1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

[MB_01]

I'm finally (after close to 5 years) finishing off a Warmoth guitar that I initially ordered the parts of for my 18th birthday!

It's a carved top, mahogany body Tele with a 2 point Wilkinson tremolo, a solid 1 piece Pau Ferro neck with ebony board, big stainless steel frets and a gorgeous reverse headstock.

Unfortunately, soon after receiving it I went away to uni and then proceded to live in various cities in the UK while my unfinished guitar stayed back in East London at my parents' house! Now I'm living back in London, I put strings on it this week for the first time ever and it plays like a dream - now I just need to work out/some help with wiring the guitar the way I want.

I've picked up an SH-9 along the way and I'm keen to wire it up to a 3 way switch. My idea is:

1. Bridge pickup humbucking, bypassing tone control
2. Bridge pickup humbucking, including tone control
3. Bridge pickup, coil split (possibly parallel - any thoughts which would work best with an SH-9?), including tone control

I've seen a couple wiring diagrams that include 1 or 2 of these options but not all 3 together and I'm not enough of a pro with wiring to work out how to mash them together into what I'm after.

Any thoughts how this could best be done?
Pics of the guitar attached!
Thanks!

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[beaubrummels]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

So with a vintage 3-way on-on-on blade, one side would have the bridge positive on the common lug, and the other side would have ground on the common lug. Have the tone positive connect on the bridge positive side of the blade switch for the position you want the tone, and on the ground side, have red and white together on the lug for the switch position you want split.

 

[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

So with a vintage 3-way on-on-on blade, one side would have the bridge positive on the common lug, and the other side would have ground on the common lug. Have the tone positive connect on the bridge positive side of the blade switch for the position you want the tone, and on the ground side, have red and white together on the lug for the switch position you want split.

Thanks for your help!

So having read up on the PG Mod Garage articles on Tele switches, combined with your input, I've sketched out a rough diagram in my lunch break.

With A0, A1, B0 & B1 on in position 1;
A0, A2, B0, B2 on in position 2; and A0, A3, B0 & B3 on in position 3, would this give me the wiring I'm after?

If so, is the ground on B0 to the back of the pot or the pickup's ground?

Also, where do I then attach that to the pots?

Thanks again!

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[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Okay, I've done some more thinking and some more scribbling and come up with this.

Does that look right to people who know wiring?

Sorry for the scribbly mess! [emoji4]

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[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Bump!

Is anyone able to validate my diagram or offer corrections?

Thanks! [emoji869]

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[beaubrummels]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

B3 shouldn't be jumpered to A3. The sets of lugs (A vs B) on each side of the switch should stay separate.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

No, your diagram is wrong...almost right. Just lose the jumper between A3 and B3 like beau said and you should be just fine.

 

[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Great, thank you guys! Can't wait to get the guitar working [emoji869]

No, your diagram is wrong...almost right. Just lose the jumper between A3 and B3 like beau said and you should be just fine.

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[Aceman]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Wiring, yeah yeah yeah....cool guitar by the way.

Let's get back to the extremely overlooked statement here: Dude has an SH-9 Silverbird in that guitar?!?!?!?!?!

Tell us ALL about this; Where you got it, why you got it, how it sounds.

 

[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Haha, I picked it up on eBay probably 3 years ago! I got it for £67 cause I was just really intrigued to see what one sounded like - I've never wired it up so I'll let you know how it sounds when I wire the guitar up!

Wiring, yeah yeah yeah....cool guitar by the way.

Let's get back to the extremely overlooked statement here: Dude has an SH-9 Silverbird in that guitar?!?!?!?!?!

Tell us ALL about this; Where you got it, why you got it, how it sounds.

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[Aceman]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Most definitely do!

 

[Mincer]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

That guitar is remarkable, btw....

 

[Masta' C]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

That guitar is remarkable, btw....

Seriously. That thing is gorgeous...almost my perfect "Tele"! I'm genuinely jealous. Glad you're getting it up and running!

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Wiring, yeah yeah yeah....cool guitar by the way.

Let's get back to the extremely overlooked statement here: Dude has an SH-9 Silverbird in that guitar?!?!?!?!?!

Tell us ALL about this; Where you got it, why you got it, how it sounds.

Totally agree. That SH-9 is a bit of a "Rarebird".

 

[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Thanks for all the kind words, guys!

I'm hoping to get the guitar wired up tomorrow and I'll let you know my thoughts on the Silverbird - from what I've heard about it, it sounds like an incredible pickup.

"Clear bell-like tone with lots of definition. Designed for players after more of a single coil sound, each note is clear and elimitnates the muddy low end heard on some humbuckers."

If that's true, I'll be very happy!

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[Mincer]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Can't wait to hear your impressions. I've never used one.

 

[Zheddar]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

That is for sure really cool instrument. What kind of finish did you put on that? I am also pretty curious about the pickup. I will be really interested to know how it sounds in series and split. If you get a chance to pull yourself away from it after it's setup (you may not be able to), I really hope you let us know how it is!

 

[MB_01]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Cheers, mate!

The neck is completely unfinished, which feels beautiful.

I think I finished the body with Tru Oil - no sanding at any point before, between or after application(s). It was a long time ago I finished the body but I think I did about 5 coats in the end. I didn't tape off the binding or finish inside the trem cavity, though - lesson learned [emoji28]

I'll see if I can record some audio/video to go along with my comments when I get it going.

That is for sure really cool instrument. What kind of finish did you put on that? I am also pretty curious about the pickup. I will be really interested to know how it sounds in series and split. If you get a chance to pull yourself away from it after it's setup (you may not be able to), I really hope you let us know how it is!

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[alex73013]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

I like that setup. I'm really intrigued by what you're doing with just one pickup. My electrics currently have only a single P90 with volume and a jazz switch I wired in place of a tone knob.

 

[metalchurch79]

Re: 1 Humbucker, 3 Way Switch? Wiring an SH-9 in an Esquire

Yea this is an awesome project and equally awesome parts and pup selection! So awesome that youre finally seeing it thru after all those years so congrats on not giving up! Let us know how it goes then when you get a chance.