3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

[rumblebox]

i'm having a brain fart and can't think of how to wire this circuit.

it will have 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 2-wire pickups, 3 on/off/on switches. i basically want to select each pickup to be in series or parallel with the others.(not in phase/out of phase)

OR just have 3 in phase/off/out of phase switches and a master series/parallel push/pull pot....

EDIT: i wont br able to switch between series and parallel. So I'm just wiring them all in series like brian may did and using phase/off/phase switches.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

is this diagram legit?

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

That diagram has an in-phase/off/out-of-phase switch for each pickup, and a series/parallel master switch. So it's not quite what you're asking for.

I think the issue you'll run into is this: there's no sensible way to have some pickups in series with the others and some in parallel, at least not in a switch-able way. Series vs. parallel for single coils is really an all-or-nothing proposition: either they're all in series, or they're all in parallel.

Honestly, even though the diagram above doesn't do exactly what you want, it will be a far more useful wiring design.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

The schematic in post #2 is the same circuit that is illustrated on the Brian May Red Special website as one of the variations on the standard six switch, series only circuit of May's own guitar.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

the layout on post 2 is faulty. doesnt work...


but this one does.

instead of separate phase and on/off switches, i'll use an on/off/on.

now, the only problem is finding a 6PDT switch......

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

Now I'm really confused.

The bottom row of switches are in-phase/off/out-of-phase. The middle three look like they bypass the pickups, then it's not clear where their output ends up. The top switch seems to be an unnecessarily complicated series/parallel switch.

What are the middle row of switches supposed to be connected to?

As for finding a 6PDT switch that works in a guitar: no chance.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

i'm not sure which lugs the ghost whires connect to. if i ever find a 6pdt switch, i'll contact the guy who drew it and find out.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

i'm not sure which lugs the ghost whires connect to. if i ever find a 6pdt switch, i'll contact the guy who drew it and find out.

With respect, I think this is going to be an overly complicated setup that will be next to impossible to use in reality, assuming it works at all.

This is coming from the guy who designed THIS:

 

[rumblebox]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

when i had a H/S/H strat, i simply wired it with a 5 way and a push/pull to engage the bridge/neck. and i had modified triple shot rings on the pickguard. infinite combinations.

 

[cohara41]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

Was hoping Hermetico would chime in with a schematic. I'm looking for one for HSH that'll give me series/parallel for the neck & middle and for bridge & middle only. The middle is also phase changed.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

the layout on post 2 is faulty. doesnt work...

but this one does.

instead of separate phase and on/off switches, i'll use an on/off/on.

now, the only problem is finding a 6PDT switch......

This looks like a modified Brian May diagram, as originally drawn up by Scott Humphrey, where the big switch controls series/parallel.

I've seen other people use on/off/on for their Red Special replicas, doing away with three switches, but wired as in phase/off/out of phase.

 

[hermetico]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

If what you wanted is to choose for each pickup to add it in parallel or in series, you don't really need that 6PDT.
You can do that with 3 x 3PDT (for pickups) + 1 DPDT (to select series or parallel mode). I bet this will take less room in your axe.

 

[hermetico]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

Well, in fact, you just need 3 x 3PDT switches, as follows:



If you use 3PDT on/on types, you will be not able to switch off a single pickup, they will be always in parallel or in series with the rest.
If you use 3PDT on/off/on types, you will be able to individually switch off any pickup (or all them).

This smart switching system was designed by ArtieToo.

 

[rumblebox]

Re: 3 pickups, each with a parallel/off/series switch

Bad ass!