BDSM wiring for HSS/HH/SSSS guitars (9xDPDT, 1x6P4T)

[Jaga]

Hello everyone! The idea of this wiring is to obtain every possible combination in four coil guitar. While it might be not very practical, it, probably, answers the question how to get all the combinations on such a guitar.

There are two pairs of coils. Each pair has binary tree concept applied to it. These two pairs are related to each other as 3rd pair. This concept won't give you all the combinations. As a workaround, there is a 6P4T rotary switch (6P3T is enough) which replaces pickup relationaship in first-level pairs. Neck is hardwired, Middle, and Humbucker coils are replaced in positions 2 and 3 of the rotary switch.

468 total combinations (some of them are duplicated), 392 unique combinations, 60 hum-cancelling combinations. 9 DPDT switches and one 6P4T (6P3T) rotary. PITA to wire and use.

Full list of combinations is available under the link with the following legend. I'm not quite sure that I've indicated all the duplicated combinations, probably there are some I missed. This is not yet verified, but I really feel that I should do this one day for the sake of it. If there are some obvious errors or typos I will fix it. Thanks!

Symbol	Meaning
+	Parallel in-phase
×	Series in-phase
−	Parallel out-of-phase
÷	Series out-of-phase
Green	Hum-cancelling
Grey	Already existing combination (duplicate)

[Deleted]

I'll have a look at it

Why called BDSM! (because im not going to google that and Guitars im scared what i will find)

[Jaga]

Because it's sadistic to post and masochistic to solder

[newey]

My SSSS project, the "4caster", used a similar binary tree arrangement, with 2 times 2 coils in a binary tree arrangement, such that (if we call the middle coil closest to the bridge as "M1" and the one closer to the neck as "M2") the neck pickup pairs with M1 and the bridge with M2, giving the "widely spaced HB" thing when the pairs are in series.

I was going to go further, to a second order binary tree as Jaga has done herebut the idea was to have a blend to blend the first pair of coils with the second. That didn't wrok very well, the blender was one too many loads on the circuit, sucked the tone when the two pairs were combined. So I scrapped the blender idea and just went with a 3-way toggle to select either pair alone, or both pairs in parallel. SO, the two pairs aren't combined in series. SO my wiring was a whole lot simpler than Jaga's tour-de-force here.

Here's a photo before I replaced the blender with the toggle switch (and before it was strung up and playable). The N and M1 pair are Fender Vintage '57 pickups, the B and M2 pair are Vintage '62s. Each middle pickup is RWRP with respect to its mate. The different placement of the two middle pickups makes it sound very un-Strat-like.

[Jaga]

That guitar must sound pretty unusual! I wonder if there are some audio demos of it.

[newey]

Oct 6, 2021 18:48:40 GMT -5 Jaga said:

I wonder if there are some audio demos of it.

Been so long I can't recall whether I ever posted any audio of it or not. I can try to do some but it may be a while before I can get to it, the guitar room is currently being painted and things are under tarps, disassembled and so on.

[Jaga]

Not an urgent think, would enjoy listening when it's done

I also would like to record a demo with this wiring, but it could take some time, you know... Have to wire all this stuff or make a PCB.

[Deleted]

WOW my burning eyes

SW1 happy with .. SW4 and SW7 (tho out of the way!)

AS i see
1,11 & 18
2, 9 & 19
3,10 & 17
5,15 & 22
6,13 & 23
7,14 & 21

1) Mid pickup to SW1
2) OUT Pickup to SW1
3) Inn Pickup to SW1
4) N/C

SW2 and SW3 merge the output of the SW10 N, N+?, ? & ?xN

Now SW4 phases
1) Out Pickup to SW4
2) Inn Pickup to SW4
3) Mid Pickup to SW4
4) N/C

SW5 and SW6 are same as SW2 & SW3 depending what state teh 6P4T is in should give every combo for them two inputs

Input to SW5/SW6
1) Inn Pickup
2) MID Pickup
3) Out Pickup
4) N/C

So now we have, with SW5 and SW6
Out, Out+Inn, Inn & Inn x Out
Inn, Inn+Mid, Mid & Mid x Inn
Mid, Mid+Out, Out & Out X Mid
N/C

Then you phase it with SW7
-----------------------------------
then use the same switching system for SW8 and SW9


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Maybe merge the SW2&3, SW5&6 and SW8&9 in to a 2P4T lever or rotor to cut down the toggles


Lot of combos

[Jaga]

Of course this is rather redundant wiring and can be optimized.

Not sure if it is possible to keep all the 392 unique combinations having less switches. Probably, some OOP switches could be combined.

Generally, I'm interested in having the more the better hum-cancelling combinations using DPDT (probably inlcuding 1 4PDT) switches, since I'm going to have in a Jaguar. There's another thread for this.