3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

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ckerian

New member
I am sure there's a million threads and diagrams out there on this but I've spent the better part of two days going over those diagrams and options and nothing jumps out at me as exactly what I want.

I basically want more or less these pickup combinations.... by default...

Switch position 1... bridge humbucker with a mini toggle switch to tap into a single coil (which single coil do I use? the one closest to the bridge or closest to the middle PU?)

Switch position 2.... just a bridge single coil (would negate the use of the mini toggle above)

Switch position 3... middle pickup single coil (w/mini toggle to turn on the humbucker. not necessary)

Switch position 4... single coil from middle PU + single coil from neck PU. Noise cancelling configuration.

Switch position 5... single coil neck PU w/mini toggle to turn on the humbucker as neccesary)

All my pickups are 4 wire (a standard size humbucker and 2 single coil sized humbuckers)

I don't need two tone controls but aesthetically it probably looks best.

I've ordered three on/on mini toggle switches from Stew Mac. Should I go with DPDT or is SPST ok? I think that's what it is.

It's quite overwhelming moving beyond straight pickup wiring. Are there any good tutorials that explain how DPDT, SPST, or pots with switches work?

I am open to anything really but I am not sure I see a need for phase reversal or parallel wiring. I am playing hard rock cover tunes through a Marshall TSL so gain is not an issue. I do feel this bridge pickup (I don't even know who manufactured it) I bought off craigslist is a little bright but it might just be too close to the strings. The guitar is having a Floyd rose installed on it now so I need to have this figured out before final assembly. I recently wired it as 250k tone pots and a 500k volume. I am open to completely rewiring and starting over on the pots too.

Thoughts?

IMG_3827.jpg
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

to get what you want in a wiring.. might need to learn how to make a composite drawing.. take the features you want out of 2 or more drawings and piece them together

on the subject of DPDT vs SPDT.. I always use DPDT unless there is a space requirement AND a SPDT will work.. I prefer to use DPDT POTS as well

After looking over the switch config you want.. im scratching my head at pos. 2 and wondering why even have a switch on pos 5

here is a diagram of a DPDT on/on/on.. and on/on would be the exact same minus the middle drawing


In one of my H/S/H superstrat.. i have a parallel/split/series for the neck and bridge,an always-on bridge,on/off switch (kill) switch, master volume, DMT tone control

in another i have just a volume bypass,neck always-on,on/off switch, master volume neck/middle volume,DMT tone.. bassically its an Andy Timmons wiring scheme with some changes

so many possibilities

best thing to do is to write down all the possible configurations you want and go from there..Ill draw up something and just stare at it for an hour or so, trying to visualize its usefulness and practicality.. i also will try to spot any errors by repeatedly tracing the wires in my head.. I hate double work so if prefer to spot an issue before i pick up a soldering iron , if at all possible
 
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Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

Your options will need a superswitch.
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

Thank you guys. that's helpful and gets me wondering too at all the options. Kind of what has me in this mess. Kill switch sounds cool. Is that for like the randy rhoads effect where he toggles the pickup off like a les paul with the top pickup turned off?

I will look into the superswitch. Is that like a 7 way I keep hearing about? Will it mean I don't need the toggle switches?

I agree on the position 2 vs 5 (or is it pos 1?) switch being redundant. Since I already ordered the spst switches what will I not be able to do that I can do with DPDT?

and thanks so much for entertaining this and taking the time to respond. I'm just trying to absorb knowledge and figure out what I want. I've spent way too much on various pickups, switches, covers, and stuff while building this guitar. I got to stop wasting on stuff I don't need like the wrong switches.
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

ckerian said:
Thank you guys. that's helpful and gets me wondering too at all the options. Kind of what has me in this mess. Kill switch sounds cool. Is that for like the randy rhoads effect where he toggles the pickup off like a les paul with the top pickup turned off?

I will look into the superswitch. Is that like a 7 way I keep hearing about? Will it mean I don't need the toggle switches?

I agree on the position 2 vs 5 (or is it pos 1?) switch being redundant. Since I already ordered the spst switches what will I not be able to do that I can do with DPDT?

and thanks so much for entertaining this and taking the time to respond. I'm just trying to absorb knowledge and figure out what I want. I've spent way too much on various pickups, switches, covers, and stuff while building this guitar. I got to stop wasting on stuff I don't need like the wrong switches.
Click to expand...

the kill switch on my guitars arnt used for effects like others do for the most part.. quite literally its an on/off is the truest sense ..when i get through playing or some one is trying to talk to me.. i just flick a switch

a SPDT has limitations.. it can be used for a kill or coil splitting of one p/u but phase or parallel or spltting 2 p/u with the same switch.. you're going to have to have DPDT.. all a DPDT switch is having 2 electronically isolated SPDT.. and a superswitch or a 5 way 4 pole is like having two 5 way 2 pole switches.. Just gives you more options with a superswitch
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

I'm almost thinking that with the superswitch it'll do what I need it to as far as wanting just the single coil bridge in POS 2. Right? I can then use the mini toggle SPDT as a kill switch and another as the neck pickup coil tap. 99% of the time I am probably going to use the neck as a single coil. Hard to say right now right? I hate resoldering too.

So what tool is everyone using to create these drawings?
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

ckerian said:
I'm almost thinking that with the superswitch it'll do what I need it to as far as wanting just the single coil bridge in POS 2. Right? I can then use the mini toggle SPDT as a kill switch and another as the neck pickup coil tap. 99% of the time I am probably going to use the neck as a single coil. Hard to say right now right? I hate resoldering too.

So what tool is everyone using to create these drawings?
Click to expand...


my way is a bit different.. some use correl draw... or other paint programs ..VISIO i believe is capable as well

I use ExpressSCH program for the basic drawing.. export it as a BMP.. then ill paint it in Paint Shop Pro.. I made all the custom symbols i use in ExpressSCH and i saved custom brushes in PSP.. to expedite the process.. doesnt take me too long.. a few hours or so
here is a example of a drawing using the the above programs.. i never actually used this drawing though.. I actually drew up like 3 ideas for my jackson and after thinking about it a bit I did not go with this one.. I know it works though
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

just saw something.. yea.. you can use a spdt for a kill or coil split
 
Re: 3 humbuckers in a strat with coil splitting... need diagram..

So with this super switch I can change the resistance depending on whether or not I am on the humbucker or not right? Should I get a 250k pot or 500k? Like I said the humbucker seemed a bit bright anyways maybe I should just go with 250 and no resister? or add a resister to a 500k pot when I am using a single coil? I think I might have this backwards. Was thinking about that no load pot. Sigh.... Also, any difference between the fender superswitch, the dimarzio, and the Oaks?
 
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