Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Had an idea the other day as I was contemplating changes I'd like to make to Rachel...

She has a typical 2-Volume, 2-Tone setup (like a Les Paul) with the usual dependent volume controls. I've been toying with the idea of going to independent controls because I think I'd like to be able to blend, but am not sure if I'll like it better or not. All of a sudden I got this crazy thought of having my cake and eating it too... a switch that would allow me to choose whether it was set for dependent or independent controls. So here's what I came up with (it would need to be a 2-way 4P/DT switch).

View attachment 65934

• Question #1: Do you think it will work?
• Question #2: Do you think it would be something people would want? (Besides me, that is!)

I ordered a couple of 2-way 4P/DT switches, so eventually I'm gonna give it a try... but who knows when I'll find the time.

Regarding whether it will work, that depends on the internal contacts of the 4P. If they're like the 3-way version, then the internal switching is different from a standard 2-way DPDT.

Standard: (O = hot, X = Off)
Up
OO
OO
XX

Down
XX
OO
OO

4 pole DT 3-way

UP
OOOO
OOOO (Commons)
XXXX

Middle
OXXO
OOOO
XOOX

Down
XXXX
OOOO
OOOO

So, assuming the 4P 2-way operates the same as the 4P 3-way, you'll get:

Up
OOOO
OOOO
XXXX

Down
OXXO
OOOO
XOOX

But the only way to know for sure is having the switch in-hand and checking for continuity between pins and positions.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Regarding whether it will work, that depends on the internal contacts of the 4P. If they're like the 3-way version, then the internal switching is different from a standard 2-way DPDT.

Standard: (O = hot, X = Off)
Up
OO
OO
XX

Down
XX
OO
OO

4 pole DT 3-way

UP
OOOO
OOOO (Commons)
XXXX

Middle
OXXO
OOOO
XOOX

Down
XXXX
OOOO
OOOO

So, assuming the 4P 2-way operates the same as the 4P 3-way, you'll get:

Up
OOOO
OOOO
XXXX

Down
OXXO
OOOO
XOOX

But the only way to know for sure is having the switch in-hand and checking for continuity between pins and positions.

Gotcha... when the switches I ordered arrive I'll double-check with a multimeter, but I was assuming they would be:

Up:
OOOO
OOOO
XXXX

Down:
XXXX
OOOO
OOOO

They're coming from China, so it may be a couple of weeks!


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[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Maybe longer if they're coming through the port at Tianjin :lol:

 

[corsara]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Ideally, what I want is HSS with 5 way switch, auto-split for the humbucker, tone for the humbucker, shared tone for neck and middle. But with the standard 5 way switch, I can't see how I can do this without losing the "auto-split". The closest I came up with is to have a tone for the bridge and a tone for the neck, but no tone for the middle. Think this will work? Does it even make sense? I spend my time either in bridge only, or neck+middle positions.

Here's the diagram, is it correct?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Ideally, what I want is HSS with 5 way switch, auto-split for the humbucker, tone for the humbucker, shared tone for neck and middle. But with the standard 5 way switch, I can't see how I can do this without losing the "auto-split". The closest I came up with is to have a tone for the bridge and a tone for the neck, but no tone for the middle. Think this will work? Does it even make sense? I spend my time either in bridge only, or neck+middle positions.

Here's the diagram, is it correct?

Looks pretty good to me. I see:

Position 1 - Bridge Only (Series)
Position 2 - Bridge (Split) + Center
Position 3 - Center Only
Position 4 - Center + Neck
Position 5 - Neck Only

You could add a tone control for the center pretty easily by using a stacked concentric pot for the center and neck pups (inner for neck & outer for center... or vice versa).


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[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Try this:

Neck and Middle go the a shared Tone in Position 4, and Neck gets it in 5. You won't get Tone in position 3, however, but if you don't use that position, it won't matter.

If you find you do want Tone on the Middle by itself, jump the Middle pickup's switch terminal to the other side of the switch that goes to that Tone control (where the Yellow wire is), rather than having two pickups meet at the Tone.

 

[corsara]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Try this:

Neck and Middle go the a shared Tone in Position 4, and Neck gets it in 5. You won't get Tone in position 3, however, but if you don't use that position, it won't matter.

If you find you do want Tone on the Middle by itself, jump the Middle pickup's switch terminal to the other side of the switch that goes to that Tone control (where the Yellow wire is), rather than having two pickups meet at the Tone.

Hmm...I thought the diagram I posted is supposed to do the same thing (please tell me if I'm wrong, because I'm about to wire it according to mine). Looking at your diagram, something doesn't add up in my brain, but then again I have very little experience. For example, the purple line going to the tip of the jack---isn't it supposed to come out of the middle leg on the volume? The way you wired it, doesn't look like the volume pot will have any effect?

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

SD diagrams have it both ways.

 

[corsara]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Hey guys, just a small update: received all parts today after a huge delay with the postal services... wired it all up according to my diagram. Also utilized a dpdt mini switch to turn on/off the tapping on neck and middle SSL-5's. I love the guitar now, the SH-6 in the bridge kicks ass, and having it's own tone control allows me lots of versatility. Love it!

 

[Gaspasser69]

Re: Gaps in the Wiring Diagrams?

Hey guys, just a small update: received all parts today after a huge delay with the postal services... wired it all up according to my diagram. Also utilized a dpdt mini switch to turn on/off the tapping on neck and middle SSL-5's. I love the guitar now, the SH-6 in the bridge kicks ass, and having it's own tone control allows me lots of versatility. Love it!

Im genuinely happy to hear that you are getting more than stock sounds out of your guitar and you love it. Awesome!!