Beginner Mike Richardson's Strat Wiring Question

[cactusjack]

Hi there, 

I just recently stumbled across the site and I'm amazed by the quantity of high level data. The wiring diagrams are simply awesome! One diagram that caught my eye is the famous Mike Richardson Strat wiring. Before busting out the soldering iron , and after reading multiple pages of previous posts, I thought I'd ask a few beginner questions. I apologize if these have been covered before. 

Question(s) 1 - Is that a capacitor coming of the switch and going to the neck tone pot? If so, what value is the recommended starting point? Maybe an even more basic question, if it is a capacitor how does it interact with the switch?

Question 2 - Can someone point in the direction, or tell me the name, of the version where the the 3 pickups in parallel and series are swapped between positions 1 & 5? Series being position 5, and parallel being position 1. 

Thanks so much, and I hope all is well. 

[b4nj0]

The value of both capacitors will depend on the pick ups you are going to use, you could start 250K and then try 500K or you could reverse that sequence. That's why Mike didn't specify values.

Regarding an alternative circuit, I have not seen such a layout with Mike Richardson's design. Perhaps you are thinking of the MK2 version which facilitated standard Strat wiring but with compromised DPDT options? I would strongly suggest tracing the diagram in all switch positions several times over until you are comfortable that you have a grasp of it, and then see whether such an alternative even seems concievable. This will have the side benefit of standing you in good stead when you encounter the inevitable "gotchas".

There are some "interesting" interactions between the tone pots in some of the switch configurations. I have two Strats wired this way, although I didn't bother with the phase switch.

Good luck. In my view it's worth the effort.

e&oe ...

[JohnH]

This thread could do with a link to the MR scheme....

guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/7008/original-richardson-strat-wiring-diagram

Since it uses a superswitch, each setting 1 to 5 is separate and in principle you can swap them about freely for position.

For caps, yes its a free choice. A good starting point is 22nF for both (=0.022uF)

[cactusjack]

Thanks for the quick response and feedback. 

I'm probably looking at it completely wrong, but what does the highlighted symbol mean? 

Please forgive me for the dumb question . 

[frets]

Cactus,
That’s the symbol for a capacitor. Probably between 10nf to 22nf. I’m sure one of the guys who are familiar with this wiring can tell you the intended value. My guess is 22nf.

[cactusjack]

Jul 10, 2020 18:45:40 GMT -5 frets said:

Cactus,
That’s the symbol for a capacitor. Probably between 10nf to 22nf. I’m sure one of the guys who are familiar with this wiring can tell you the intended value. My guess is 22nf.

Thanks! I haven’t seen a capacitor connected to a switch before. I’ve seen resistors, but wanted to double check.

[newey]

Thanks! I haven’t seen a capacitor connected to a switch before. I’ve seen resistors, but wanted to double check

That's not a switch, it's the neck pickup's tone pot. MR has just "stylized" the representation of the pot, showing only the 3 lugs. And the capacitor works like any tone pot capacitor, even though it's wired "in line" with the pickup's negative connection. IOW, you can just ground the pickup neg to the back of the pot and connect the end of the cap to the same spot, as per usual wiring practice. The result will be electrically equivalent.

Oh, and we've been remiss-

Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!

[cactusjack]

Jul 11, 2020 7:08:00 GMT -5 newey said:

Thanks! I haven’t seen a capacitor connected to a switch before. I’ve seen resistors, but wanted to double check

That's not a switch, it's the neck pickup's tone pot. MR has just "stylized" the representation of the pot, showing only the 3 lugs. And the capacitor works like any tone pot capacitor, even though it's wired "in line" with the pickup's negative connection. IOW, you can just ground the pickup neg to the back of the pot and connect the end of the cap to the same spot, as per usual wiring practice. The result will be electrically equivalent.

Oh, and we've been remiss-

Hello and Welcome to G-Nutz2!

Thanks again. I need to spend time to actually review the diagram. My impression was the capacitor was connected between the neck tone pot as expected, and a common on the super switch. I’ll spend more time reading and less typing .

[newey]

Jul 11, 2020 10:31:08 GMT -5 cactusjack said:

My impression was the capacitor was connected between the neck tone pot as expected, and a common on the super switch. I’ll spend more time reading and less typing

You are reading it correctly. I didn't realize you were referring to the Superswitch, I thought you were seeing the pot as being a single-pole switch.

The 4 commons for the Superswitch are connected to the M+, M-,B+ and N-. The N- is wired to the one common, and from there to the capacitor, and then to the tone pot as shown.

[cactusjack]

I'm finally getting around to opening my guitar up. Quick question, can this be modified to use a master volume and master tone? Something similar to a Nashville Tele? If so, how can I consolidate the tone wiring? Thanks for the help. 

[newey]

Jul 28, 2020 11:34:21 GMT -5 cactusjack said:

Quick question, can this be modified to use a master volume and master tone?

I am assuming you mean to just have a master V and T, eliminating the seprate tone controls for neck and bridge? If so, yes, that's pretty straightforward and simplifies the diagram considerably. You would wire the master tone off of the volume control as in any guitar with a master V and T. The neck -, instead of going to the neck tone, would just go straight to ground. The B + would just go straight to the switch.

If you mean, instead, to keep the separate tone controls and to add a master tone as well, that will present some problems. But I read your post to mean just the 2 pots would be used for master V and T.

[cactusjack]

Jul 28, 2020 13:53:49 GMT -5 newey said:

Jul 28, 2020 11:34:21 GMT -5 cactusjack said:

Quick question, can this be modified to use a master volume and master tone?

I am assuming you mean to just have a master V and T, eliminating the seprate tone controls for neck and bridge? If so, yes, that's pretty straightforward and simplifies the diagram considerably. You would wire the master tone off of the volume control as in any guitar with a master V and T. The neck -, instead of going to the neck tone, would just go straight to ground. The B + would just go straight to the switch.

If you mean, instead, to keep the separate tone controls and to add a master tone as well, that will present some problems. But I read your post to mean just the 2 pots would be used for master V and T.

Thanks so much. Yes, I meant just two pots, one volume, and one tone. I'm going to give this a shot tonight. Thanks again, and I'll report back with the results. 

[ashcatlt]

You seem to have moved on, but to answer the question about the original, the Tone controls are wired across their respective pickups. One end is the top end of the pickup coil and the other is the other. It happens that the bottom of the Bridge pickup is permanently connected to ground, so you can connect that cap to any convenient ground lug. The bottom of the Neck pickup is not permanently connected to ground, and in series positions it’s actually in the middle of the stack. In parallel combinations, this makes no difference because they’re both master tone anyway. In series positions it allows the high end of the other pickups to bypass the one whose tone is turned down. This gives what we have called “broadbucker” tones where you get less treble from one pickup but also more from the other.

BTW - you certainly could use SPDT switches in place of those pots. One way would be like a No Load pot at 10, and the other would be at 0.

[cactusjack]

Jul 28, 2020 16:46:33 GMT -5 ashcatlt said:

You seem to have moved on, but to answer the question about the original, the Tone controls are wired across their respective pickups. One end is the top end of the pickup coil and the other is the other. It happens that the bottom of the Bridge pickup is permanently connected to ground, so you can connect that cap to any convenient ground lug. The bottom of the Neck pickup is not permanently connected to ground, and in series positions it’s actually in the middle of the stack. In parallel combinations, this makes no difference because they’re both master tone anyway. In series positions it allows the high end of the other pickups to bypass the one whose tone is turned down. This gives what we have called “broadbucker” tones where you get less treble from one pickup but also more from the other.

BTW - you certainly could use SPDT switches in place of those pots. One way would be like a No Load pot at 10, and the other would be at 0.

Thank you for the reply. This is very helpful and adds a lot of clarity. I haven't heard of the "broadbucker" concept, but will certainly dig in and so some reading. Very cool idea about the No Load pot...I have even more reading to do . 

[cactusjack]

Jul 28, 2020 13:53:49 GMT -5 newey said:

Jul 28, 2020 11:34:21 GMT -5 cactusjack said:

Quick question, can this be modified to use a master volume and master tone?

I am assuming you mean to just have a master V and T, eliminating the seprate tone controls for neck and bridge? If so, yes, that's pretty straightforward and simplifies the diagram considerably. You would wire the master tone off of the volume control as in any guitar with a master V and T. The neck -, instead of going to the neck tone, would just go straight to ground. The B + would just go straight to the switch.

If you mean, instead, to keep the separate tone controls and to add a master tone as well, that will present some problems. But I read your post to mean just the 2 pots would be used for master V and T.

Where does N+ go? Would it replace N- on the common? 

[cactusjack]

I'm over thinking stuff. N+ should simply go to the volume pot correct?

[JohnH]

Jul 28, 2020 22:54:41 GMT -5 cactusjack said:

I'm over thinking stuff. N+ should simply go to the volume pot correct?

Yes that'd be fine

[cactusjack]

Not the prettiest, but I made it this far! My plan is to wire up the pickups and see if she at least makes noise . 

[cactusjack]

A few lessons learned. 

Did you spot my error in the harness pic above? I forgot to wire the toggle to the volume pot...whoops!

After I got that fixed I ran into an issue with the neck pickup. It was on in every position. I originally soldered N+ to the middle lug of the tone pot, and soldered N- to the top of the volume pot. That doesn't work as the neck pickup bypasses the switch completely. N- needs to soldered to the switch exactly as shown. 

I've only tap tested the pickups, but everything appears to be working properly. I'm waiting on a few more parts before I can really fire it up, but so far so good. 

As always thanks for the insight!