Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more holes

[baimun]

I know that the Triple-Shot rings are now out there to allow all the different combinations of coils, but I already had a 5 way rotary switch laying around... so I thought I would experiment.

Here's what I ended up with... Master volume, 3 way toggle that chooses Bridge Pickup, Both Pickups, or Neck Pickup (like normal) but I replaced the tone knob with a 5 way rotary super switch that changes the pickups into their different modes. (Since each pickup only has four modes, I chose to make the middle choice a "BFG Mode" which is a Series Humbucker in the bridge and a P-90 in the neck.

I color coded the diagram to make it easier to see what's going on.

I used the Top and side on one side for the bridge pickup, then copied the wiring (with the exception of positon #3) on the other side for the neck pickup.

(Grounds all gather on the casing of the master volume)

Basically, the black wire from each pickup is going to the three way... and the green and bare to ground. The red and the white go to input lugs A and B for the bridge pickup and red and white from the neck go to C and D.

If you follow the diagram, you'll see how in position 1, the red and white wires connect to make a series humbucker. In position 5, the red wire goes nowhere while the white goes to ground (connecting only the P90 coil. The reverse is true for position 4 where the white wire does nothing and the Red goes to the output, activating the rail coils.

The diagram could be modified to make positions 2 or 3 whatever you wanted, but these 13 combinations work well for me.

I was surprised at how hot the bridge humbucker was (Duncan specs confirm 18.8K wow!) but I love the P90 sounds also. I was surprised to find the Parallel Humbucking sounds actually sounded more "stratty" than the rails. The rails have a sharper bite and are almost more "Tele" sounding.

Now this unique guitar (Thanks to Luthier Ron Luczak) has been made even more unique with my hardware and wiring mods. (I also swapped out the Graphtech Saddles for PRS metal saddles, and put PRS Lampshade knobs on instead of speed knobs. The faceted edges help make the rotary switch easier to use.)

 

[crguti]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

why not to use SD Triple Shot?

 

[baimun]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

I thought about the Triple Shots, but I already had the 5 way rotary in my parts bin, so it was more of a personal challenge to see if I could figure out the complexities and get it all wired myself.

My #3 position is the Series Humbucker and the neck P90 (being able to choose either or both with the 3 way toggle). That's the setting I find myself using the most. Technically I have 13 combos because the Series Hum by itself is the same for Modes 1 and 3, and the Neck P90 by itself is the same for 3 and 5.

I have figured out an even better switching method than the rotary, but I'll save that for my next custom.

The one improvement I would like to see would be a coil tap for the P90's like the Quarter Pound Lead pickup to reduce the winding power.... then the P90 and Humbucker tones could be overwound or vintage wound.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

I suspect that, for the sounds baimun wanted, the rotary selector is quicker in use than either Triple Shots or the SD schematic for two push-pull pots. PLUS, he gets that BFG setting.

IMO, this idea is a good one. So good that I am going to steal it. :nana:

 

[baimun]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

Yes FF... speed of selection was definitly on my mind, as well as eliminating "push.. pull... click... no not that... is it down.. up... up? Crap....."

I'm not a big fan of the 5 way as a mode of pickup selection, but as a "Mode" switch, 1, 3, and 5 are always usable, even if I accidentally go the wrong way, and it's always easy to get to strat or tele sounds with "all the way one direction, minus 1".

 

[baimun]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

While it surprised me at the amount of drive that the pickups had in humbucking mode, I dialed back the gain on my Orange and have found these to be very articulate pickups. I don't use distortion pedals, preferring to get all my gain from a Tube amp... so if I'm ever looking for a bit more drive than my other guitars have, I'll just grab this guitar.

Actually I'm really surprised how usable all the different sounds are because usually "jack of all trades" kinds of guitars usually fall short.

I'm taking it over to a buddy's house today so we can A/B it with his PRS 513. :approve:

 

[orpheo]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

I don't care about the wiring, I Just wanna see more pics of this lovely guitar!!!!


PS: I'd use a regular master volume and master tone push pull pot,and wire it so that you have left coil/ right coil/series/parallel with those. schematic is at the duncan site I can't live without a tone knob

 

[sosomething]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

excuse me while I pick my jaw up off the floor.... that's got to be the NICEST looking PRS I've ever seen.

A private stock model, right? It's got to be...

 

[baimun]

Re: Advanced Wiring Schematic: How to put P-Rails in a PRS without drilling more hole

Actually, it's not a PRS.

Until recently, you couldn't get a PRS in Korina (white Limba) and the've never made one in Black Limba (same wood but with darker streaks and stripes in it. A luthier from Michigan, Ron Luczak, built this to Custom 22 specs (but without a PRS logo). It's a 2 piece Black Limba body, 1 piece Black Limba neck, bound rosewood board (this year is the first time PRS has ever offered bound boards as well) and a nitro finish.

Over the years I've owned it, it's had a variety of Duncan pickups (I only use Seymour Duncan Pickups)

Pre P-Rail and hardware conversion (EDIT: That Anniversary PRS ended up with a custom covered JB/Jazz set with chrome covers and gold pole pieces).

Post P-Prail changes

I do have other PRS gutiars, but I'm using Duncans for those as well.... Custom Shop "Brobucker" in the bridge of this Rosewood Neck'd Custom 22.

I built this Spalted Maple topped custom using an Ernie Ball neck and Duncan Mini-buckers.

(after it was done)

I'm building another custom right now that will have a variety of Quarter Pound pickups in it.