Is this possible with a standard 5-way?

[playas]

When replacing the bridge single on a strat with a single sized humbucker, if you just leave the standard middle & bridge option in place it's no longer noise free as you have three coils now.
Most people on here seem to agree that the bridge split isn't great, so auto-split doesn't sound like the best option.

Is it possible to wire a standard 5-way for bridge, middle and neck combined in the in-between position as a hum cancelling option?
i.e. positions would be
Neck
Neck & middle
Middle
All 4 coils
Bridge

If so has anyone tried it and how does it sound?

 

[Artie]

That would require a Superswitch. Also, I've found that absolute symmetry isn't necessary for noise canceling. You'd probably be fine with standard wiring.

 

[GuitarDoc]

No. You'd need a super switch to be able to have all 3 pups in the #2 position with only the bridge in #1 and only middle in #3.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Looks like Artie beat me to the punch.

 

[Mincer]

The bridge split can be really good depending on the pickup (when combined with another single). I have my #3 position with a split HB and the neck SC. For your 'all 4 coils', is that in series or parallel?

 

[playas]

Ok, was just a thought. Thanks for the responses.

Btw Artie, what do you mean by this?

"You'd probably be fine with standard wiring."

Do you mean that having the full bridge (in series) combined with the middle for that in-between position would likely not be noisy?

 

[playas]

The bridge split can be really good depending on the pickup (when combined with another single). I have my #3 position with a split HB and the neck SC. For your 'all 4 coils', is that in series or parallel?

I've never tried it but had the impression from the forum that the split sounds from single sized humbuckers aren't highly regarded.

I was just looking at the possibility of a combination of the other in-between position together with the bridge.

 

[PFDarkside]

I've never tried it but had the impression from the forum that the split sounds from single sized humbuckers aren't highly regarded.

I was just looking at the possibility of a combination of the other in-between position together with the bridge.

As in if you think a split lil 59 will sound like a Strat, it won’t. As in split and combine with the middle, it’s a very interesting and usable sound, and partially noise cancelling as well. I’d prefer that to all 4 coils.

It can be done with a standard 5-way if you have 1 tone or 2 tones, each dedicated to a single pickup (so no middle tone for example).

If hum is a concern, I’d just get a couple of Classic Stack Plus for the middle and neck, then all positions are silent.

 

[Mincer]

I've never tried it but had the impression from the forum that the split sounds from single sized humbuckers aren't highly regarded.

I was just looking at the possibility of a combination of the other in-between position together with the bridge.

Yeah, I forgot it was a single size humbucker. It sounds better in parallel when combined with another (say, stacked) middle or neck.

 

[Artie]

Ok, was just a thought. Thanks for the responses.

Btw Artie, what do you mean by this?

"You'd probably be fine with standard wiring."

Do you mean that having the full bridge (in series) combined with the middle for that in-between position would likely not be noisy?

Yes, that's what I meant. But I should also qualify this by saying, I only play in a home studio where we've had all LED lights for years. In a club, with neon beer signs, may not work quite as well.

 

[Mincer]

If you are performing, or plan on playing in many different environments, cutting any source of noise in your rig is a great idea. Besides the neon signs, most places have questionable power.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Split single-sized hum and a middle single is likely to be a viable combination IMO.
I'm with PFDarkside on this - I think standard HSS wiring with autosplit in position 2 is well worth trying.

 

[playas]

So this would be how to auto-split with a standard 5-way, right?

 

[beaubrummels]

That looks like it would work.

 

[ErikH]

My HSS set up has the Classic Stack Plus in the neck and middle. I don't even bother auto-splitting the humbucker with the middle in the notch postion (2 or 4 depending on who you ask....lol). Even with traditional single-coils and a humbucker I don't bother with it. I like the humbucker and single combined there. Still some quack but like a pissed off duck instead of a duckling.

 

[ErikH]

If you do auto-split a Seymour Duncan humbucker (little or not) with Fender traditional single-coils, reverse the black and green wires or that notch position will sound really weak. Black and bare to ground, green to switch. If you have Seymour Duncans in the neck and middle, the diagram wiring is what to follow.