Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

[The Don]

So I was brainstorming some unique and interesting wiring ideas and browsing Warmoth.com when I stumbled across concentric pots. Pots that allow both volume and tone to be altered from (essentially) the same knob - the upper one controls volume, the lower tone.

What if I took a Strat and put 2 concentric pots on it? One for the bridge pickup, one for the middle/neck (bridge is a humbucker, neck is too). And in the third hole that'd usually be used for a tone control, what if I installed two mini-switches that allowed the bridge and neck pickups to be split? Would this #1) WORK and #2) Be possible using concentric pots?

I'm looking to change pickups in one of my Strats (I want a real UNIQUE tone... suggestions, by the way?) and I want a good number of options that will add to it's versatility and tonal uniqueness.

As for the pickups, I was thinking of switching magnets to an A2 or A3 in my TB-5 to warm it up and thicken it up; and also I was thinking of putting either a FRED or a PAF Pro or an Air Norton in the neck position. Possibly a PG. A middle pickup isn't exactly necessary.

Sorry for asking so much in one topic - can someone help me out though? :32:

 

[guitarfreak1386]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

yeah i think it would be possible ive done similar to guitars, now the question is what kind of switch do you have now and how is it wired, like what does each position do

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

You could use a 3-way switch to select the pickups. Then use another conectric knob to create a variable coil tap.

Using concentric pots is essentially using two pots. So, it should be pretty reasonable.

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

I have a 5 way switch, standard strat wiring despite having 3 humbuckers.

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

You could use a 3-way switch to select the pickups. Then use another conectric knob to create a variable coil tap.

right...... variable coil tap...... can you explain? :smack:

 

[Indie P Bass]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

right...... variable coil tap...... can you explain? :smack:

you wire one of your humbucker's coils to a pot, so instead of flipping it on and off you and turn it up and down. It's pretty cool. you can either use A) a ganged pot and make one control for both pickups or B) a concentric pot and make 1 control for each pickup. It seems pretty easy to do in thoery.

 

[rspst14]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

I'm not sure if you can fit two mini switches in the spot where the second tone control normally goes. You should be able to do it using a DPDT push/pull pot to split both humbuckers. It shouldn't be too difficult to wire up.

Ryan

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

Sounds interesting. What effect will that have on the sound?

And could I still split the coils - that's a priority and something I've wanted to try for awhile.

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

I'm not sure if you can fit two mini switches in the spot where the second tone control normally goes. You should be able to do it using a DPDT push/pull pot to split both humbuckers. It shouldn't be too difficult to wire up.

Ryan

I think I've seen it done on some Carvins - forgive me if I'm mistaken...

And excuse me for my lack of knowledge on this issue again - what's a DPDT push/pull pot?

I'm usually the type who picks a guitar up and plays it, this is all new to me!

 

[rspst14]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

A push pull pot is the same as a regular stock control pot, but it also incorporates a switch with 6 lugs. You can split two humbuckers using one of these pots...when it's in the normal position, you get standard humbucker operation. When you pull up on it, the switch flips and the humbuckers are split. That would be the easiest way to do what you want, and it would keep the stock look of three control knobs. You could wire up the third pot to do something, or just use it as a dummy pot that has no function other than to split the coils when pulled up.

Ryan

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

Push/Pull seems to be the way to go.

So far we have a 3-way switch, 1 vol knob, 1 push/pull knob...

What can the other switch do, now...?

 

[rspst14]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

If you still want to use the concentric pots, you can use one to control volume and tone for one pickup, one to control volume and tone for the other two pickups, and one push/pull for splitting the coils. If you want to go all out, you can use the third knob to install a Clapton mid boost kit, although I'm not sure if you can use a push/pull pot with that. Sometimes active systems use really high or really low pot values. I'm in the process of putting together a Strat project with a master volume and master tone. The third knob is going to be used to control an acoustic piezo pickup in the bridge. You can also drill a hole in the pickguard to add a switch for coil splitting. Any DPDT toggle switch could do that. Maybe go with two concentric pots, a Clapton mid boost kit, and then drill a hole for a mini DPDT toggle that splits the coils. That would be one versatile Strat setup.

Ryan

 

[Dime59hum]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

One of my weird ideas is to take your standard 2 hum 1 vol 1 tone guitar and get a concetric pot, make the tone and volume in one spot, and add a booster switch with no drilling to your guitar! Vuala!

 

[7th Hell]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

Push/Pull seems to be the way to go.

Be forwarned- these pots aren't as sturdy as regular non-switching pots. I've seen lots of em' go bad (scratchy/staticy) after very short period of time. These were the good SwitchCraft ones too! Seem that gunk collects inside the switching mechanism. Have a spare or two on hand just in case.

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

So, in theory, does that mean I could have 2 concentric pots, 1 for the bridge and one for neck and middle, have something else where the 3rd tone would be, and a totally independent DPDT switch? That sounds like an interesting option... especially because of the stability issue of push/pull pots that was just mentioned...

I just want to clear some things up though. What are the differences between:

1. Series/parallel pickup switching,

2. Coil-tapping, and

3. Phase switching

How does each sound, differences, etc.

Mini-switches can do all of those, correct? That'd totally eliminate the need for a push/pull pot, which didn't excite me very much anyways (I can see it now, I'm playing a show and I pull the knob upward and the knob itself flies off)

Also - do I need a 3-way selector or can I wire my current 5-way to do some nifty tricks? Or should I buy a type of megaswitch - the E model looks interesting...

Agh there's so many options.

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

I did a lookup on the Clapton Mid Booster but it appears it takes up 2 pots.

I did find this nifty little thing though -
http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/product/PASFX

Supposed to be the Duncan "pickup booster" circuit, fits in the guitar itself...

 

[rspst14]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

I'm pretty sure the Clapton kit only takes up one knob. Again, it depends on whether or not you want to drill into the pickguard to install extra switches. It's no big deal on a Fender guitar because you're not drilling into the guitar itself. I saw that Duncan pickup booster circuit, that might be kind of cool if you think you might use something like that. It's basically just a preamp system that you can use to push the amp a little harder. It might be useful with vintage style pickups, but probably overkill if you have pickups with more output.

As far as the reliability of push/pull pots, I've been using them for years, and I've never had one go bad. You just need to avoid the cheaper brands. The best ones are the Dimarzio brand push/pull pots, any Dimarzio dealer can get them for you.

How much are you willing to spend? If you really want to go all out, check out the L.R. Baggs X-Bridge. It's a replacement bridge for Strats that has an acoustic piezo pickup embedded in the saddles. It doesn't require any modifications to the guitar, and you could use the third knob to control an acoustic pickup. I'm setting up my Strat project that way: one master volume, one master tone, blend control for the acoustic pickup, and an extra 3 way switch that allows me to select acoustic pickups, electric pickup, or both at the same time.

Ryan

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

Very nice... I don't know though, I'm not too eager to spend the extra money to get a piezo pickup in there too; I was strictly just going to have the pickups and different wiring combos than you'd normally see...

What would the Clapton Mid Boost do, just boost the midrange?

 

[rspst14]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

The Clapton kit can give you up to 25 db of midrange boost for a thicker sound. Try out a Clapton Strat to see how you like it.

Ryan

 

[The Don]

Re: Concentric Pots and Coil Splitting, and other weird ideas!

Sounds good. Does it require a 9v battery......I'm assuming it is?