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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 26, 2016 14:19:59 GMT -5
Hello all! I need a bit of help with a mod to my homemade HSH strat "Sir Brackish" it's currently wired with the H-S-H pup configuration 5-way switch, 1 push/pull volume and 2 tones, the push pull acts as a tap for both the neck and bridge pups. So what I'm trying to do is add a blower switch for the bridge to bypass everything, I'm having a hard time figuring out how to make that work, I do know I need a 3pdt switch but I'm not sure where to find them either. Any way if someone Can help me out with a diagram and perhaps some more info on the 3pdt switch it would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
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Post by sumgai on Feb 27, 2016 1:52:22 GMT -5
sir,
Hi, and welcome to The NutzHouse!
There are two ways to go about achieving a so-called "blower switch". One is to simply bypass the volume control (and usually the tone control(s) too), thus giving full volume to whatever pickup(s) is/are selected. The other way is to designate one pickup as "the blown pickup" (usually the Bridge unit), and send this straight to the output jack, again cutting the pots out of the circuit, as well as the remaining pickup(s).
Which way you want to go will determine which circuit we should link to, as we've already done this, more than once.
Also, that decision will affect the kind of switch you'll need in your circuit. If you've not yet purchased a 3PDT, don't jump up and order anything yet - sometimes a more simple (and less expensive) DPDT switch can do the job.
HTH
sumgai
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 27, 2016 12:41:58 GMT -5
Thanks so much for the wecome sumgai, So what I was think was the second option of having the bridge fully blown to the out put jack, and thankfully I've not ordered any switch yet, I was afraid to get anything before knowing what I need and I've heard certain switches I.e. The 3pdt are hard to find.
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Post by JohnH on Feb 27, 2016 14:26:54 GMT -5
Hi sirbrackishstrat, welcome to GN2 Reading about your design in your first post, this sounds like you may need the 3 pole switch rather than the two pole one. Two-pole blowerThe basic function of directly connecting bridge pickup to output only needs two poles. One pole goes to output (the only wire that does this), one goes to bridge pickup hot wire. Then, two outer lugs connect them together (bypassing all of the rest of the wiring) for the blower function, or if switched the other way, the output and bridge wires are taken to wherever they should go for normal operation, dependent on your design. Here is a good diagram from our friend Wolf, on this basic two pole blower opreration: The switch above is a basic dpdt toggle, or push-pull. Three-pole blowerBut if you implemented the above simple dpdt switching in your case, it would work fine, except if you had coil-cut the humbuckers with your other switch, the bridge pickup would remain coil-cut in blower mode. If you want that then its fine, But if not, then you need a third pole on the blower switch that prevents coil-cutting when operated. Here's an example of a version of Guthrie Govan wiring. See the 3 pole switch, with 9 lugs?, the centre and right side are the basic blower, and the left side is controlling the the coil cut: This is not the whole diagram that you need, but maybe if you have a diagram of your wiring without the blower, then we can mark it up.
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 27, 2016 15:42:16 GMT -5
Wow Thanks Johnh, That was amazingly enlightening! Yeah it seems like the 9 pole 3dpt switch is what needs to happen with this. Funny thing is i ended up on this site because i was checking out the Guthrie diagram. Its just slightly different from mine, the switching was a tad different and i have 2 tones. So, i couldn't find an exact version of mine but this one is nearly identical except again mine has separate tones for the neck and middle like a traditional strat, but barring that its exactly how mine is wired. hope this can be worked with!
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Post by JohnH on Feb 27, 2016 17:09:15 GMT -5
this should do it: - three snips to the base wiring: Red/white get cut at C, but still joined together (assuming SD colours) Back of switch shown below, with connection references
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 27, 2016 18:09:28 GMT -5
Wow is it really that simple?! Amazing thank you so much JohnH!!! I'm so excited to do this mod!!! Do you or anyone else have a good lead on where I can get a 3dpt switch ?
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Post by JohnH on Feb 27, 2016 19:22:06 GMT -5
Wow is it really that simple?! Amazing thank you so much JohnH!!! I'm so excited to do this mod!!! Do you or anyone else have a good lead on where I can get a 3dpt switch ? Yes, and no problem! It's a gadget that can be added to most wiring designs. If I was buying this switch, as a toggle, it would be one of these: www.jaycar.com.au/Electromechanical-Components/Switches/Toggle/3PDT-Mini-Toggle-Switch/p/ST0505But it depends where you are, that's my local Australian supplier. You may have more luck with a 4-pole version, which looks and operates the same in use, just ignore 3 lugs. Try Mouser or Digikey maybe? Other options (with different pin configs): A Fender S1 switch, or I think there is a special Schaller push button that is used on the GG wiring.
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 27, 2016 22:37:49 GMT -5
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Post by sumgai on Feb 28, 2016 0:12:54 GMT -5
sir,
While that linked switch would probably work, I have no idea how big it is, physically. If it can handle currents and voltages large enough to control household devices, then chances are good that it is large, and maybe too large for a guitar - but personal preferences vary, to be sure.
Instead, I'd send you to this site, which has been in business for quite awhile, and I know of nobody who's complained about their prices or their service. Try:
amprepairparts.com, specifically part way down the page
To help guide you (since there's no separate page for these items, they're all lumped together), here's what to look for:
And as John points out, there are cheaper sources such as Mouser or Digikey, but I don't consider them to be "user friendly" in the usual sense - they cater to industrial-enterprise purchasing departments, who already know what they're looking for. For 3 bucks and change, I think this will fulfill your needs.
HTH
sumgai
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 28, 2016 13:29:32 GMT -5
Awesome sumgai, Thanks so much I hadn't considered that, I.m digging that site! I'm thinking of doubt the switch David Gilmore style (ie recessed into the pickgaurd ) I think that looks really slick!
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Post by JohnH on Feb 28, 2016 15:12:41 GMT -5
The switch that I linked to is likely the same as that from sumgai, which looks to be fine. That size of switch is usually reffered to as a 'mini-toggle'. They mount in a 1/4" or 6.5mm hole and generally all have much the same size of chrome 'baseball bat' lever. They come in 1, 2, 3 or 4 poles, with 2 or 3 positions. I have them reliably doing various things on several of my guitars.
Variations on them exist but are harder to find. Flat levers are available, and/or black. You can get gold contacts which are better in theory, for such very small signals as in a guitar (though normal seems fine). Also, there is a smaller style called 'subminiature toggle'. These look similar but a bit smaller all round and mount in a 5.5mm hole. I particularly like these ones on a Strat. But with all these varations, in style, I havent seen them with more than two poles.
EDIT Just saw the switch you linked to on amazon. From the dimensions, Id say thats a mini-toggle, ie, what we are talking about.
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 28, 2016 22:23:11 GMT -5
Awesome! All great information, glad that all of these choices will work I'm basically gonna go with the one that arrives soonest, so probably the amazon one as I have the prime version (should ship next day)! I will hopefully get to ordering it tomorrow, and I'll post when it's done, hopefully with a success story!! At the moment the bridge is a stand in (dimarzio blues bucker) until I get my hands on the seymour duncan Jason Becker pup I've been drooling over! Thanks again to you both, I absolutely love this forum, just a stupendous wealth of knowledge and interest!
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Post by newey on Feb 28, 2016 23:05:14 GMT -5
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Post by sirbrackishstrat on Feb 29, 2016 16:52:44 GMT -5
Thanks Newey! And yeah it would seem so!
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