3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

[Mrn1ngstr]

Hi, new here. Ive been reading on here and it seems that you folks are pretty knowledgeable in the whole wiring department so hopefully someone will be able to answer my questions. Ive put this up on a couple other forums without so much as a response. Ill admit, I know very little when it comes to electronics other than parts recognition. Here goes:

I want to build a Daphne blue (matching headstock) 3 pickup Jaguar with a Tele neck pickup, a mini humbucker in the middle and a Seth Lover in the bridge. All chrome covered pups, no-hole covers and a standard Jag trem.

I want the 2-way rhythm/lead slider to be a 3-way slider choosing between rhythm neck only, rhythm middle only and the lead circuit. It would need a larger slot for the 3-way and adjusted screw holes (maybe a custom made plate, not sure yet). On the lead circuit, I want to take out the strangle slider to make room for a mid pup slider. I want to replace the lead tone pot for a push-pull and stick the strangle switch there.

Heres the questions:

Quesion 1- On the rhythm circuit, can the rhythm vol and tone wheels be used for both neck and middle? I would think the pups couldnt have settings independent of eachother but thats fine.

Question 2- Would moving the strangle switch from the upper lead circuit to a push-pull be ok? Is it going to change anything drastically sound-wise?

Question 3- Can anyone help with diagramming this?

 

[scarr]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

A1: Yes, just run the output of the rhythm pickup selector switch to them*.
A2: It's ok. It doesn't matter which side of the wire from that cavity it's on.
A3: Sorry, that's going to be pretty involved.

*Note: Replacing the rhythm/lead slider with a three way could be a problem. When I looked at parts for my Jazzmaster project [in progress], the three-way switches were larger than that hole. Given that you're on a Jaguar, it's metal (and remember the mounting screw holes too), that could be a pain.

FWIW, on my project, I'm using a normal two-way slider in that slot, but replacing the wheels with two three-way sliders.

 

[Artie]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

A little complicated, but do-able. I think.

Could you verify, is this the wiring diagram you have now?

Jaguar Wiring PDF

And also, what do you mean by a "strangle" switch. I've never heard that term before in guitar wiring. (Or any other wiring, for that matter.) :scratchch

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

The term Strangle switch is an informal reference to the Bass Cut slider switch - the one nearest to the bridge.

IMO, the wiring is doable BUT it seems to me like the fantasy of somebody who has not had practical experience of a Fender Jaguar. Scale length, break angle and string tension issues will have a marked effect on the sounds of the chosen pickups.

A three pickup Tele-master might be a wiser choice for this project.

 

[Mrn1ngstr]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

Scarr- I had already accounted for the larger size of the selector. Thats what I was talking about when I said it would need a larger slot and adjusted screw holes. Guess I didnt specify I was talking about the cover plate.

Artie- Im not using any particular wiring yet. Right now Im in the planning stages.

Funk- While it might end up like you say, Im willing to give it a try and see how it sounds. Have you ever seen it done? What problems do you imagine?

Worst case, Ill have three new pickups to start projects with. Best case- its awesome and I never stop playing it.

 

[scarr]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

I probably misread/misunderstood so late at night. My apologies.

I think the real question about the pickups is if you expect it to sound like a Tele, an LP deluxe, or a Les Paul. It won't, but I don't think there's anything wrong with those pickups. It'll be a bit more mellow from the short scale, and have a more plonky*, less sustainy* sound from the synchronized trem. That's no reason it couldn't be a nice, little mutant!

*Those are words, right?

 

[Mrn1ngstr]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

I actually don't expect it to sound like any of those guitars but I enjoy the tonal qualities of each of those pickups and I like the different combinations you can achieve with this particular set up, not to mention I just like the guitar. Im hoping it'll turn out pretty well.

 

[Mrn1ngstr]

Re: 3 Pickup Jaguar Idea/Help

I think the main thing Im wondering about wiring-wise is how I would do the rhythm circuit with the 3 way selector. Anyone have any ideas on that?