A wiring challenge for the adventurous

[Elias Graves]

Here's what I got...

I'm building a new guitar. This one.

At present, I only have the neck pickup; an SM-3N with four conductor wiring. I like having this pickup split.
The guitar is already drilled for a three way toggle switch and I'd like to use that for switching the coil shunt if I can. Is it possible to wire it as two singles into the toggle? I'm looking to get:
North
Both (humbucking)
South

Is that possible? Anyone know how?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Presumably, you require the centre position to be both coils in series.

 

[hermetico]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Here's what I got...

I'm building a new guitar. This one.

At present, I only have the neck pickup; an SM-3N with four conductor wiring. I like having this pickup split.
The guitar is already drilled for a three way toggle switch and I'd like to use that for switching the coil shunt if I can. Is it possible to wire it as two singles into the toggle? I'm looking to get:
North
Both (humbucking)
South

Is that possible? Anyone know how?

Possible,

Run red&white to middle lug.
black to neck lug (and then to volume's input).
green&bare to bridge lug (and ground that lug).

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Interesting. However, is there a definitive tonal difference between the individual coils of such a narrow pickup that would warrant the switching between them?

 

[trevorus]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Easy to do. Run the pickup like normal, and just use the 3 way to short one coil on one end, the other on the other, and short none in the middle.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Easy to do. Run the pickup like normal, and just use the 3 way to short one coil on one end, the other on the other, and short none in the middle.

Well, that won't work because you have to connect the red and white together in the middle position to get series.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Hermetico's suggestion will work, but only if you're using an on/off/on three-way switch. A typical LP three-way pup selector switch won't work.

 

[Elias Graves]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Interesting. However, is there a definitive tonal difference between the individual coils of such a narrow pickup that would warrant the switching between them?

No. I was merely trying to make use o the toggle. I haven't put on a bridge pickup yet an the hole for the toggle was already drilled, so...

It's good. I found a push/pull pot that I used for the split. The three way will just sit there unhooked til I get a bridge pickup.

 

[Frehleybure]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Why not use a five way rotary switch like PRS has on some guitars? Then you can do what ever you want with the controls!

 

[Elias Graves]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Why not use a five way rotary switch like PRS has on some guitars? Then you can do what ever you want with the controls!

I may look into that when I get the bridge pickup in. Series/parallel would be nice to have.

 

[trevorus]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Maybe instead wire the 3 way as a kill switch?

 

[hermetico]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

Hermetico's suggestion will work, but only if you're using an on/off/on three-way switch. A typical LP three-way pup selector switch won't work.

Indeed!.
At least that the OP uses that kind of LP-like switch with more contacts that ArtieToo posted in some past thread.

 

[PunkKitty]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

I think this is what you want, EG. For one pickup, just wire one side of the switch.

You can also see it on the Carvin Wiring Guide. But you will need to cross reference the wiring codes to SD pickups.

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

No. I was merely trying to make use o the toggle. I haven't put on a bridge pickup yet an the hole for the toggle was already drilled, so...

It's good. I found a push/pull pot that I used for the split. The three way will just sit there unhooked til I get a bridge pickup.

I see. Thought maybe you were doing a Jazz guitar and just hadn't located the bridge and tail.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: A wiring challenge for the adventurous

I think this is what you want, EG. For one pickup, just wire one side of the switch.

You can also see it on the Carvin Wiring Guide. But you will need to cross reference the wiring codes to SD pickups.

Yeh, Hermetico and I already covered that and got it straight.