ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

[Lazarus1140]

There doesn't seem to be an explanation of coil selections/combination on the wiring diagrams on the support page. For example, there are wiring diagrams for two humbucker arrangements using both a standard 5-way switch and for 5-way super switches, but I don't see the code explaining which coils or combinations of coils are selected for each switch position.

I would very much appreciate that information.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

If you want the screw coil, green and black are combined to ground, white to ground, red to hot. For slug coil, combine the white and red to ground, green to ground, black to hot.

Or if you only have one humbucker, switching the hot and ground will change which coil is active.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

That doesn't sound right, at least for Duncans. For Duncans, red, white and green to ground is one coil, red white and black to positive is other. Can't remember if it was Artie or Guitar Doc, but one of them had an alternative method that didn't leave the unused coil hanging on the circuit when using the latter scheme.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

I think I could eventually figure it out with switch in hand, a pen and a piece of paper, and so on, but I'd rather know the available options before deciding which switch to buy.

For (completely fabricated) example:

POSITION 1- Bridge Humbucker
POSITION 2 - Bridge Screw Coil ALONE
POSITION 3 - Both Humbuckers in Parallel
POSITION 4 - Bridge Screw Coil in Series with Neck Slug Coil
POSITION 5 - Neck Humbucker

I know wires can be moved for different results, but the wiring diagram AS PRESENTED provides for very specific selections of coils and pairs of coils. I would consider that information very beneficial.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

I really can't stand push/pull pots. As I should have stated more clearly, I intend to use either a standard 5-way blade switch or a 5-way super switch. I didn't mention a third option which is a 5-way mega switch. For starters, it would help me to know which coils are activated in each of the five switch positions on the wiring diagram shown below:

 

[thegummy]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Lazarus - off topic, but that guitar in your profile pic looks sweet, do you have a link to a larger photo?

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

You understand the way a 5-way blade switch works, right? So let's read each position of the switch.

1: Bridge (series HB)
2. Bridge (series HB) in parallel with Neck (series HB)
3. Neck (series HB)
4. Bridge (split, screw coil) in parallel with Neck (split, stud coil)
5. Bridge (split, screw coil)

One side of the switch is selecting Bridge black, Neck black then Bridge red/white (giving a split to the screw coil), as well as the combinations in between.
The second side is doing one function, combining the neck red/white and ground in position 4, so that the neck splits to the stud coil in position 4.

You can do a few other things with 2 HBs and a standard 5-way, but none are really ideal. The MegaSwitch or SuperSwitch gives more useful options with more intuitive switching.


Here's a great post by ArtieToo detailing how to select which coil and make it hum cancelling.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Lazarus - off topic, but that guitar in your profile pic looks sweet, do you have a link to a larger photo?

Thanks. The only picture I have is locked away in a computer that crashed. It "was" a great guitar that was born a red HWY 1 Telecaster that I refinished and put a JD in the bridge and a custom wound Phat Cat in the neck and a 4-way switch. It had so many great tones. I only hope that whoever bought it from the guy who stole it from me appreciates how great it is.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

You understand the way a 5-way blade switch works, right?

Not completely. I mean I've wired a few Strats to set them up for the selections I like, but no ... I'd have to have a switch in hand to understand the functions. In fact, I look at the switch in the wiring diagram and can' tell which way it's turned or if it matters.

So let's read each position of the switch.

1: Bridge (series HB)
2. Bridge (series HB) in parallel with Neck (series HB)
3. Neck (series HB)
4. Bridge (split, screw coil) in parallel with Neck (split, stud coil)
5. Bridge (split, screw coil)

Yeah, that kinda sucks. I'd really prefer the coil split combos to fall in the position 3 or 4 and let the full neck HB be in 5. I had a dual Humbucker Schecter 006 Blackjack that used a mega switch. Man, I went through those switches. I don't know if they were inferior quality or what.

I have no desire to run a 4.5 - 5k single coil. For a second coil split option I'd prefer the Neck screw coil in series with the bridge stud coil.

You can do a few other things with 2 HBs and a standard 5-way, but none are really ideal. The MegaSwitch or SuperSwitch gives more useful options with more intuitive switching.


Here's a great post by ArtieToo detailing how to select which coil and make it hum cancelling.

The link to Artie's post didn't stick. Thank you!

 

[thegummy]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

I'd definitely recommend the Super Switch - you can pretty much assign any combination to any of the positions. Well worth the money IMO.

I use one purely for something so simple as making sure none of the switch positions activates 2 tone pots at a time but you can do pretty complex things with it if you like.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

I'd definitely recommend the Super Switch - you can pretty much assign any combination to any of the positions. Well worth the money IMO.
I use one purely for something so simple as making sure none of the switch positions activates 2 tone pots at a time ...

Well, I can wire a standard 5-way on a Strat with one volume, a tone control on the neck and bridge positions, no tone pot on the middle pickup, and never two tone pots in the circuit at the same time.

but you can do pretty complex things with it if you like.

I would like to teach it to do harmony parts to my vocals.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

I think I might have a super switch somewhere, but it will be easier to buy one than to find mine.

 

[thegummy]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Well, I can wire a standard 5-way on a Strat with one volume, a tone control on the neck and bridge positions, no tone pot on the middle pickup, and never two tone pots in the circuit at the same time.



I would like to teach it to do harmony parts to my vocals.

Suppose it comes down to if you think it's worth the money to get a tone on the middle.

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Lazarus - off topic, but that guitar in your profile pic looks sweet, do you have a link to a larger photo?

Ha ... I found a couple in a file at work while I was looking for something else:

 

[thegummy]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Man that is a thing of beauty!

Did you paint it yourself?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: ONE THING I MISS (or can't find)

Silverburst and black pearloid — it’s a winning combination!