3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

[tweed_slut]

Hey everyone, this is my first post!

So I'm having trouble with figuring out how to wire a (3 Humbucker-3 Volume-0 Tone-No switch) setup. I can't seem to find any wiring diagrams ANYWHERE. I have an intermediate level of experience with guitar electronics; So I'm not completely in the dark here.

Any help would be greatly appreciated! ESPECIALLY if you could point me in the direction of a suitable wiring diagram!

Thanks!

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

How do you want the volumes to work? Like a 3-input mixer scenario?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

That's pretty simple, luckily. You run the hot from each pickup to the #3 lug on its respective pot. (That's the leftmost lug when you are looking at the back of the pot with the lugs pointing at you.) Then the ground wire from each pickup to the back of its respective pot. Then you connect the center lugs of the pots (two wires total to connect all three pots – center of pot 1 connects to center of pot 2, and center of pot 2 connects to center of pot 3). Then you do the same with ground wires (to the back of each pot). Then you connect lug 3 on each pot to the back of its respective pot. From there, it's just a ground wire from the back of pot 3 to the ground lug on the jack...and a hot wire from the center lug of pot 3 to the hot lug on the jack. I think that's it. Oh, there's a string ground wire as well, which can be connected to any grounding point in the circuit.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

What its a Bass said. But there are better option with the new Freeway Switch. Check it out.

http://www.rockinger.com/PublishedFiles/37007_Diagrams.pdf

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

^ Soooooo tempting.

 

[DreX]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

You run the hot from each pickup to the #3 lug on its respective pot. (That's the leftmost lug when you are looking at the back of the pot with the lugs pointing at you.) Then the ground wire from each pickup to the back of its respective pot. Then you connect the center lugs of the pots (two wires total to connect all three pots – center of pot 1 connects to center of pot 2, and center of pot 2 connects to center of pot 3)

You've got that backwards. The hot leads from each pickup connect to lug #2, and make lug #3 the common out-to-amp. The way you described would cause the common out to ground out whenever any pickup was turned down.

Here's a Jazz Bass schematic which works how OP would like, albeit with a tone pot and one less pickup:

 

[Artie]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

Since there will be no switch, be sure to use 1-meg pots. That way, each pup will "see" a 333k load.

 

[tweed_slut]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

Okay so I just connect all the pots and the output jack through the #3 on each and the leads from each pup connected to their respective #2 lug on each pot. Then I ground all the pots out to each other. Am I missing anything?

 

[DreX]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

Nope, that's it.

 

[tweed_slut]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

Since there will be no switch, be sure to use 1-meg pots. That way, each pup will "see" a 333k load.

Okay, I used 500k pots; they were the only ones I had. I'm getting a pretty substantial tone/volume loss in my neck and bridge pickup, would using 1meg pots remedy this?

 

[Artie]

Re: 3 Humbuckers--3 Volume--0 Tone--No Switch

Okay, I used 500k pots; they were the only ones I had. I'm getting a pretty substantial tone/volume loss in my neck and bridge pickup, would using 1meg pots remedy this?

That sounds more like a wiring snafu. But its possible. With 500k pots, your pups are effectively seeing a 166k load. Temporarily disconnect one pot, and see if you get your "tone" back.