Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

S

Stevie M

New member
Hi guys ( and girls, if there are any?),
Just joined, and might not be able to spend too much time on here, most of it's taken up with a couple of music sites ( and, of course, there's the comments like " not ANOTHER music forum?":)), and I've got a wiring question.
I'm building another guitar and I'm putting 2 Humbucks ( Neck and Bridge) and a single mid, 1 Vol, 2 Tone ( 1 may be changed for an effects pot instead) and rotary 5 way switch.
I want to split the humbucks seperately, so 1st question----do I need a 2 or 3 way switch for each?

2nd question---- Anyone know where I can find a wiring diagram for this configuration? I've searched on this site, and a couple of others, but can't find anything for what I want to do.

Cheers.
Steve.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Stevie M said:
I'm building another guitar and I'm putting 2 Humbucks ( Neck and Bridge) and a single mid, 1 Vol, 2 Tone ( 1 may be changed for an effects pot instead) and rotary 5 way switch.

I want to split the humbucks seperately, so 1st question----do I need a 2 or 3 way switch for each?

2nd question---- Anyone know where I can find a wiring diagram for this configuration? I've searched on this site, and a couple of others, but can't find anything for what I want to do.

Cheers.
Steve.
Click to expand...


Greetings from West Wales.

Please will you clear up something that you wrote in your posting? HSH pickups and VTT control pots, I understand. It is the "rotary five way switch" bit that confuses me.

To me, these words suggest the sort of multi-layer selector used on PRS Custom guitars. Did you mean this type or the five-position lever selector associated with Fender Stratocasters and derivative designs?

Regarding splitting the humbuckers "separately", separately from what?

Sorry to be a pain but these details make a big difference to what suggestions I (and other forum members) eventually make.

*

If you want a short answer, install push-pull pots to activate the coil-spilts. For your stated purposes, it might be wisest to mount these as the Volume and Neck Tone controls. This way, you keep your option open to add that mysterious effect pot.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Sorry, I'll try to make it a bit clearer.
You're not a pain at all, it's me not making things very clear in the first place!:dunce:

A rotary 5 way is basically a strat type selector, but it works the same as a pot, ie:- it goes round, instead of a sliding toggle.

Humbucks split seperately from each other, (switched independently), so either one, or both, can be either split or not. That's why I don't want to use push/pull Vol/Tone pots, but seperate switches.

Does that help?
Cheers.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Got it, Stevie.

The rotary switch that you describe seems very like the items used on PRS and the Gibson SG-3. With this sort of selector, you can probably automate the coil tapping via one layer of contacts on the switch.

I cannot offer any more advice without seeing a photograph of the rotary five-way switch.

BTW, push-pull pots ARE separate switches.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Thanks for your patience!
I haven't got a pic, but there's this:-http://www.axesrus.com/axeElectronicsSwitches.htm It's the one right at the bottom of that page, with a chicken head knob.

I did think about using push/pulls, but didn't think it would give as many possibilities as seperate switches. Like, for instance, having the choice of using all 3 pups, with one HB split and the other not. I suppose if I had 3 Tones P/P that would work? I'm wide open to suggestions, I just want the most combinations I can get with that pup arrangement:)

It looks like I'm being really dumb here. I'm ok with 'normal' stuff, like a Strat or Tele arrangement, but that's as far as it goes. I'm learning all the time.
I'm ok at all the rest of building them, here's a pic of the last one I've done. Errrrr ----maybe not, doesn't seem to want to attach, I'll do it tomorrow on the PC, I'm on the laptop now.
Cheers.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

You are not being dumb. We just appear to be at cross purposes over terminology.

For example, when you write about coil tapping your neck and bridge position humbuckers separately, I interpret this to mean that you want to select pickup positions via the selector switch BUT determine the coil tap status of each humbucker individually with mode switches (or push-pull pots).
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Yep, that's it! I don't mind which way I go, just want the most combinations I can get from that pup arrangement.

I would have put a couple of pics here, but it just doesn't seem to want to do it. I clicked on 'browse' in manage attachments, clicked on the pics on my computer------nothing!! It did'nt bring the file up. Oh well, I'll get there in the end.
 
Re: Hi-Newbie here with wiring question

Hey, been away for a few days-----this is on page 5 already!!!! Didn't realise this place was quite so busy:1:

Decided what I'm doing now. Going to go for 3 Tone push/pull pots, that way each pup'll have a tone too.
 
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