HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

[eclecticsynergy]

I want to wire an HSS Strat (one volume, two tones) with a SuperSwitch for autosplit in pos 2.

Is it still possible to add a DPDT for series/parallel on the bridge humbucker?

And if so, how would it be done?

 

[BriGuy1968]

HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

You bet it's possible, and here's how:

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

That last bank of the superswitch can be used to prevent the DPDT from switching the bridge pickup into parallel mode in position 2, though it might be better suited to dropping a 500k volume to 250k, allowing two of the pickups to share one tone control, or accommodate '50s wiring.

EDIT:
Also, you really don't want to run the ground wire of the humbucker like that. It will no longer receive ground when the 5-way is in position 2 and the DPDT is in series.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

You bet it's possible, and here's how:

Cool, thanks. That's exactly what I was hoping for.
Just making sure: white wire connects to center Rt lug on DPDT, with jumper to D2 on the 5-way, correct?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

Cool, thanks. That's exactly what I was hoping for.
Just making sure: white wire connects to center Rt lug on DPDT, with jumper to D2 on the 5-way, correct?

That's correct, but Gregory makes a good point about the ground for the bridge pup... so instead of connecting the bare and green, just run the green as the diagram shows and connect bare directly to ground.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

That last bank of the superswitch can be used to prevent the DPDT from switching the bridge pickup into parallel mode in position 2, though it might be better suited to dropping a 500k volume to 250k, allowing two of the pickups to share one tone control, or accommodate '50s wiring.

EDIT:
Also, you really don't want to run the ground wire of the humbucker like that. It will no longer receive ground when the 5-way is in position 2 and the DPDT is in series.

I appreciate the suggestion (and the correction). Was resigned to using a 250K volume. Now I'm tempted to run a 500K using that fourth bank to let the singles see 250K. Is there a way to do that and also have the two singles share one tone control? Or is it an either/or thing, each requiring a bank on the switch?

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

Yes, you can do both.

Run a 510k resistor in parallel with the tone network that the two singles will share, IOW, connect one leg of the resistor to the line feeding the tone network and the other to ground; the tone network being the series combination of the cap and the tone pot.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

Yes, you can do both.

Run a 510k resistor in parallel with the tone network that the two singles will share, IOW, connect one leg of the resistor to the line feeding the tone network and the other to ground; the tone network being the series combination of the cap and the tone pot.

Great, thanks. Can I simply take the feed for that tone network from lug C4?
Or would I jumper the neck pickup to C4&5, the middle to C2&3, and send C common to the tone?

 

[gregory]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

CC connects to AC.

C1 connects to the bridge tone network.

C2, C3, C4 and C5 connect to the neck/middle tone network and 510k resistor to ground.

You can share the cap between the two pots if you like (per stock Strat wiring), or use separate caps which will allow you to use different values. You can use a different value pots for your bridge tone controls as well, of course.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: HSS w/autosplit. Want to add series/parallel for bridge.

Thanks gregory! And you too, BriGuy!

I have room for two pots; one will be 500K volume. Have ordered a dual-concentric for the tone controls.

Between the pots are three small holes to fit miniswitches. Planning one DPDT series/parallel for the humbucker. Another DPDT on-off-on, for selecting between two sets of tone caps, with tone controls bypassed in center position. I figure it'd be cool to have one set for darker old-school tones and a second set that's more subtle. This is kind of a try-it-all-out guitar.

Considering an SPST neck-always-on for the third. Not sure how great it would sound with a bridge humbucker though, parallel or series. My impression is, the strong point of that mod is combining neck & singlecoil bridge. I may just leave the third hole empty for now. (Or use a DPST to split the humbucker whenever the neck-on is engaged, that seems easy & maybe a better option. If I do that one at all. But by my standards this already gotten pretty complicated.)