1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

[grungeman55]

Hey guys, this is the second time I'm making a post like this, for I'm still trying to figure my idea out.
I have a guitar that will be 1 humbucker, 1 volume, and 1 tone. With the humbucker I want to be able to rig up something that could make me go between 1 of both coils, and be able to still use the full humbucker.
My first idea was to have a 3 way LP style toggle switch, the bridge side connected with the Green and Black cables of the pickup, and the neck position with the red and white, therefore each side would be one coil and in the middle would be the full humbucker. Is this possible? If it is could you draw me up and send me how it should look so I know exactly what to do when I go to do it.
If it doesn't work here's my second idea: I have two 2 way toggle switches, I would wire it as follows: first mini toggle in the down position has the black pickup wire, and the top one has the green wire. then a connection between the two mini switches on the bottom half (where the black wire is). and on the top of the other mini toggle is the red and white. I would want it to be that when both switches are done it's the full humbucker, when I switch up one it activates the black+ green screw coil, and the other one up will activate the red and white slug coil. I know this is a lot so if you want to get a clearer description please message me I really want to make this guitar mod work. thanks.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

The last hurdle you need to jump over is: to get humbucking you need the coils in series, so the white and red have to be joined to each other and not grounded.

 

[audiocheck]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Can a triple shot not work on your guitar?

it allows either coil/ Humbucker Parallel/ Humbucker Series.

so all you would need is a Volume and Tone Pot

 

[audiocheck]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

This may be more of what your after:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2_p_rails_2v_2t_3w_2mt

Just look at one half of the drawing for 1 humbucker.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

I can get that I'd only pay attention to half of the diagram but could I do it with a three way toggle switch, or would I need to use two 2 mini toggles?

 

[audiocheck]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

I can get that I'd only pay attention to half of the diagram but could I do it with a three way toggle switch, or would I need to use two 2 mini toggles?

in the diagram it shows a three way DPDT on/off/on/ mini toggle, which does exactly what you ask. the only option you don't get is both coils in Parallel.

a Les Paul three way switch will not work because it is on/on/on

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Audiocheck is right on here. But I support the idea of the Triple Shot. With that, you can split to either coil, run it in full series humbucker mode, or run in parallel mode. Every option available to a humbucker pup is available and with no need for p/p or toggle switches keeping your guitar simple, neat, and trim.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

but why is there a difference between the on/off/on DPDT toggle and the on/on/on LP toggle? Having the DPDT switch as slug coil/full humbucker/screw coil seems the same to me as the LP toggle set as slug coil/both coils together=full humbucker/screw coil.
it seems like they could achieve the same thing no?
I just really want to make my LP toggle idea work simply because A) I already have one to use and B) I think it would look better/nicer/cooler.
Thanks for your help also audiocheck I'm understand things a whole lot better now.

 

[Artie]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

but why is there a difference between the on/off/on DPDT toggle and the on/on/on LP toggle?

Actually, both are on-on-on. It's a question of DPDT vs SPDT of the LP style switch.



There just aren't enough terminals on the LP-style to do what you want.

Hold on: Wait just a sec. I may have confused myself. Gimme a sec.

Gimme a sec. I know I've already drawn this somewhere. Looking for the diagram right now.

Ok, I was right the 1st time. Can't be done with a standard LP 3-way. Sorry.

 

[Ace Flibble]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

What you're asking for is actually the Avril Lavigne Telecaster wiring. With a Fender-style 3-way, it's really easy; I think the Seymour Duncan site already has a diagram for it. Fender certainly does, though theirs isn't as clearly-drawn.
You can also do it with regular push-pulls/push-push pots, by wiring the pickup up with a coil split and phase reversal switch; the phase reversal will switch between the coils when split and have no effect when the pickup is not split. Obviously there is the Triple Shot, too, though personally I find that more awkward in practical operation.

With a 3-way toggle switch, it gets trickier. You can buy toggle switches intended for 3-pickup guitars and fudge the additional connection to basically turn it into a giant on/off/on switch, but those 3-pickup toggles are rare, more expensive, only come in a couple of fittings and it's a pain in the arse to fix them right; you more or less have to take them apart completely and build your own switch. You can buy a NSF Free-Way switch, which has 6 positions and allows you to combine pickups (or just coils) in any combination of split, series, parallel and phase you like, but those are more expensive again, they're awkwardly small to solder and you'll be left with a couple of positions that do nothing. You could try using the additional three positions to have things like the pickup direct to output without control pots, or turning the volume and tone pots off independently, or just leave the unused half of the switch as a mute control.

A regular 3-way will only give you split/parallel/split. This is a problem if you want the normal tone from your current humbucker, but if you would be okay using medium or low output anyway then what you could do is buy a very hot, very thick-sounding pickup. The parallel wiring will bring the output down to more normal levels and brighten the pickup up a lot, compared to if it was wired series, and the split tones won't seem to have such a huge drop in volume. A really powerful pickup like an Invader or a DiMarzio D Activator (let alone their X2N) will have about as much output with the coils wired parallel as a normal pickup like a '59 does wired series. So, if you like the operation and look of a full toggle switch and don't want to try to use a Free-Way or a find a 3-pickup switch, that'd be a good option. It's weird, but it gets the job done.

Bear in mind that the two split tones won't sound much different from each other, especially if it's a bridge pickup, unless the pickup has the two coils made a little differently. Generally those screw coils are a little more powerful, but because they're closer to the bridge that extra power is negated a little. Flipping the pickup around so the screw coil is towards the neck will exaggerate the differences between the two coils and give you more distinct split tones, but it still won't be much. Trying asymmetric pickups like the P-Rails, Screamin Demon, DiMarzio Crunch Lab and Catswhisker S-Bucker will yield better results from a double-split. If you have a normal, balanced coil humbucker in the bridge, I guarantee you'll end up using the north coil almost all the time and the south coil very rarely, if ever.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Actually, both are on-on-on. It's a question of DPDT vs SPDT of the LP style switch.

View attachment 55304

There just aren't enough terminals on the LP-style to do what you want.

Hold on: Wait just a sec. I may have confused myself. Gimme a sec.

Gimme a sec. I know I've already drawn this somewhere. Looking for the diagram right now.

Ok, I was right the 1st time. Can't be done with a standard LP 3-way. Sorry.

okay so excuse the bad MS paint job but would this work? the green and black coil connected to the toggle's bridge position to activate the screw coil. the red and white(in the picture mauve) attached to the neck to activate the slug coil, and so when it's in the middle it's both coils together to give me the standard humbucker sound. the gray wire goes to the volume ground and so on and so forth.

 

[Artie]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

That won't work. You've got green & black permanently shorted together. Let me get back to you tomorrow. (I move slow these days.)

 

[Demanic]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Just go with the Triple Shot and save yourself the headaches.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Thanks good sir.
Also I did more research, Squire has an Avril Lavigne telecaster that has the same basic idea as what I'm trying to do, maybe you and I can brainstorm how to work it out?

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

That won't work. You've got green & black permanently shorted together. Let me get back to you tomorrow. (I move slow these days.)

No problem I won't be doing this project for another couple days.
Also I looked some stuff up and Squire has a signature Avril Lavigne Telecaster that's the same basic idea as mine. 1 humbucker, a 3 way BLADE switch that activates both coils on their own and in full humbucker, and a volume pot. Mine would be the same except I'm using an LP style toggle but if I need to get the blade one I will.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

No problem I won't be doing this project for another couple days.
Also I looked some stuff up and Squire has a signature Avril Lavigne Telecaster that's the same basic idea as mine. 1 humbucker, a 3 way BLADE switch that activates both coils on their own and in full humbucker, and a volume pot. Mine would be the same except I'm using an LP style toggle but if I need to get the blade one I will.
View attachment 55313View attachment 55314

someone suggested using this type of idea but making the wires go like this " treat the front coil of the humbucker as the neck pickup and rear as the bridge.

You will need a humbucker with 4 wires rather than 2 to do this - the hot and ground colours will depend on the manufacturer - in the duncan diagram the blacks are your ground, whites are hot. " then one person said if it's run like that the middle position is run in parallel NOT series. Is series considered the normal way to wire a humbucker? and how is series different from parallel?

 

[Ace Flibble]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Series is the most common way to wire a humbucker. It adds one coil to the other, which gives the powerful, thick sound most people want from humbuckers. Parallel wiring has both coils on but running side-by-side, not on top of each other, so it's humcancelling and slightly warmer than a split coil but much brighter and lower output than series wiring.

Yes, the Avril Tele wiring is the easiest way to do what you want, and no, a normal 3-way toggle switch can not replicate it. Blade (or 'lever') switches and toggle switches work very differently.
Fender's support .pdf for the Avril Tele has a wiring diagram, but bear in mind their wire colours correspond to Fender colours, and Seymour Duncan use different wire colours. (As does every other pickup manufacturer.) Yes, you do need four-wire pickups.
TDPI's users are familiar with every kind of Telecaster mod, and this post shows you how to use series wiring with a 3-way lever/blade switch.

If you want to do the same thing with a toggle switch, as I said before, you'll need to get either a Free-Way 6-way toggle switch or a rare toggle made for 3-pickup guitars.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

someone suggested using this type of idea View attachment 55315 in the duncan diagram the blacks are your ground, whites are hot.

I'm not sure where you got that. In Duncan diagrams showing Duncan pups, black is hot and green is ground.

 

[grungeman55]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Series is the most common way to wire a humbucker. It adds one coil to the other, which gives the powerful, thick sound most people want from humbuckers. Parallel wiring has both coils on but running side-by-side, not on top of each other, so it's humcancelling and slightly warmer than a split coil but much brighter and lower output than series wiring.

Yes, the Avril Tele wiring is the easiest way to do what you want, and no, a normal 3-way toggle switch can not replicate it. Blade (or 'lever') switches and toggle switches work very differently.
Fender's support .pdf for the Avril Tele has a wiring diagram, but bear in mind their wire colours correspond to Fender colours, and Seymour Duncan use different wire colours. (As does every other pickup manufacturer.) Yes, you do need four-wire pickups.
TDPI's users are familiar with every kind of Telecaster mod, and this post shows you how to use series wiring with a 3-way lever/blade switch.

If you want to do the same thing with a toggle switch, as I said before, you'll need to get either a Free-Way 6-way toggle switch or a rare toggle made for 3-pickup guitars.

so I;d have to do this type of wiring with a blade switch, and it's not possible with an LP toggle?
How would I go about wiring it up using the seymour duncan pickup wire colors?

 

[Ace Flibble]

Re: 1 Humbucker, coil splitting for each coil.

Yes, that is possible with a blade/lever switch but not possible with a toggle switch, other than a heavily modified 3-pickup toggle or a Free-Way toggle.
The wire colours for Seymour Duncan pickups (and other brands) can be found in the Seymour Duncan wiring page, specifically this diagram. All other SD wiring variants are found there.