2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

[HogHazard]

Hi all, I stumbled across this forum looking for info regarding the wiring mods I want to do to my Ibanez SZ 320 MH.

The guitar has a 2 Humbucker config, with 2 volume pots and 1 tone pot. My plan is to rip out the volume pots, replace them with push-pull pots, and use the push-pull pots for coil tapping.

In the current setup the 3 way switch has the coil tapping, so you can either have bridge humbucker, neck humbucker, or both together coil tapped. If I do the mod I can have any combination I want.

So who can tell me how to go about this?

 

[Artie]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

This will be the basic setup:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/schematics/2hum_2vol_tone_3way-w-spl.html

The differences will be that your 3-way will be different, and you just need to add another switch to the neck red/white wires. Also, if it was me, I'd move the ground connection on the push/pull to the "top" lug, so the coil is split when its pulled, rather than pushed.

You have another option also: you can use two push/pull's to split each 'bucker individually, or, you can use one to split both, and the other to select inside or outside coils.

I can post a more specific diagram when I get home from work, if you need.

btw - Welcome to the forum.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

I'm curious -- on the stock set-up in that middle position with the coil-split, are the two split coils in parallel or series? Very easy to figure out with a multi-meter.

 

[skyydogg01]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

parallel

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

Parallel? Full on humbucker bridge or neck and in the middle two single coils in parallel? Sheesh, no wonder you want a different sound out of there. When you flip to the middle position you must think your guitar fell out of your hands and off a cliff.

 

[HogHazard]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

Ok, I think I get the basic idea, will see this weekend if I can pull it off.
Correct me if I'm wrong: When the Red + White wires are soldered together, the pickup is in normal 'humbucking' mode. When the same red + white wires are earthed (both of them), then the pickup is coil-tapped (single coil mode)?

ArtieToo: I'll be using 2 pots, one for each pickup. I think I have the basic idea, I'll be picking the pots up today after work, but I'll only have time to do the mod Saturday morning. I may have to put it off for a few days anyway, cause I have a hectic gigging schedule, and I don't want to gig without my main axe.

Zhangliqun: The sound in the middle position is quite nice for acoustic vibes, which is why I want to mod the guitar instead of just wiring the pickups straight. It sucks for distortion though, so ever since I bought the guitar I've been playing on the neck pickup exclusively.

 

[Artie]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

Correct me if I'm wrong: When the Red + White wires are soldered together, the pickup is in normal 'humbucking' mode. When the same red + white wires are earthed (both of them), then the pickup is coil-tapped (single coil mode)?

Exactly. To take it a step farther, think of the "green" wire in place of the term "earthed". If you connect the red/white wires to green, you get the stud coil. If you connect them to black, you get the adjustable coil. If you connect them via a on-off-on DPDT switch to both, you can select either coil, or full humbucking mode, at the flip of a switch.

Thats how the Distortion in my Patriot is wired. The difference between the two coils is subtle at the neck position, and more pronounced at the bridge position.

 

[HogHazard]

Re: 2 Humbuckers, 2 Volume Push-pull for coil tap

Hmmmm.....
I think I'll have to take a bit of time and see what sound better. I'm not prepared to start drilling holes in the guitar, otherwise I would just put in extra switches.