Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

[ChrisJoyeMusic]

I built a fretless Strat primarily for Ebow and Film Scoring crazy experimentation. It is currently a SSS, but I want to make it HSH. I want to get the best sound, and maybe even throw in some options like coil splitting some of them.
Because I suck at electrical stuff and pickup wiring schematics that don’t show me exactly what to do (SD are good, but not always showing the combo of pickups I want to do and I have so many questions when I do find a “close” schematic), I’m hoping some nice soul would pencil sketch me what I need to do to get some ideas.

Here’s what I have available:

3 push pull pots (not sure ratings)
1 500k regular pot
3 250k regular pots (not shown)
2 6A.125VAC blue switch
1 2A.250VAC 5A.120VAC red switch
1 3 way switch
1 5 way switch (Fender)
Various caps and resistors
SD JB Model HB Bridge pup
Dimarzio Super Distortion S middle
SD 59 Mode HB neck (this is 1 (2?) conductor, I read if I want to coil split I need to convert it to 4-conductor. Watched a YouTube video and it doesn’t look too difficult for my skill set..)

I’ll be honest. I know next to nothing on what the caps and resistors and switches will do, especially as far as ratings, but if I have it and it’s useful for improving sound, I’d like to use it!

If anyone is feeling generous and would like to sketch it out for me with as much detail for an idiot like me to follow, I would be most grateful!! I’ll even record a bass track for you, if you need bass on a song (I’m a Berklee trainer electric bassist)
And many thanks!!

 

[gregory]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

Lots going on here, lots can be done.

How did you come about choosing the Super Distortion S?

 

[ChrisJoyeMusic]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

Lots going on here, lots can be done.

How did you come about choosing the Super Distortion S?

Agreed. I guess, I'm not looking to utilize everything. I just think it'd be cool to have a few additional options, however, that being said, I have no idea if it'll be worth the time, as this guitar is mostly used with an ebow and if not used that way, it'll be used in very unconventional ways (fretless neck).
These pickups were what I have, I don't plan on buying others. However, I could swap out the Super Distortion S for a SD Custom for Strat singe coil in the middle..

 

[mistermikev]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

ok, here is one suggestion as it would seem most obvious given what you have:
given that the 59 won't split I would thing split combos between the bridge and middle would sort of not be worthwhile - also the output of the two might be quite different. with that in mind just a simple series/parallel option for each pickup on a push pull would be sensible. then from each push pull to the 5 way wired up with the three pickups like a strat. so bridge/bridge-middle/middle/middle-neck/neck. master volume for one push/pull, master tone for the other. Could the dpdt switch to send the bridge direct to master volume for neck/bridge combo.
honestly, that's a pretty boring setup. I'd get a single super switch and do something more interesting if it were me.

 

[gregory]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

JB + 59 will sound good.

A switch could be used to do the add neck or add bridge thing.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

For using an e-bow, I might consider wiring either a cap to ground on a switch to quickly roll off the tone, or a low value resistor wired to ground on a switch to drop the level instantly for the e-bow.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

For using an e-bow, I might consider wiring either a cap to ground on a switch to quickly roll off the tone, or a low value resistor wired to ground on a switch to drop the level instantly for the e-bow.

+1. I usually roll off 90% of tone when using ebow... if I used it more I would dedicate a switch with a tone trimpot in the cavity... Easy mod, glad to help if u go that way.

Sent from my SAMSUNG-SM-G920A using Tapatalk

 

[ChrisJoyeMusic]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

For using an e-bow, I might consider wiring either a cap to ground on a switch to quickly roll off the tone, or a low value resistor wired to ground on a switch to drop the level instantly for the e-bow.

Why would you roll off the tone (treble?) for an ebow? I'm still messing with all the different tones/sounds it can get. There's really no need to do that "quickly" as this is 99.9% a studio guitar that I'll just use for special purposes and punch in where I need it.

 

[ChrisJoyeMusic]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

ok, here is one suggestion as it would seem most obvious given what you have:
given that the 59 won't split I would thing split combos between the bridge and middle would sort of not be worthwhile - also the output of the two might be quite different. with that in mind just a simple series/parallel option for each pickup on a push pull would be sensible. then from each push pull to the 5 way wired up with the three pickups like a strat. so bridge/bridge-middle/middle/middle-neck/neck. master volume for one push/pull, master tone for the other. Could the dpdt switch to send the bridge direct to master volume for neck/bridge combo.
honestly, that's a pretty boring setup. I'd get a single super switch and do something more interesting if it were me.

Well, the 59 could split if I modded it to a 4-conductor pickup (doesn't seem to hard, I just am hesitant cutting a factory wire and it's $20+ to have SD do it).

I also wasn't sure if splitting the middle and bridge were worthwhile, especially for an ebow, as they work best on the neck. Thanks

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

Why would you roll off the tone (treble?) for an ebow? I'm still messing with all the different tones/sounds it can get. There's really no need to do that "quickly" as this is 99.9% a studio guitar that I'll just use for special purposes and punch in where I need it.

When using same guitar and rig for ebow and 'regular' guitar I've always found ebow much, much brighter. I rarely use an ebow for performance any more, but used to, and usually ended up rolling about 90% of treble off to have a similar sound to non bebow and would have loved a flip switch.

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[Mincer]

Re: Need some wiring help for pickups or suggestions

Almost all the time, when I use an Ebow, I roll off the treble. It sounds more 'violin-y' that way to me, and gets more of that bowed sound, as apposed to a buzzsaw with the tone wide open. There are too many harmonics with the tone wide open (for me).