strat SSS 3 switches / 3 volumes

[bigmuff]

hi

I don't know much about this stuff, but I want to rewire my strat (unmodified '86 jap squier) and haven't been able to find a schematic that does it:

Basically I want 3 switches, (as in but I also want 3 volumes and no tone controls (as in www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/S_3singles3vol1switch.html )

As far as I can tell there should be a way to do this using the pots i already have, plus 3 toggle switches, but I don't have the knowledge to figure it out, and I'm not confident enough to just have a go.

Can anyone offer any advice?

[zjokka]

Hi there,

If you want the switches to be phase-switches, you can use this diagram

www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/phase_reversal_singlecoils.html

for the phase switches. You should wire the + and - of the pickups to the three phase switches, and treat the + that comes out of the switch as positive lead from the pickup (grey one coming out at the left side of the switch). Treat that lead as if it comes directly from the pickup, using the diagram you referred to:

www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/S_3singles3vol1switch.html


Oh yes, you can keep the two tone pots for extra volume pots (they will be A type), the original volume pot is probably B (linear taper) and is dedicated volume control, so I see no problem there.

hope this helps,
Johan

[UnklMickey]

bigmuff said:

...there should be a way to do this using the pots i already have, plus 3 toggle switches...

what do you want the toggle switches to do?

replace the function of the 5-way selector?



U.M.

[zjokka]

I think where you're heading...

with three volume controls the on/off function in a switch would become superfluous, but the phase switch would still be an option, like in the page he bigmuff points to ont he gn1:



But I was thinking (and it didn't hurt)... couldn't one do with 2 phase switches on a strat? With a neck a middle phase pickup you can put any comination 'out of phase'?

J

[JohnH]

With that phase switch diagram, if they are DPDT on-off-on switches, then they do both jobs, phasing and pup conection.

I think that when the pups are off, they should be psitively switched out, so that the other volume pots dont load the rest of the circuit. Also I think it is debatable whether the pots should be 500k or 250k, plus whether they are reverse wired (wiper conection towards the pups) or normal (wiper goes to output). If you put three normally wired volume pots together in parallel, then if one is turned to zero - it shorts out the others and there is no sound. On the other hand, I think the response from a normally wired pot, on its own, is better.

Some diagrams are probably needed to explain this - I can put something up in a day or two unless a conclusion is reached sooner.

John

[UnklMickey]

johnh said:

With that phase switch diagram, if they are DPDT on-off-on switches, then they do both jobs, phasing and pup conection.

I think that when the pups are off, they should be psitively switched out, so that the other volume pots dont load the rest of the circuit. Also I think it is debatable whether the pots should be 500k or 250k, plus whether they are reverse wired (wiper conection towards the pups) or normal (wiper goes to output). If you put three normally wired volume pots together in parallel, then if one is turned to zero - it shorts out the others and there is no sound. On the other hand, I think the response from a normally wired pot, on its own, is better.

Some diagrams are probably needed to explain this - I can put something up in a day or two unless a conclusion is reached sooner.

John

good advice on all counts John.

i'd also like to point out that when one of the pots is NEAR zero with the others at max, the other pickup(s) are loaded by the low resistance, changing the tone.

wonder if anyone has ever tried putting resistors in series with the wipers to minimize this effect?

U.M.


just had a bad thought: with on-off-on switches all in center off could be an ugly hum with all off.

[bigmuff]

wow, thanks for all those responses, I'm a little overwhelmed.

Like I say, I'm not experienced in this but am keen to have a go. I think I kind of understand the potential problems of more than 1 volume pot

I suppose the essential things I'm after are:

1) No tone controls - I've never used them, ever.

2) Ability to do changes in volume/timbre at the flick of a switch.

3) I'm bored with the standard sounds of what is otherwise a very playable guitar.

4) More switches! (I like switches, what can I say?)

I don't really want to get into adding loads of components, just something simple I can so with what I have. There might be a different way to achieve the above, or something like it.

Incidentally, I just came across 'Random Hero's Mod' at . I'm intrigued but don't fully understand the diagram. Anyone care to elucidate?

Thanks again
BM

[UnklMickey]

i get the impression that you're not 100% sure on what the final destination for this guitar is.

if that is the case, you'll want to make your modifications "reversible", without leaving extra holes behind.

you could set up for a single volume (no tone) and fill the 2 empty holes with 2 dpdt mini-toggle switches.

dpdt mini-toggles are cheap, and handy to have around, so there really isn't much investment. and you haven't put more holes in your axe during the experimental phase.

then try out that RandomHero mod.

if you find that you like it, but need a different volume setting on one or two of the selections, then you could change over to push-pull pots for 2 or 3 volume controls.

if you're really lucky, you may find that the unused portion of the 5way or the unused left side of S2, might also provide switching of the volume controls at the appropriate switch settings.

_______________________________________________________________________________

bigmuff said:

...Anyone care to elucidate?...
BM

i've back-dated checks, double-dated, and even blind-dated. but that's where i draw the line.

i'm NOT gonna eluci-date. -- and you can't make me!

[JohnH]

I a-Lucy-dated, and ended up marrying her!

John

[UnklMickey]

johnh said:

I a-Lucy-dated, and ended up marrying her!

John

well best wishes for you both on that.

i can tell you from first-hand experience:

when it's good, there's nothin better.

but when it's bad, there's nothin' worse.


so here's hopin' that it stays good. for good!



U.M.