New to modding, is this a bad idea?

[doozy]

So I am currently trying to upgrade a Peavey Raptor Exp (HSS) strat. Here are the pickups I have decided on (all from SD):

Neck: Little '59 Strat
Mid: Duckbucker
Bridge: P-Rail with Triple Shot mounting ring
​

(I am going to upgrade the pots as well.)

Anyway, my idea was that I would do some minor routing in the pickguard to install the Triple Shot mounting ring. Then that pickup would have the ability to switch freely between all of its configurations with the Triple Shot switch. The Duckbucker would be wired as normal in the middle slot. But the Little '59 Strat in the neck I wanted to wire up to a push-push switch so I can change it from humbucker to single coil. The goal is to be able to have as many configurations as possible.

• Question 1: Is this a good foundation for me to build my ideas off of? Is there anything you would change, or anything I should be wary of?

Going along with the goal of ultimate customization, I had a secondary idea I don't know will be possible. I don't know how the wiring would work, but I am inspired by the Fender Professional II Strat, where you can use a push-push switch to activate the neck pickup in positions 1 and 2, opening up the ability to have the bridge and neck pickups on simultaneously, or all three pickups on.

• Question 2: Would it be possible to install a second push-push switch, for turning on the neck pickup in positions 1 and 2?

Thanks for reading, and I appreciate any input!

 

[Chistopher]

Your proposed wiring isn't really a common "off the shelf" wiring, but it is built on some pretty common ideas, so it shouldn't be too hard to get done. The diagram that comes with the P-Rails should get you what you want, plus a simple coil split switch and neck-on switch. I'm sure others can go into more detail. One thing though, it can be a little tricky to have a switch that only turns a pickup on in positions 1 and 2, it's doable, but it's usually easier to have a switch that turns the pickup on in all positions.

The only issue with your idea is that you will be going down a path a lot of us around here have at one point or another where you want to make your guitar make any sound possible. 9 times out of 10 though you will decide that in the end simpler is better. It's kind of the thing you need to learn from experience though, so I'm thinking you should go ahead with your idea.

 

[jeremy]

welcome to the forum!

1- i would wire the p/p to switch between series and parallel rather than split
2- yes, you can have two p/p pots on the guitar if you want to switch the neck pup on

i like the lil 59 in the neck, the duck is fine in the middle though i would go for a classic stack+, the prails has lots of options. i used the p90 tone the most, followed by parallel. the series option is very thick

 

[doozy]

Thanks for the input and advice, both of you! I'm glad that it sounds like this doesn't sound like it is *too* involved of a project.

@Christopher

One thing though, it can be a little tricky to have a switch that only turns a pickup on in positions 1 and 2, it's doable, but it's usually easier to have a switch that turns the pickup on in all positions.

That makes sense, yea I'll go with one that turns the pickup on in all positions, that gives the same effect I'm looking for.

The only issue with your idea is that you will be going down a path a lot of us around here have at one point or another where you want to make your guitar make any sound possible.

Yes, I can definitely see this. In my planning process I tried to choose pickups that I thought had very good sounds just by themselves, and the customization is more of an "I'm already getting these, might as well get more out of them" sort of deal, since I'm on a pretty strict budget at the moment and can't really afford to buy several guitars. And I just love messing with tones, so I think this layout will entertain me for quite awhile.

@jeremy

1- i would wire the p/p to switch between series and parallel rather than split

I just did a little research into series/parallel vs coil split, prompted by your post, and that sounds fantastic to me. I'll definitely do this.

the duck is fine in the middle though i would go for a classic stack+

I also looked at a demo video of that one prompted by this and I love it. I liked what little I heard of the duck, but there is so little available on it online that I was kind of shooting in the dark mainly because it was in the "Everything Axe Set" paired with the little 59. But now that I'm hearing the classic stack+, I can see how that would have a tone that would go really well with both the p-rail and little 59. I think I'll switch my plan to using a classic stack+, thanks for the recommendation!!

 

[ehdwuld]

Ok I have done variations of this on several guitars
not all of them on one guitar

In all those options, there are only about three that you will find yourself using with any frequency at all

I used two triple shot rings on several HH guitars with tha JB/JAZZ setup

And while the slug coil and screw coil sound slightly different. The slightly coil in the neck was my favorite split sound

That and the full neck JAZZ

When selecting both pickups, having one split and one full humbucker and both in series, gave a convincing tele sound

And to be honest, the JB didn't sound right unless it was full humbucker and screaming 80s metal

So yes triple shot on the bridge pickup , awesome idea

My buddy had a HSS strat
he removed the last tone control
Replacement was a on off on 3 position toggle
in the middle it did nothing, full humbucker
Normal five way switching

When toggled up the bridge humbucker was spit
AND straight to the output jack no matter what the 5 way switch was on

When the toggle was down it was the same as up but full humbucker

This is the bridge and neck
And all three you were talking about

If you have the triple shot on the bridge you would put this switch on the neck instead of the bridge

Or in your case where splitting the lil59 may not sound good .... just a push pull for straight to the out put jack

In my buddys case, he had one master tone so it was connected at the output jack anyway
if you keep two tones it will complicate wiring


What I wouldn't suggest is
Hanging the pickup wires out from under the pickguard

And using alligator clips to see which sounds you like or not. B4 commitment to a diagram

I know some sounds cool
But in practice,
Out of phase, and the bottom coil of a stacked humbucker, just don't sound good

But I get it
commit to the triple shot ring
hang that wire out see what combinations on the five way you may want.

The come back and ask
And we can find something to to make whatever you come up with work

But there are so many possibilities
Surely you wouldn't want us to waste a month diagramming the all.

So you can choose one

 

[Artie]

Old Peavey's are always good to mod. Let us know how it turns out.

 

[Teleplayer]

The only issue with your idea is that you will be going down a path a lot of us around here have at one point or another where you want to make your guitar make any sound possible. 9 times out of 10 though you will decide that in the end simpler is better. It's kind of the thing you need to learn from experience though, so I'm thinking you should go ahead with your idea.

I agree with the point that you won't know until you try it for yourself. These are generally reversible mods. The worst case is if you end up changing pickguards with a different control layout.

 

[Chistopher]

Yeah, and how else will you ever figure out what you like if you don't try?