1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

[beken]

Hi, I'm new to wiring humbuckers a bit. I do know how to wire some basic things but I was wondering, is it possible to have a coil tap using the cheaper 5 way switches and 1 humbucker?

Is it possible so that the switch can perform these functions:
1. Series in Phase (north and south)
2. Single coil (north)
3. Parallel in Phase
4. Single Coil (south)
5. Series out of phase

I know that this can be made using those more expensive 5-way super switches, but I'm just wondering if it is still possible with the standard 5 way switch.

Any help appreciated.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

honestly i don't think it's a good idea. i've never heard a single humbucker out of phase with itself, though i'd imagine it being extremely weak and thin, especially if you have it in parallel. if i were you, i'd just get two push pull pots and wire it up for two coil cuts, that when both engaged puts the two coils in parallel. also, i don't know if you'd be able to do this with a standard 5-way switch, maybe a super switch though:scratchch

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

It's not possible with a standard 5-way. A standard 5-way is a 3-way with bridges that connect 1 + 2, and 2 + 3.

You'd need a 5-way that had 5 totally independent connections.

To do all that with one pickup, you'll need a terminal strip or other item that would allow the same wire to be connected to several different connections at once, but not bleed over to the other connections when not wanted. Your desired options require using the same wires more than once for more than one effect.

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Thanks.
By the way, what type of setup (for coil tap/split) would you recommend for a 2 humbucker, 2 vol, 2 tones? Would 2 pull/push pots for the volume knobs be enough to have most of those options?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

You can do splits with 2 push-pulls - one for each pickup.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

possibilities are endless with the 2 vol/2 tone/2 HB setup. you could do the jimmy page setup if you wanted:naughty:

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

:scratchch

So, if I'm trying to get a nice variety of tones, using 2 humbuckers, 2 vol, 2 tones, what would you recommend? One master pop/push coil tap, or 2 of them?

Like this?: http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/product/WDUHH3T2205

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

personally, i like an OOP switch in conjunction with a series switch, possibly a coil cut switch, and a coil swap switch. coil swap is possibly the coolest wiring mod out there- you can get humbucking fender-like tones.

coil swap mod:
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/showthread.php?t=134474&highlight=coil+swap+mod

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

:scratchch

So, if I'm trying to get a nice variety of tones, using 2 humbuckers, 2 vol, 2 tones, what would you recommend? One master pop/push coil tap, or 2 of them?

Like this?: http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/product/WDUHH3T2205

If you want total tonal control, get 4 push/pulls. I'd also go for the true 3-way (where the middle is a totally independent connection, not an automatic combination of the neck and bridge), and a pair of Triple Shot rings. That's a lot of wires, but mass=sustain :lol:

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

That's a lot of options! I really want to try those, and give the guitar as many possible combination of pickup settings, but without using too much money on the electronics. I'm definitely going for at least a 2 vol, 2 tone, 3 way for 2 humbuckers, and disregarding the price of the humbuckers, it'll be about $50?

I really want to use dual coil taps though... mabye 2 rotary 4P6t's would be nice. By the way, what kind of 4P6T's do you recommend? I'm trying to keep the cost of the setup below $80. And, the size of the potentiometers and others won't matter much because I'll be putting it into a guitar that I'm building (which means I can always make the guitar a bit thicker if needed ).

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

you can find most of the stuff you'll need here:
http://www.wymoreguitars.com
and you can get 22AWG copper wire to wire everything up from radio shack, 3 rolls of 50ft in 3 different colors, for about $6.00.

 

[MikeS]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

It's easy to create convoluted wiring schemes that don't take into account user operation (IMO, throwing multiple switches to find a tone is pain... my SG with Artie's coil swap with taps is crazy enough for me). If you can live with OOP and you want series, parallel, and the ability to split to either coil, the best solution is a simple 4-way tele switch. FAR FAR FAR easier operation than a tandem of push/pulls, IMO. The OOP tone is achievable with a 5-way superswitch as hermetico illustrated.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Agreed. You can do Mission Control if you want, but it better either be a Studio guitar or have your favorite settings attainable in less than a second if you're going live with it. No one wants to wait for the guitarist to dial in a specific tone that only he will probably identify as being different from the same one he's been using all night :lol:

Plus, some tones simply don't work live unless you re-eq the whole band to match.

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Thanks, I'm thinking about trying out this mod on your page:
http://4.bp.blogspot.com/_hWtqqQxBs...VdF1jMlRQ/s1600-h/Hermetico's_4_LP_sounds.jpg

Not too simple, but it's not too hard either. I've listen to the videos on youtube to see the different sounds can be found, and I think 4 pull/push pots with a 3 way switch is a really good option for me.

By the looks of it, it uses two humbuckers, but one reversed? Also, do certain pickups greatly affect the mods? Because I was going to do this mod with Performer Detonator Pickups, which I've heard people say are really good with high distortions. I'm hoping that coil tapping can let me play lower distortion songs.

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

I see. Hm.
The pickups that I have are : http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/duncan-designed/cutting-edge-2/hb108/

They're "high output." The problem is that I was only able to afford 4 potentiometers (2 vols, 2 tone), (and the 2 vols will be hooked up to 2 switch that performs the same function as a push/pop).

Do you have a mod for 2 pull/push instead of 4?

 

[Aceman]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Max tones with 2hb/2vol/2tone? Jimmy Page wiring.

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Like this? : http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_2t_3w_2pp

Btw, in that diagram, what kind of options does it give?

Do you also have a diagram for Artie's coil swap+coil split? I might try that instead.

 

[super rad stuff]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

^if i were you, i'd defintely wire up the guitar with the coil cuts/coil swap, that's gotta be the most versatile setting on there.

 

[beken]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Hm, yeah, I think I'll go with artie's coil swap then. Btw, what kinds of modes does artie's have? (Actually, I can look that up.) but for clarification, are the pickups reversed in the diagram? or are the oriented the same way? And also, I don't have any push pull pots, but I do have a 6 pin on/on switch, which should do the same as a push/pull.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: 1 Humbucker with 5-way Switch as a coil tap

Hi, I'm new to wiring humbuckers a bit. I do know how to wire some basic things but I was wondering, is it possible to have a coil tap using the cheaper 5 way switches and 1 humbucker?

Is it possible so that the switch can perform these functions:
1. Series in Phase (north and south)
2. Single coil (north)
3. Parallel in Phase
4. Single Coil (south)
5. Series out of phase

I know that this can be made using those more expensive 5-way super switches, but I'm just wondering if it is still possible with the standard 5 way switch.

Any help appreciated.

I would use a Triple Shot mounting ring, that gives you all those options out of the box save series /in phase (which will for the most part do nothing but give you double the hum of a single coil anyway).

As far as individual switches of any type that can do what you´re looking for? The only ones I can think of are microprocessor controlled, and they´re definitely more expensive than a 5way and would require an onboard power source to function. There might be a superswitch or similar that can do it, but that´s also more expensive andf I´m not familiar with the model.

*edit* Ah, reading further before posting is sometimes a great way to save time.....:laugh2::beerchug:

Agreed. You can do Mission Control if you want, but it better either be a Studio guitar or have your favorite settings attainable in less than a second if you're going live with it. No one wants to wait for the guitarist to dial in a specific tone that only he will probably identify as being different from the same one he's been using all night :lol:

Plus, some tones simply don't work live unless you re-eq the whole band to match.

I agree, this I why I generally don´t wire my live guitars with more that one or 2 options max, like for example individual splits right next to each other and away from other controls on my rhoads, or the emg 89 + afterburner combo in Phoenix via push pulls.....

IMO anything more than 1 extra option /switch for every knob already present is where it starts to get confusing.... I actually have more problems wrapping my head around the push push (parallel /series) and Afterburner toggle switch on my Wrath than I do coping with 3 minitoggles for pu selection + emg89 split and afterburner via push pulls :laugh2: