HH Strat Wiring Question

[Jermo3178]

So I had an idea last night.. I've decided to redo one of my Strats.
I'm going to take what's in it now to put into an empty body and hookup a whole new pickguard assembly.

The idea:
HH strat (JB/Jazz) - 3 way blade - 2 vols - 1 tone.

Goal will be to have the "Kill effect" for soloing when the neck volume is down. Example right off the top of my would be Ace Frehley.

I found the diagram I think I'm going for...


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So the question, will this get me what I'm after?
Not a big mod, just something new and unusual for me.
Don't think I've ever seen a Strat done like this.

 

[Jermo3178]

Had a change of heart... better question...
is it possible (I'm thinking not) you can wire this to the middle position not shutting everything down if one of the volumes is completely off?
I'm thinking like the middle position is a blend so I can adjust how I see fit and it doesn't affect the volume of the pickup that's "wide open"...

 

[Artie]

That's kinda what the "independent" volume setup does. In that diagram above, just reverse the left two wires on each volume pot. The only downside, and it may or may not be a big deal to you, is you alter the character of the pickup as you lower it's volume because you're increasing it's "load."

So, output of the pickup to the middle lug, and left-most lug to the switch.

 

[Jermo3178]

That's kinda what the "independent" volume setup does. In that diagram above, just reverse the left two wires on each volume pot. The only downside, and it may or may not be a big deal to you, is you alter the character of the pickup as you lower it's volume because you're increasing it's "load."

So, output of the pickup to the middle lug, and left-most lug to the switch.

Changes the character and lowering the volume increases the load... Sounds like should leave well enough alone.

 

[Artie]

The change is subtle and can be worthwhile. For example, let's assume you're using 500k pots with your humbuckers. You have both pups on, and turn the bridge pup down halfway. (Electrically.) The bridge will now be seeing a 250k load. So you get a bit of warm-ish treble to your neck pup. That could sound sweet.

Since a Strat is pretty easy to work on, it might be worth a try. Then just change it back if you don't like it.

When you solder those 4 connections, just leave the tinned wire end straight, and solder it through the lug hole. Then, you can just reheat it and slide it out to reverse it.

 

[Jermo3178]

Sooo not really fond of how that turned out.
With that said... Mincer and Artie I need to y'all's brains.

 

[Mincer]

What's it doing, and what don't you dig about it?

 

[Jermo3178]

What's it doing, and what don't you dig about it?

I'm not entirely sure how to describe it.
I hooked it up both ways from above. While they're usable, it's kinda dull sounding. And that doesn't even make sense to me.
I compared it to my other two strats last night, and it was definitely dull as compared.
So I tore it down, hooked it up for 1 vol 2 tone like usual and bam, it sounds like the other 2 now.
I don't know how or why, but I think I'm just gonna leave it 1 vol and 2 tones I guess.
Maybe swap out to a 5way and try something big apple-ish... but I don't know.

 

[Artie]

I hooked it up both ways from above. While they're usable, it's kinda dull sounding. And that doesn't even make sense to me.

If you used 500k pots, and both pups are on, they "see" a 167k load at high frequencies, which tapers up a bit at lower frequencies. That's the characteristic of the tone cap.

It's why I like a master vol / master tone guitar.

 

[Jermo3178]

If you used 500k pots, and both pups are on, they "see" a 167k load at high frequencies, which tapers up a bit at lower frequencies. That's the characteristic of the tone cap.

It's why I like a master vol / master tone guitar.

Gotcha... I prefer 250's for the JB/Jazz. So what's that like 75k?
oh well. It was worth a shot. Back to the drawing board.

 

[Jermo3178]

I was reading the description of a big apple wiring kit which says...

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I hate "position 2". The only position I like on a strat is "position 4/neck+middle".
So 2 & 4 on the big apple is useless to me... ugh...

 

[Artie]

Different strokes. #2 and #4 are my favorite positions on a Strat. It's what makes a Strat a Strat. Jingly chimey bell tone. (And humbucking.) I love it.

 

[Jermo3178]

Different strokes. #2 and #4 are my favorite positions on a Strat. It's what makes a Strat a Strat. Jingly chimey bell tone. (And humbucking.) I love it.

Oh don't get me wrong, I dig the neck and middle on a strat.
If it was something like

1. Bridge full on
2. something cool
3. Bridge/Neck full on
4. strat middle/neckish
5. neck full on

I could probably get behind that...

 

[Chistopher]

For strat middle/neckish look up "Half out of phase" wiring. I had it on an HH strat for a while. Split the neck and bridge pickup, put them out of phase, and put a massive bass cut on the neck. Sounds almost exactly like a strat position 4

 

[Chistopher]

Excuse the poor quality of the diagram

 

[Jermo3178]

So what about a breakdown like:

1 vol - 2 tones - 250k pots all around - .047 cap (idk cap value)

1. Bridge full
2. Bridge outside - Neck outside
3. Bridge - Neck full
4. Bridge inside - Neck inside
5. Neck full

Anybody tried that? Or is that what you're suggesting?

 

[Mincer]

So what about a breakdown like:

1 vol - 2 tones - 250k pots all around - .047 cap (idk cap value)

1. Bridge full
2. Bridge outside - Neck outside
3. Bridge - Neck full
4. Bridge inside - Neck inside
5. Neck full

Anybody tried that? Or is that what you're suggesting?

I did something similar with 1 vol, 1 tone. A magnet has to be flipped in one pickup for the 2 & 4 positions to remain humbucking.

 

[Chistopher]

I generally don't care for a split pickup in parallel with a series pickup without multiple volumes. Usually that means there's going to be a compromise somewhere

 

[Jermo3178]

I did something similar with 1 vol, 1 tone. A magnet has to be flipped in one pickup for the 2 & 4 positions to remain humbucking.

Really? That never even registered... does that effect the humbucker itself?

 

[Mincer]

Really? That never even registered... does that effect the humbucker itself?

No, not when it is in series by itself, or when combined with another humbucker. There was a big thread about it here.