Help with two humbcker super switch wiring

[sethb]

I am wiring two Alnico Pro IIs with a 5 way super switch. Positions 1, 3, and 5 will be bridge, both, neck respectively. For position 2, I would like the bridge slug pickup and the neck adjustable pickup, so it is humbucking. For position 4, I would like to have the two adjustable pickups. Two and four can swapped if that is easier to wire (not sure why it would be).

So, the questions.

1. How do I wire this up so the bridge slug is active at position 2 and the bridge adjustable is active in position 4?

2. Which tone do people like better, the two adjustables (position 4), which are the furthest apart; of the two slugs, which are closest together.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Help with two humbcker super switch wiring

The way that the coil-tapped pickup combinations will sound depends upon several factors. Of what wood(s) is your guitar made? Is the neck glued on or screwed on? How far apart are the pickups mounted? What sort of bridge/tailpiece/vibrato assembly does your guitar have?

For your desired circuit, a good starting point would be to examine the circuit diagram for a Fender Big Apple (later renamed American Double Fat) Stratocaster. (See Fender / Mr. Gearhead web pages.)

In this diagram, you will notice that Fender employs the two "inside" slug coils in their attempt to produce a Stratocaster "Position 2/4" sound. This is because the distance between the coils is important. If you are hoping to produce a passable immitation of a Stratocaster from twin humbuckers, on a 21/22 fret guitar, the two "screw" coils would be too far apart.

When coil-tapping the Treble (bridge) position humbucker, using the coil nearer the neck usually produces the fuller tone.

When coil-tapping the Rhythm (neck) position pickup, using the coil nearer the neck still produces the fuller tone.

The only reason that I can think of for alternating between the two coils of the bridge pickup is to keep the split combinations hum-cancelling. IMO, this is more easily achieved by either flipping one of the pickup magnets or by clever connecting of the four conductor cables to the megaswitch.

 

[sethb]

Re: Help with two humbcker super switch wiring

In this diagram, you will notice that Fender employs the two "inside" slug coils in their attempt to produce a Stratocaster "Position 2/4" sound. This is because the distance between the coils is important. If you are hoping to produce a passable immitation of a Stratocaster from twin humbuckers, on a 21/22 fret guitar, the two "screw" coils would be too far apart.

by clever connecting of the four conductor cables to the megaswitch.

The guitar is an ash semi hollow tele, 22 fret screw on maple neck, with a strings through the body.

Your rational for the two slug pickups together sounds good, and I looked at the Fender Double Fat wiring. What I cannot figure out is the wiring combo to have the neck adjustable pickup active in position 2 and the neck slug pickup active in position 4 (the bridge slug is active in both).