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Post by newstratguy1138 on May 13, 2016 16:27:03 GMT -5
Hello everyone.
I'm a late 20s enthusiast. I've been playing both guitar and bass since I was 15 years old. Have owned and sold many brands over the years but never got into modding. Now the bug has bit me. Only done one simple rewiring from pre-existing schematics. I'm still learning but am getting the concepts. I'm here to ask advice on a custom wiring job I'd like to design.
PROPOSAL:
I'm looking to put together a 3 HUMBUKER build. The hopes is each HUMBUCKER will have an independent 2way mini-engage-switch so I can customize pickup combinations. Each pickup will also hopefully have an individual/independent 3way mini-switch for series/parallel/split designation (I'd actually be fine with just individual 2way switches for series/parallel as an alternative). They should all be tied to a master volume and 2 tones. Lastly I'd like to interrupt the entire build with a master kill-switch witch I think is necessary for kill-switch effects since each pickup will be on an independent engage-switch.
I know this prolly sounds crazy, witch is why I've christened it INSANE WIRING. I love all sorts of tones and love playing different brands and styles of guitars. I just want to see if this can be done and would make this my go-to ax for playing out and wowing crowds as well as functional versatility.
TO REITERATE:
NECK HUMBUCKER-----2way-engage-switch-----3way-series/parallel/split-----VOLUME-----TONE-----TONE-----KILL-SWITCH-----OUPUT-JACK MIDDLE HUMBUCKER-----2way-engage-switch-----3way-series/parallel/split--------- BRIDGE HUMBUCKER-----2way-engage-switch-----3way-series/parallel/split---------
Any advice on where to start, if this is feasible or if I need institutionalization would be much appreciated. THANX! Take care all!
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Post by newstratguy1138 on May 13, 2016 16:44:03 GMT -5
Another potential combination is
NECK HUMBUCKER-----3way-series/parallel/split-----5way-switch-----2way-switch(for adding NECK HUMBUCKER to position 4)-----VOLUME-----TONE-----TONE-----KILL-SWITCH-----OUPUT-JACK MIDDLE HUMBUCKER-----3way-series/parallel/split--------- BRIDGE HUMBUCKER-----3way-series/parallel/split---------
I only thought of giving each HUMBUCKER an engage switch so I wouldn't have to memorize the combination (in the heat of playing I might have a brain fart). But I can always put a small decal near the 5-way and 2-way auxiliary switch for spot reminders.
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Post by sumgai on May 13, 2016 21:01:47 GMT -5
nsg,
Welcome to The NutzHouse!
What you want can be done... easily. In fact, you haven't had any responses so far, because your expressed desires are actually common, and done all the time. So, what's a poor guitar player to do?
Well, I've said that your intended design is only moderate on the scale of Nutziness, so we aren't gonna do all the heavy lifting for you, no sir! You do the design work, and we'll get you over any humps you encounter along the way.* Our aim here is to teach you how to fish, not just catch the fish for you.
Really, it's all nothing more than a problem in logic. You have rules (for example: I want this pickup on, in this position), and you have some physical constraints (the number of holes in your axe, etc.), and that's about it. The real hurdle is to prevent mixing things up as you go through your "list of rules" - you don't want things like two pups on at once when only one is supposed to be on, nor do you want a dead spot in your switching (well, most players don't), things like that. Translated, that "list of rules" expands out to "if I have these pickups on in this position, I don't want this other pickup on", etc. Double-checking for errors of this sort is what will take up most of your time, trust me on that one.
My suggestion, as I'm sure will be for others here who might chime in.... start slow, with the bare minimum of parts - one pickup, one or two switches to achieve the desired effect, and try it out. This is called, building a simple module. If it works, then duplicate it for as many pickups as you want to mount up. Now, and only now, do you add the control pots. And when all of that is working, now's the time to add the kill switch (or a blower switch). What all of this means is: build and test a module at a time. Lather, rinse, repeat, until all the parts and pieces are in place!
Now, to complicate matters (my specialty!), my takeaway from your description is that the pickups will be connected "globally" in parallel only - no series connections between the pickups, only within the pickups themselves (standard practice for most pickup makers, and we call that "local" connectivity). Was this intentional on your part, or did I just wake up a whole new set of ideas?
For more info one these kinds of circuits, you might refer to our General Schematics section, but take along a sack lunch, a flashlight, and a change of underwear, 'cause you're not gonna be coming back out before dinner time!
HTH
sumgai
* If you need help in posting diagrams or images, try here.
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Post by newstratguy1138 on May 13, 2016 22:02:19 GMT -5
THANX Sumgai!
Your advice is very poignant and astute. I would never ask for others to do my heavy lifting but the warmth you express welcoming me is much appreciated.
You are correct. I'm looking to have each series/parallel/split designation be local, not from N-M-B series/parallel.
Not looking for simplicity in wiring (though if it can be achieved I'm fine with it) but rather immediate versatility at the touch.
THANK YOU for the resource links. I will investigate diligently. I'm eager to learn what I can as knowledge is power and adaptivity.
Others are welcome to chime in. I'll report back with any successes or failures!
CHEERs!!!
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Post by sumgai on May 14, 2016 0:20:27 GMT -5
nsg,
As they say, "pics, or it didn't happen!".
Seriously, sound clips and pictures are welcome, we have separate galleries for that sort of thing, in the forum labeled Hobnobbing With Harbaugh. You can still post things here though, particularly if they might be helpful in solving problems.
HTH
sumgai
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Post by reTrEaD on May 14, 2016 11:23:42 GMT -5
You are correct. I'm looking to have each series/parallel/split designation be local, not from N-M-B series/parallel. Not looking for simplicity in wiring (though if it can be achieved I'm fine with it) but rather immediate versatility at the touch. In that case it seems like your three local mode switches are a given. The only question is how to achieve the global combinations. With 3 pickups you have a maximum possibility of 7 choices (if only parallel is considered in the global combinations). N M B N+M N+B M+B N+M+B If you want to have access to all seven, just use individual mini-toggles to select each pickup. If you can pare that down to five, using a 5-way selector might be easier to manage. A standard strat 5-way will work for some sets of five off that list (although you might be stuck with a sequence that's less than optimum). A SuperSwitch 5-way will accommodate any choice of five in any sequence you desire.
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Post by newstratguy1138 on May 15, 2016 5:32:54 GMT -5
Thanx Mod God.
I'm actually ordering some components and cheap pickups to tinker with this design.
I'm also thinking about throwing in two phase switches (probably on push/pull pots on the 2 TONEs). That might make things tricky. But if it can happen then this mod with basically be every sound combination most players ever dream of outside of digital effects.
I feel like a mad scientist. So your avatar is quite astute Mod God.
And it's pronounced "FRONKENSCHTEIN"!
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