Need some pickup advice and wiring help

milkcow

New member
Hello! Iam building a partscaster and would like to have some advice about pickups.

The guitar is a single bridge humbucker, alder body, maple neck and ebony fretboard.
Some of my favorite guitar tones comes from Jerry Cantrell and Adam Jones. I have heard that both of them has used JB's for the bridge pickup. So the choice should be pretty simple?..

I am looking for some kind of versatility. Great Metal/Hardrock sound and passable clean tone. I have heard that the JB can be a bit top middy/bright, and that is what concern me. I want a fat overdriven tone which should not be too shrill.
I seen some people compare JB versus the Pegasus.

Would it be possible to achive some "We die Young", "The Pot" tones from the Pegasus, or any other pickup?

-

About the wiring help.
I was thinking that the guitar would have 1 volume, 1 tone and a three way toggle. I do not really know that much about guitar electronics, but i can solder.
My wish for the toggle positions would be:

1. Full Humbucker Only Volume
2. Split Humbucker with Volume and Tone
3. Full Humbucker with Volume and Tone

Is this possible with the toggle?

Thanks. Sry if my english was a bit off somewhere.
 
Re: Need some pickup advice and wiring help

I can't compare the JB to the Pegasus, but as to the wiring, it would be possible with a Fender-style 3-way blade, but not a Gibson-like 3-way toggle switch.
 
Re: Need some pickup advice and wiring help

I can't compare the JB to the Pegasus, but as to the wiring, it would be possible with a Fender-style 3-way blade, but not a Gibson-like 3-way toggle switch.

Ok, thank you. Unfortunately it is the gibson-like switch I got.

Is it possible if I changed the three way to a mini ON-ON switch. To have position 1 without tone and postition 2 with added tone?
 
Re: Need some pickup advice and wiring help

Maybe the JB and a few other magnets? Or a Custom and a few other magnets. I think the sounds you might want are within those 2.
 
Need some pickup advice and wiring help

Ok, thank you. Unfortunately it is the gibson-like switch I got.

Is it possible if I changed the three way to a mini ON-ON switch. To have position 1 without tone and postition 2 with added tone?

It will work, but you can't make it on-on only. What will happen is you will get

1. Pickup only
2. Pickup plus tone
3. Pickup plus tone

Because Gibson switches always mix in the middle position.

Edit - actually, if I recall, Switchcraft type have two tabs for the center, so you could separate the two positions but then It would become an on-off-on switch. (Someone who has a switch in front of them can correct me.)
 
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Re: Need some pickup advice and wiring help

Maybe the JB and a few other magnets? Or a Custom and a few other magnets. I think the sounds you might want are within those 2.

Have not thought about changing magnets .. might try that, thank you!
 
Re: Need some pickup advice and wiring help

It will work, but you can't make it on-on only. What will happen is you will get

1. Pickup only
2. Pickup plus tone
3. Pickup plus tone

Because Gibson switches always mix in the middle position.

Edit - actually, if I recall, Switchcraft type have two tabs for the center, so you could separate the two positions but then It would become an on-off-on switch. (Someone who has a switch in front of them can correct me.)

Ok. Is it possible to put a switch between the volume and tone.. like a on-off switch for the tone?
Sorry I dont really know much about this stuff .. may be asking noobie stuff here.

Like one of these (http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_..._and_Parts/Switches/Mini_Toggle_Switches.html)
 
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