Help with wiring suggestions...

[pleximaster]

Hi

I am looking for some input on a special Humbucker wiring setup. This is what I want to achieve.

a.) Two humbuckers (4 wires)
b.) Each pickup separate volume controls
c.) One common tone knob
c.) No traditional toggle switch between the pickups but a "master volume" that blends the volume from the two pickups.
d.) One miniswitch splitting the Humbucker so only one coil is used
e.) one miniswitch turning the coils in parallel or in series

So my questions are

1.) How do I wire this up the best way ( the order, where to put in tone control for instance)
2.) Values on the different pots (volume master tone)
3.) Tone cap value
4.) miniswitches? DPDT switch type?

best plexi

 

[Artie]

The primary thing to consider here, is that each pickup will see the combined load of all three volume pots all the time. If I were going to do this, (and I wouldn't), I'd use all 1M volume pots. That way, the pups will see a 333k load, which isn't too bad. If you're ok with that, we can go from there.

 

[pleximaster]

The primary thing to consider here, is that each pickup will see the combined load of all three volume pots all the time. If I were going to do this, (and I wouldn't), I'd use all 1M volume pots. That way, the pups will see a 333k load, which isn't too bad. If you're ok with that, we can go from there.

Thanks you so much Artie!

That makes sense and a good compromise to start with... should I go with 1Meg on all four including the tone pot? Any suggestions how to diagram/schematic the thing. with switches and pots?

Also suggestion on pickups that could be beneficial in this special setup? It is for an all mahogany body (SG Style)

The very best plexi

 

[Artie]

This isn't too difficult with the exception of one thing: on your "e.) one miniswitch turning the coils in parallel or in series" option, are you referring to each pickup, or the two pups together in series or parallel?

 

[pleximaster]

Thanks
one switch parallell/series both pickups
one switch split coil
Will a 3PDT Toggle Switch be enough?

Best plexi

 

[Artie]

Let me chew on this. I think that both of those can be done with a simple DPDT on-on switch. (Two switches total.)

 

[pleximaster]

Let me chew on this. I think that both of those can be done with a simple DPDT on-on switch. (Two switches total.)

Super thanks Artie! I appreciate it!

 

[pleximaster]

I asked this question on a other forum and was suggested a blend option with a dual gang pot that might be interesting ... I personally can't really "hear it in my head" on how it with react and sound since I am not experienced in guitar wiring . (I can "hear" - do this quite good when it comes to amp modeling, but shit no in a guitar, I am so used to just standard Les Paul, Strat or Tele wiring, that's it.) I´m a bit more experienced with amps than guitar electronics but I'd like a "gain stage" of some sort before the "Master" and one could fit an active small transistor amp in the guitar but its against all my gut feelings and I can't seem to be able to fit an all valve amplifier in an SG...

I am actually building the guitar for a friend and as I understand it he would like to "preset each pickup". Lets say 25% neck and 100% bridge or 100% neck and 0% from the bridge. Then a master control right next to the hand that he can easily control while he is playing. -Like having a volume pedal on the guitar. He is not use to use a foot controlled volume pedal.

PS. There is a signature Gibson SG - Kirk Douglas (The Roots on the late-late-later tonight show something) that has a SG with a volume Master. The diagram for this wiring I have not found. Any idéas on the way it works?

Read about it here. It has a master on the pickguard.... https://www.gibson.com/Guitar/USA19H701/Kirk-Douglas-Signature-SG/Inverness-Green


Thank you all for the help and please continue to add any thoughts and ideas!

plexi

 

[Artie]

Wow! That KD SG has four volume controls. The load on the pups would be stifling. The only thing I can think of if they must be using the N/B pots wired with the center "hot". (Sometimes called 50's, or "independent" volumes.) Then the middle would be wired as a blend pot, and then the master volume wired as a normal volume control. But in your 1st post, you account for three pots. Do you want N/B volumes and then a master volume/master tone?

 

[pleximaster]

Here is the control cavity of the Captain Kirk SG The master volume looks like a regular volume control (don't know the value) and its located under the pick guard.

In the SG I am making there are only 2 pickups and not 3 like the Kirk hence I was aiming at two individual volumes and one master compared to the Kirk that has 3 pickups 3 volumes one tone and one master. The Kirk volume pats are push-pull.

Best regards plexi

 

[Mincer]

These are seriously interesting schemes. I like the outside-the-box-ness.

 

[Gstring]

I have come in a bit late on this .There are many better qualified to give advice on this forum. Not sure why you are so keen on the blender instead a 3 way. As Artie says a bit of unnecessary load.
Although wiring Master Guru Artie seems to think otherewise, I do not think you can get the parallel and split options you want with only 2 DPDT minis.. My suggestion would be to have the 2 minis do the series/parallel options on each pup and put a push pull on one of the volumes to split both pups but only when parallel mode is selected This gives you the further options of bridge in series with cut neck and neck in series with cut bridge.


I have used this wiring quite a bit and can post a diagram if its any help