Favorite Pickup Wiring..

  • Thread starter Thread starter midnightlaundry
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midnightlaundry

midnightlaundry

Well-known member
I got 2 Humbucker's with 3 Pots on a 3-Way Blade. The Guitar came wired with 2 Volumes and 1 Tone, but fuck that noise. I need speed, so I changed it to 1 Master Volume and 2 Tones. I love 50's wiring, but didn't want to have a Pot that does nothing.

I ordered some Push/Pull Pots so I can get crazy. I could do a 5-Way Blade, but I like a Single Coil in the neck, so I will split the Pickup instead. I think I'll do a Series/Parallel on the Bridge because it's already really bright, and a split coil would be to harsh.

What do you like?
 
A smart 5 way would let you split or series/parallel the humbuckers without push/pulls.
 
I like the following.
5-way Mega switch (the one with 4 sets of terminals).
One set of terminals selects the bridge pickup for positions 1-3.
One set selects the neck pickup for positions 3-5.
One set has those twisted connections (the ones you usually twist together and stow away) for the bridge pickup connected to terminals for positions 2 and 4 (connect to 2 or 4 and run a little jumper to the other) and the twisted connections for the neck pickup are connected to the output terminal (do not connect this output terminal with the others).
One set assigns the bottom tone control to the #1 position (bridge pickup only) and assigns the middle tone control to all other switch positions.
3 of those output connections (the ones that are NOT the twisted connections set) are all connected together and run to the volume control.

This makes positions 1-3-5 just like a Les Paul but with obvious different volume/tone control setup.
Positions 2 and 4 are essentially two coils in series, then in parallel with another coil (or maybe I have that backwards, can't remember). It makes positions 2 and 4 more twangy. There is no significant difference in output/treble/etc between any switch position. You just gradually transition from bridge tone to neck tone with each click. Sort of a humbuckery version of Strat 5-way switching.
 
Hip me to a Diagram, cuz the only ones I've seem don't have a Split Neck only spot.
 
I don't have a diagram, but if you ask the pickup maker they should be able to draw you one.
 
Single volume, no tone, 3 way switch wired so position 1=bridge, 2=nothing, 3=neck
 
midnightlaundry":cljzsvcx said:
I found this posted on Jemsite. However, I like the idea of a 3-way, and you get more options with PPP's.

http://www.dimarzio.com/sites/default/f ... 20-DiM.pdf
Click to expand...

Well, you could do a five way for humbucking series/parallel, then split each pickup to single with the PPPs, that gives the most options, or you could add a mini toggle switch to flip the phase of one pickup in addition to all of the above. I don't care for humbuckers split to single coil, I prefer series/parallel but YMMV.
 
Id do a three way blade with each tone as a pull for the coil splits.

I would also add resistors a la PRS, should be the new standard AFAIC.

This involves putting a resistor (1.1k neck, 2.2k bridge) between the switch and ground, so when activated the coil isn't completely shorted to ground and you're left with a partial signal from that coil in the circuit. The result is less of a drop in output, slight hum cancelling and a change in tone.
 
Got some CTS Pots and 225P Caps. The Push Pull Pots are impressive compared to a Burns style. They are noticeably better sounding than the Pots that came with this Guitar. The sound is more crisp, like putting on new strings.

I think I need to rewire my other Guitar with these now..

37296757880_d63deeceda_b.jpg


37507022146_9f7a89d282_b.jpg


37523491892_b9f48e09da_b.jpg
 
wIsEbLooD":235cztao said:
rbasaria":235cztao said:
Single humbucker, single volume, Im done.
Click to expand...

this
Click to expand...


--(TRUTH X3)--

-all option's like split & phase eliminated at the factory, and wound with the highest grade wire available, the highest quality enclosed input jack, cavity shielded and wired with the highest quality & shortest run's of wire available, ---& -----NO VOLUME POT--- just the highest quality, SPST, fully enclosed, -ON/OFF SWITCH- $$$ can buy--
--NOW I'M DONE!!!--
 
Lol. To each his own. I guess I need variety in my old age..
 
I'll throw my hat in the single humbucker with a volume knob camp. I don't need anything else adding cost or clutter- put that money towards a good pickup in there as the stock option. While we're at it, I'll take a quality fixed bridge and some good locking tuners. Simple and functional.
 
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