers.
-joe