335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

6

6stringer

New member
Greetings,
I have a ES-335 with Seth Lovers that sounds great, very 335ish. I'm a long-time Tele player and use the volume control alot for swells and to control gain dynamics. I'd like to use the 335 more but the two volume control set up just does not work for me. I'd like to change one of the volume pots to a push/pull pot that would allow switching the two volume controls to one master volume. That way I could have a single volume control, not add any additional holes in the guitar and still have the stock setup when desired. I looked through the available wiring option on the SD site and did not find this layout (maybe I missed it?). Does anyone have a schematic for this? Your help is most appreciated.
Oh, before anyone suggests it, I'm not using a volume pedal on my pedal board, I prefer to use the volume control on the guitar.
Thanks.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

I completely understand where you’re coming from, as I am not really a fan of the two-volume-control set up myself. What you’re asking for is a pretty cool idea, but it isn’t going to be doable with a push-pull pot. With a two volume setup, the volume controls are between the pickups and the switch electrically, but with a single volume control the volume is between the switch and the jack. You would need a switch with four poles in order to make it happen, and a push-pull pot only has two.

It would be easy enough to come up with a diagram that would convert your guitar to one volume control, but you would lose the ability to switch back-and-forth… UNLESS you are willing to drill a hole for a 4PDT mini switch (although you may be able to rig up some way to hide the switch inside the F-hole).

I’m willing to help... just let me know which way you decide to go.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

I've converted all my main 2 vol 2 tone instruments to 1 vol 1 tone, and so I did with my strat.

/Peter
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

BriGuy is correct, unless you could live with a little compromise. If you didn't mind being limited to the B+N position when you were in the master vol/tone mode, a push-pull would work. It would simply place the bridge pup onto the neck circuit, and bypass the 3-way.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

Thanks for your replies. How about using two push/pull pots to get the four lugs required? I don't expect to use the guitar in the standard configuration 2V/2T so using two switches to get the modded circuit set up could work? My motivation is to do the wiring mod once so I don't have to go back into the 335 to change it back to stock in the future. I've wired/modded several 335's in the past and they are a pain to work on through the F hole and pick up opening.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

Using two push pull pots is a possibility, but not one that I am crazy about. Here’s why:

1) I haven’t worked it all out on paper yet, but this system would REALLY need for the two switches to be used at the same time. If only one is pulled, it’s going to create some really weird (and unwelcome) volume control issues. You can say that you’d always have them both pulled, but life happens and it doesn’t take much to push one back down without being noticed and then your volume control doesn’t work right when you need it to.

2) Do you set it up to bypass the original controls when the switches are pulled up, or when they are pushed down? Neither one is really all that great. If you have them set to be bypassing when DOWN, it will eliminate the likelihood of the problem I mentioned in number one, but it will make resale difficult because a prospective buyer will need to have those switches UP in order to use the controls in their standard configuration.

3) if you have it set to bypass when the switches are UP, you can just leave it alone for any prospective buyer, but then YOU have to deal with the switches being up all the time.

It just wouldn’t be a very efficient set up. Truly, the best way to do it would be to use a 4PDT switch and either drill a hole or hide it inside the f-hole somehow, or to just hardwire it to be a single volume control and plan to open it back up and reverse it if/when you sell it.

That being said, if you still REALLY want this configuration, just say the word and I can draw it up for you.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

I'd say 1V and 2T, use the fourth hole for a varitone.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

I've been doodling some things since yesterday. The only way to do this will require 4 DPDT switches. (4 push-pulls.) Refer to my diagram to follow what needs to happen. First, you have to disconnect the neck v/t from the neck circuit, and route to after the 3-way. (S1/red.) Along with that, you must disconnect the 3-way from the output jack and route it through the neck v/t. (S2/blue.) Finally, both the neck and bridge must be routed direct to 3-way. (S3/green, S4/yellow.) It just isn't practical. You'd be better off to just get something like a Studio Dot, that has master vol/tone, to begin with.

Weird_335.png

But let's say that you just must have this functionality. The only practical way to do this, (and I use the word "practical" loosely), would be to get an 8PDT switch, (such as below), and do all the wiring though it. If it was me, I'd probably carefully cut a small rectangular hole in the body where the output jack is. Custom make a small metal plate, and mount the output jack and 8PDT push-button style switch to it. This would allow you to bring all the wires out through that cavity and make this wiring nightmare somewhat feasable.

switches.jpg

But then again, I wouldn't do it.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

TGoss01 said:
Listen to BriGuy1968. He's helped me out tremendously!
Click to expand...

Lol... while I appreciate the shout-out, I humbly submit that if ArtieToo has done the work and says it can’t be done with anything less than a 8PDT switch, then it’s probably the gospel truth! He’s EXTREMELY knowledgeable and I would happily follow his lead.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

Thank you all very much. I think you've convinced me to either rewire the guitar, eliminating second volume control (and return it to the stock setup if and when I sell it), or continue to play it occasionally at home and leave it in the case when I play out (which is fairly often). I really hate pulling that wiring out but it's going to be that much work to do the work-around wiring anyway. Thank you again for all your time and consideration.
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

And then there is this dual pot, maybe just control both PUs from just one pot. What do you think?Bourns dual pot.jpg
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

6stringer said:
And then there is this dual pot, maybe just control both PUs from just one pot. What do you think?
Click to expand...

I think it's friggin' brilliant. (Wish I'd thought of it.) :D

One single push-pull could switch the bridge from its dedicated vol/tone to the neck's ganged vol/tone. The guitar will look stock and you achieve what the OP wanted in his 1st post. Let me doodle a couple things and see if this works. But I think it does. The wiring's a mess, but do-able. ;)

Artie
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

ArtieToo said:
I think it's friggin' brilliant. (Wish I'd thought of it.) :D

One single push-pull could switch the bridge from its dedicated vol/tone to the neck's ganged vol/tone. The guitar will look stock and you achieve what the OP wanted in his 1st post. Let me doodle a couple things and see if this works. But I think it does. The wiring's a mess, but do-able. ;)

Artie
Click to expand...

looking forward to your schematic, Thank you!
 
Re: 335 1 volume / 2 volume switch

Well, I think I finally shook off the worst of this cold/flu, or whatever it was. I should have this for you before the day is done.
 
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