Help with HSH wiring

[PureCrispyBacon]

Hey everyone

I'm planning out an HSH partscaster build and I want to know if this wiring setup is possible

Essentially I want a master volume and master tone, with the volume splitting the neck humbucker and the tone splitting the bridge humbucker. I also want a 5-way switch with the standard strat-style pickup selections, with a secondary 3-way toggle switch. When the 5 way is in the middle/3rd position, the 3way toggle switches between just middle, neck-bridge, and neck-middle-bridge.

I know the basics of guitar electronics, but not enough to know right off the bat how to do this. I've also seen some videos with the same amount of possible configurations, but with kind of confusing electronics. I saw one with a 3rd pushpull that gives neck-bridge in 3rd position and neck-middle-bridge in 4th but that seems pretty counterintuitive to me. I've also seen a newer-ish stock Fender (I can't remember if it was a thinline or a jazzmaster) with a secondary toggle switch that only worked in a certain 5-way position.

I guess my main question is if this exact configuration is possible, and if anyone has any advice or diagrams that would be great too.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Hi PureCrispyBacon, and welcome to the forum!

Cool idea, and yes... it’s doable. I’ll have a diagram for you shortly. [emoji106][emoji2532]

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Like I already said, this is a pretty cool idea... might even have to try it on something myself sometime! On the HSH you see in my avatar I have a 3-way toggle for the humbuckers and then a blend pot that blends from the humbuckers only, to adding the center, to the center only. It works pretty good, but there’s an elegance to your idea that’s appealing.

By the way, what kind of guitar is this going into and what pickups will you be using?

In any case, here’s your diagram:

If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to ask... and be sure to come back and tell us how it works!

 

[greekdude]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

You could make a simpler design with just a on/off switch which could add bridge to all positions. It works with a standard 5-way switch. You could have all your classic combinations + bridge, so neck + bridge, neck + middle + bridge would be available.

here it is done with a push/pull but since you have two already you could add a mini on/off switch.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

That's sick, thank you so much. The guitar I'm planning on doing is a Warmoth body and neck. I want the aesthetic to be like a Fender 70's era strat, but with more versatility. I haven't chosen any pickups yet.

If you don't mind, what software did you use to make that diagram?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Sounds like a fun guitar... I look forward to hearing about how it works out for you!

The software is a freeware called ExpressSCH. It only does black and white, so I add the colors using Microsoft Paint.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Awesome, thanks. If you don't mind, could you send the file of the diagram to me at purecrispybacon@gmail.com

Also, what's the difference between a normal 5-way and a "super" 5 way

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Diagram sent. You may want to take your email address off of here, though! You never know what kind of riff-raff you might run into! [emoji6]

A standard 5-way switch has two poles with 3 lugs plus 1 common on each side. Each pole is connected to one of the pickups and the spaces in between actually connect two poles together (the notch positions).

A 5-way super switch has 4 poles, each with 5 lugs and one common. Because it has five completely separate lugs (one for each position) and 4 poles instead of 2, it isn’t anywhere near as limited in what it can do as a standard 5-way would be.

The setup you were asking for is beyond the capabilities of a standard switch.

https://guitarelectronics.com/5-way-4-pole-lever-switch-oak-grigsby/

 

[RorySquier]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Some great info on here. Since my Fender Strat has a swimming pool route it gives me some ideas with a pre-loaded pick guard.


;>)/

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Thanks, and don't worry about the email. It's a burner that I use for stuff like this.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Another question if you don't mind. I'm still thinking of having 3 knobs total more for aesthetics than anything, and I'm kind of considering putting a passive overdrive circuit in for the 2nd tone control. I'm kind of thinking something like the very bottom diagram in this PDF, but I want the primary tone control to be seperate from the distortion tone control, while maintaining the push-pull to enable functionality. Could I just wire the hot from the main tone control and leave out the capacitor? Or just wire it like another tone pot? Not really sure what to do there

 

[BriGuy1968]

Help with HSH wiring

I have a Black Ice on my Westone as well... it’s kinda fun.

If I were you, I would just put in the third pot and wire the Black Ice backward from your tone control (to the right lug instead of the left. Then, when you turn the knob “up” (clockwise) the amount of distortion will increase. Then, when it’s all the way “down,” you won’t hear any distortion at all... no need for the push-pull at all.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

So you're saying don't use a push-pull to enable it and just wire it as a normal tone? Like this?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Close...

Actually, I would put the control (electrically) right along the line between the jack and the volume control, like this:

Alternatively, you could use this diagram from the Black Ice instructions:

Either way, there’s no need for an on/off switch because when it’s turned all the way down no distortion comes through.

By the way, my diagram shows the Black Ice wired for “Industrial Strength.” If you want it some other way just follow their instructions.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Great thanks so much for all your help. I don't think I would have figured this out on my own. I'll definitely make a video or something when I finish the build

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

How does this look, then, for a final control scheme? If I don't have a switch/push-pull to turn on the black ice, will it change the signal enough to notice even at 0? Also, the ground pins on the pot schematics just mean ground to the pot chassis, right? Did you make the potentiometer component diagrams yourself or did you download them somewhere?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Help with HSH wiring

Lol... one question at a time!

How does this look, then, for a final control scheme?

Looks great!

If I don't have a switch/push-pull to turn on the black ice, will it change the signal enough to notice even at 0?

No... you can’t hear it at all on “0.”

Also, the ground pins on the pot schematics just mean ground to the pot chassis, right?

Yes... with the way the program is designed you need to have actual “pins” on your components to which your wires connect. I made 2 pins on the edges just for ease of making connections.

Did you make the potentiometer component diagrams yourself or did you download them somewhere?

Yes, I made all my own components. The program is great, but is (unfortunately) lacking in guitar-related components. They’re pretty easy to make though.

 

[PureCrispyBacon]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Thanks, this has helped a lot. I might actually pull the trigger on this project a lot sooner than I anticipated then.

 

[Silver]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Briguy1968, I think it's pretty awesome that you have helped this person so much.

:headbang:

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Help with HSH wiring

Briguy1968 is the MAN with this sh*t!!