Blower switch..but wired differently...

[nickname009]

Just got my hands on a used PRS S2 singlecut satin, didn't love it at first but am definitely growing into it.

The typical 4 knob LP configuration doesn't cut it for me. So I have so far taken out the tone pots, and put a .047 cap in line with the neck humbucker's hot to un-muddy the tone.

I now have 2 empty holes and am thinking of adding a blower switch but via a push pull.
I've seen a bunch of diagrams all over the internet that show you how to do this when the push pull pot is acting as a tone knob but not a volume knob.

I've also seen a bunch of diagrams showing that this bypasses everything except the bridge pickup, bringing the signal straight to the output jack.

What I would find more usable, is a 'blower' switch that:

1. with the push pull pot disengaged, acts as a regular bridge or neck volume,
2. and actually has the 3 way toggle switch in. So not just bridge pickup and output jack.  This way I can have that huge boost on whatever pickup I choose, neck, bridge or both.


If these 2 ideas can't be combined into one, since I have another hole for a pot. Is it possible that I have one dedicated push pull pot to only perform the 2nd function? I guess sort of like a 'global' boost/blower switch?

Would any one be kind enough to draw something up and/or point me in the right direction of how to go about achieving this? Is this even possible? Thanks in advance!

[JohnH]

All possible. But if the blower is on a volume pot, doesn't it mean it is on one of the pot positions that you still use, and so you still have two spare holes?

Nearest i can think of that does all that would be to use the switch to force both your volume pots to full volume, That way it applies to any toggle position. That would give you the volume boosts you want, but doesn't do the effect of unloading the pickups by taking out the pots leading to a brighter sound.

In principle, the switch on a push pull is completely independent electrically from its pot. So anything you see on a tone-pot push-pull could be done on a volume pot instead. It just affects which knob you pull.

[newey]

Is this what you had in mind,JohnH? Or am I misreading your intentions here . . .?

[JohnH]

Almost, but the red wires coming out of the pot centre lugs should move from the centre switch lugs to the upper switch lugs

[nickname009]

Aug 6, 2020 22:44:04 GMT -5 newey said:

Is this what you had in mind,JohnH ? Or am I misreading your intentions here . . .?

Yes it would mean I still have 2 spare holes. So I wouldn't mind dedicating one push pull pot to only engage/disengage the 'blower' function.

Newey, If I follow this diagram, is that what I'm getting? The dedicated push pull 'boost'?

Thanks to both JohnH and Newey for the help!

[newey]

Aug 7, 2020 8:01:38 GMT -5 nickname009 said:

Newey, If I follow this diagram, is that what I'm getting? The dedicated push pull 'boost'?

Yes, subject to JohnH's correction above, as to the red wires from the pot center lugs going to the upper lugs of the switch.

Also note that I have drawn the pots, and the switch, upside down, since that is the way one will be wiring things..

I show the switch separate from the pot(s), IRL of course it is part of one or the other pot, assuming you use a push/pull pot as you stated.

However, given that you have extra holes to fill, my preference would be for a DPDT toggle switch (LP-sized to fill the hole). The toggle will be easier to manipulate than pulling up on a P/P knob, and why waste a P/P pot if you're not using the pot portion of it? A toggle will be cheaper.

[nickname009]

Aug 7, 2020 8:44:28 GMT -5 newey said:

Aug 7, 2020 8:01:38 GMT -5 nickname009 said:

Newey, If I follow this diagram, is that what I'm getting? The dedicated push pull 'boost'?

Yes, subject to JohnH's correction above, as to the red wires from the pot center lugs going to the upper lugs of the switch.

Also note that I have drawn the pots, and the switch, upside down, since that is the way one will be wiring things..

I show the switch separate from the pot(s), IRL of course it is part of one or the other pot, assuming you use a push/pull pot as you stated.

However, given that you have extra holes to fill, my preference would be for a DPDT toggle switch (LP-sized to fill the hole). The toggle will be easier to manipulate than pulling up on a P/P knob, and why waste a P/P pot if you're not using the pot portion of it? A toggle will be cheaper.

Thanks Newey! The only real reason I want to use the push pull is because I have a bunch of them just sitting in my drawer and no switches, I also like the lamp shade knobs PRS uses. Looks good!

[nickname009]

Just got around to doing this a few days ago and it works! But the effect is more subtle than I thought. I'll leave it in for now until I think of something else more fun to do with the extra pot spaces

Thanks for all the help Newey and John H!