DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

[Gstring]

Was looking through my various scribbles and downloaded ideas for Jimmy Page wiring and the many variations. There are quite a few of these. Thought it might be interesting to hear whether people have a particular favourite version of a Jimmy Page type wiring and their reasons why .

I am not thinking here in terms of a competition to get the maximum number of pick up variations but more in terms of useful and usable sounds. I am aware that the type of pup will have an influence as some sound better in parallel wiring than coil cut. Plus I think it is important that the set up should be user friendly. You should not have to go thru all the push pulls every time you pick up the guitar up to remind yourself what everything does.

When saying Jimmy page I am thinking mainly of those schematics with 4 push pulls and a 3 way. Having said that I have nothing against those which incorporate a 5 way blade switch and I am well aware that guitars with 2 vols and 1 tone can get almost identical results by combining the OOPs /series in one push pull.

Generally speaking the basic Jimmy Page concept has an OOPs push pull, a series push pull plus 2 further push pulls which can be set up in a multitude of ways to give coil cuts to either the inner or outer coils or combinations thereof . It is also possible to put the pups in parallel or have a combination which puts the bridge (or neck) in parallel with the added variation of the other PP putting both pups in coil cut . This variation can work well.

There are also various versions which incorporate Artie's coil swap mod with either coil cut or a parallel option and some which incorporate the OOPs and series into one push pull . Some say this is all you need from OOPs and series and it frees up a push pull. This enables parallel options for both bridge and neck plus a combined coil cut for both. Or something with Artie's coils incorporating 2 push pulls giving parallel options for both bridge and neck. This is probably my preference as you can also get the virtual humbuckers in parallel with some really interesting usable tones.

Would be most interested in other people's views and ideas. I am not asking for actual drawings just views on the various concepts in general terms.

.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

To clarify, the original Jimmy Page wiring (not Jimmy's guitar, but the 1996? Gibson) has the Neck and Bridge Coil Splits on the respective volumes, the bridge push/pull puts the pickups out of phase with each other and the neck tone puts them in series. There is no method to select which coil is split.

It's been 11 years since I wired my Les Paul with JP wiring, but at the time I used the original Gibson diagram with the error corrected. The one that requires the genuine 4 contact 3-way switch and leaves a silent position when in series mode. I believe Jeremy or Artie has it in their archive.

Over the years I've found that if I did it again I'd only use two push/push pots, one to split BOTH pickups at once (neck screw and bridge stud) and one for out of phase. Although full splits/series/out of phase is a cool tone, I rarely use it, and I never use one pickup split and the other full.

Many other versions have been made over the years, some use different switches, some correct the "fault" of a silent position on the switch, and like you mention, some might allow you to select the cool, but that's usually on a series/split | series/parallel dual switch per pickup setup.

Good luck, it's a pain to wire. The best thing to do is make a "template" out of stiff cardboard that matches the pot spacing of your guitar. Then you only need to drop the whole unit in the guitar and connect the pickups and ground. You can even fish the switch wire and Jack wire and solder those components in the guitar.

Have fun!

EDIT - I'd love to see the diagram that does a single push-pull for Series/OOP!

 

[Imperfect]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

I've been wondering about this as well but never asked.

How does the Seymour Duncan wiring diagram compare to the others?

 

[leevc5]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Not intending to side track your topic, however....
I think that triple shots have made JP wiring obsolete. I have a set of P-Rails with triple shots installed in an SG. 24 tones at your fingertips and much easier to remember and get to the tone you want effortlessly.

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Leecv5..Thanks for that input on the triple shots. I had forgot about those. I have done many wirings for many people over the years and for some reason most owners prefer push pull systems. Perhaps triple shots should be more popular than they are.

Darkside

This is the wiring I normally use for combined OOPs/series. It obviously works only in the neck on position and you get the kill switch effect in the bridge on position. This can actually be useful for effect when playing on the bridge pup.

When on the bridge vol comes completely out of the circuit

 

[Aceman]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Any version I won't have to do!

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

I think Aceman's comment probably says it all.

However. I thought I should at least close this thread with details of the most popular version I have installed over the last 7 years or so. Around 13 from memory with various variations. On some occasions this,or a slightly modified version of it , has been installed in 2 humbucker guitars with only a master volume and master tone with a DTDP mini switch squeezed in between the pots. It has also, of course , been installed with seperate OOPs and series push pulls in 4 pot guitars.

Suspect this version is the most popular as it has many usable tones. Apologies for the scribbled diagram but hopefully its comprehendable. I actually like this variation and it is fitted to my own guitar

able,

 

[TroyBaer]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

I like having the coil splits and the phase reversal, but I don't think I would use the series setting. I have an Epi LP Standard wired up with "just" the coil splits and phase reversal on push-pull switches, and it's pretty flexible. (IIRC, most recent Epi LP Custom Pros have similar wiring from the factory.)

I can't find it now, but a while back I read an interview with Page where he said that the only one of those switches he used on a regular basis any more was the one for phase reversal.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

On my SG I have: volumes switch series/parallel coils, bridge tone switches phase, neck tone switches pickups into series; then 2 SPDT on the pickguard to split to single coils. I use almost all pretty regularly, except phase/PU series. When I do use phase/PU series I always use them together to keep the output level the same.

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Beaubrummels...that sounds like the full monty. Are you cutting from parallel or from series . If from series do you have any issues if parallel and coil cut are both up? I had some issues when I tried this so always split from parallel. Also are you cutting to inner or outer coils or a combination?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

There are issues. However the type of wiring that avoids the issues makes the control layout unusable for what I need right now.

One issue, that is well known with JP wiring, is that putting the pickups in series makes the pickup selector become a killswitch.

The other 'issue' is the single coil switches override the coil series/parallel switch. So if the coils are set to parallel, the single coil switch goes from parallel to single and back. If the coils are set to normal/series, then the single coil switch goes from series coil to single coil and back. I find this useful and I like it, however. I actually modified the full JP wiring to make it work this way. The original full wiring had more issues than that, if I recall.

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

1

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Thanks for the response. I actually think that using the series push pull as a kill switch when you are using the bridge pup can be interesting at times.

Seems your ideas work very well for you. My experience over the years has been that most people are reluctant to fit additional switches to their guitars to get the all singing and dancing versions. Possible exception is Tele owners ,many of whom think that an additional mini between the 2 pots looks cool.

I basicly started this thread out of interest to see how people preferred to arrange 2 push pulls to get either parallel or coil cut options or a combination in the J P concept. These days most want more than the basic coil cut to the outer coils and I hoped to get more responses than I did , possibly with some interesting variations.

There usually has to be bit of a compromise. The wiring idea which I show ,I have used a lot over the years and it is actually pretty good as you get parallel on the bridge , coil cuts on both the bridge and neck and a compromise almost neck pup in parallel when you select bridge and neck coil cuts together . You also get quite useful and usable. extra combinations like bridge in series with neck screw coil and bridge in parallel with neck in series.

 

[Darth Nihilus]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Gstring: Let me save you some headaches and allow me to present to you the best JP wiring schematic I've come across. The reason I like this one over any other is because it addresses some issues other schematics have. The huge issue is that on most others, the volumes are independent from each other which means that even if the volumes are both down, there's still some signal bleed and the guitar will be noisy especially if you take your hands off the strings. The schematic I'm presenting to you here fixes this issue by making both volumes master volumes. Turn your volumes down and there is zero noise or hum! The other thing it offers is the 50's wiring which puts the tone caps AFTER the volume which means there's no treble bleed when turning down your volumes therefore you don't need a treble bleed mod done. And last, the taper on the volumes IMO work much smoother overall. All you need are four long shaft 500k pots and a standard 3-way Gibson switch, nothing fancy. There are 21 different tones available with this schematic and the video breaks down each one. Enjoy!!! https://youtu.be/PS7YvCmop8Y

BTW, the color code used in this video is the Seymour Duncan color code so keep that in mind when performing this mod.

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Darth..Thanks for directing me there. Will study your version to see if I can work out modifications to give the particular JP options I, and others prefer. In particular bridge in parallel alone and bridge in parallel with neck in series and Bridge slug with neck screw . It would not actually have been a feasible option on my latest re wire , a 2 vol and I tone Schecter S-1 i Elite . As you can see for from my rough sketch ,I combined the series and phase switch in one . When this is up, the neck vol acts as a master vol.

I do not seem to have any issues with the independent volumes at the moment . The guitar is well shielded . I agree with you that 50's wiring is best for this mod and I have actually used it a lot on other guitars.

 

[leevc5]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

I've said it before. Jimmy page wiring has become obsolete with the introduction of SD Triple Shots:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/product-news/triple-shot-rings-or-how-the-heck-did-that-sound-emerge-from-my-guitar

 

[Imperfect]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

Gstring: Let me save you some headaches and allow me to present to you the best JP wiring schematic I've come across. The reason I like this one over any other is because it addresses some issues other schematics have. The huge issue is that on most others, the volumes are independent from each other which means that even if the volumes are both down, there's still some signal bleed and the guitar will be noisy especially if you take your hands off the strings. The schematic I'm presenting to you here fixes this issue by making both volumes master volumes. Turn your volumes down and there is zero noise or hum! The other thing it offers is the 50's wiring which puts the tone caps AFTER the volume which means there's no treble bleed when turning down your volumes therefore you don't need a treble bleed mod done. And last, the taper on the volumes IMO work much smoother overall. All you need are four long shaft 500k pots and a standard 3-way Gibson switch, nothing fancy. There are 21 different tones available with this schematic and the video breaks down each one. Enjoy!!! https://youtu.be/PS7YvCmop8Y

BTW, the color code used in this video is the Seymour Duncan color code so keep that in mind when performing this mod.

This was the wiring schematic I was planning on using. I then ran into the Seymour Duncan diagram (https://docs.google.com/gview?embed....com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/JP_wiring.pdf) and prefer that since the capacitors are self contained to a single pot. To my knowledge the SD diagram is 50's wiring due to where the caps are on the lugs of the pots. Normally this wouldn't matter but I'm installing this in a 335 so I am a little concerned of damaging the capacitors during installation. SO I wonder if there is a difference between these two?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

This was the wiring schematic I was planning on using. I then ran into the Seymour Duncan diagram (https://docs.google.com/gview?embed....com/wp-content/uploads/2016/05/JP_wiring.pdf) and prefer that since the capacitors are self contained to a single pot. To my knowledge the SD diagram is 50's wiring due to where the caps are on the lugs of the pots. Normally this wouldn't matter but I'm installing this in a 335 so I am a little concerned of damaging the capacitors during installation. SO I wonder if there is a difference between these two?

Ever tried soldering a 6-pin push-pull with 3 pot lugs and a cap all on the same pot chassis? I keep the cap off the pot and switch chassis. Easier to solder and less chance of overheating something that is needed to work.

50's wiring has the tone tapped off the same lug the is switch soldered to.
Modern wiring has the tone tapped of the same lug that the pickup is soldered to.

Here's a good image of the differences.

Whether the cap is before (typical Gibson) or after (Duncan drawing) input lug of the tone pot doesn't matter as long as the result is a cap and variable resistor in series to ground.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

That's a great diagram, it shows that 59's vs Modern and Dependent vs Independent volumes can be chosen individually, and any combo can be used with Jimmy Page. Additionally, you can select lot values and cap values individually for both pickups.

 

[Gstring]

Re: DOES ANYBODY HAVE A FAVOURITE VERSION OF THE JIMMY PAGE TYPE WIRING ?

I've said it before. Jimmy page wiring has become obsolete with the introduction of SD Triple Shots:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/blog/product-news/triple-shot-rings-or-how-the-heck-did-that-sound-emerge-from-my-guitar

I am sure many agree. I have very limited experience with these on somebody else's guitar . I actually found them a bit fiddly ,especially when playing standing up but I'm sure this is something you get used to. Also I recollect they were quite expensive here in the UK.