One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

[Narzugon]

I posted a general plea for help a few weeks ago as I am just getting my feet wet in guitar electronics (got great replies,thanks). Since then I've done alot of reading and now have a fairly solid plan for my guitar and a better understanding of the circuitry.

I have to switch out a bad vol pot and while I'm at it I'll replace the the DSV+ with a SH-1 59 that I had from years ago and add a blender pot that I also had lying around. I now understand how my guitar is wired. I also understand how the single coils are able to share the 500k master volume. What I'm trying to grasp is how can I now have the Singles and Humbucker share a single Master Tone? Currently the Singles are using a 250k tone while the Hum is a 500k tone. Would I keep the 500k and add a 499k resistor at the 5 way for the single coils?

I thought about making it simple on myself and installing a 500k/250k stacked concentric pot. But thought I'd ask here first.

Currently my strat has the stock Suhr wiring:
4P 5 way Super switch.
500k Volume w/treble bleed.
250k Tone for Singles: Has a 499k Resistor going from ground to middle lug. Then the .047k Cap for tone.
500k Tone for Humbucker w/.022k Cap.

 

[daenius]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

What Suhr is this? Is it a Classic Pro or a Standard Pro?

I own 2 Standards, one of which is Single-Single-Humbucker with master volume and tone, complete with treble bleed, which seems to be exactly what you're looking for. I believe this is actually the standard stock Standard Pro wiring.

Your best bet would be to contact Suhr customer support to ask for a wiring diagram of the Standard Pro and just copy that scheme. If that doesn't work out ping me and I can maybe look into opening up my pickguard and take some pictures of the wiring for you.

How did you find the DSV+ btw? I have a DSV in the neck of my HSH Standard and I think it's amazing in the neck. Never seen a DSV+ on any Suhr guitars ever, I'm super curious! My Standard Pro has an SSV in the bridge (swapped out the SSH+) and I like it a lot, but the other day I played an SSV+ on another Suhr and I'm quite hooked on the SSV+, I wonder how the DSV+ compares with that too.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

500k volume and 250k tone is a very versatile set up. You'll be able to get good sounds out of all your pickups no problem with a 22nf or lower cap and no resistor.

 

[Narzugon]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

What Suhr is this? Is it a Classic Pro or a Standard Pro?

I own 2 Standards, one of which is Single-Single-Humbucker with master volume and tone, complete with treble bleed, which seems to be exactly what you're looking for. I believe this is actually the standard stock Standard Pro wiring.

If I recall it is a Classic Antique that I custom ordered if that makes sense. I opened it and mapped things out. Your Standard is probably wired the same way. I'm just trying to figure out the best way to do a single master tone.

How did you find the DSV+ btw? I have a DSV in the neck of my HSH Standard and I think it's amazing in the neck. Never seen a DSV+ on any Suhr guitars ever, I'm super curious! My Standard Pro has an SSV in the bridge (swapped out the SSH+) and I like it a lot, but the other day I played an SSV+ on another Suhr and I'm quite hooked on the SSV+, I wonder how the DSV+ compares with that too.

I opt'd for the DSV+ since I really like the old PAF types. Ever since I got the Suhr I rarely played my other guitars. This is going on 4 or 5 years now. Not long ago I pulled out what use to be my No.1 which is a Jackson strat from the late 80's. Similar setup and has some reissue PAF I bought from Gibson back then. I instantly missed that sound. The DSV+ is very similar but there was a noticeable difference. Not in a bad way at all. If I had to describe the difference I'd say the DSV+ was a bit more compressed than the PAF. I noticed the DSV+ is Alnico V. I'm assuming the reissue PAF is Alnico 2. Plus the DSV+ is wound just a tad bit hotter. So I'm banking on this SH-1 59 to be closer to my other PAF.

 

[daenius]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

I see!

Well the Classic Antique as 3 knobs... so you actually have 2 tone knobs and 1 volume right? The Standard Pros only have 2 knobs: 1 master volume and 1 master tone.

So actually if you're keeping the 3 knob setup, my Standard Pro's wiring would not work for you, oops!

Man you gotta post some pictures and sound clips of your Suhr though! I owned this Standard Pro (called the S4 back in the day) since 2011 and it's been my go-to as well!

 

[Narzugon]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

500k volume and 250k tone is a very versatile set up. You'll be able to get good sounds out of all your pickups no problem with a 22nf or lower cap and no resistor.

That wouldn't be too dark for the humbucker? I was already thinking of starting with a .015 cap and working my way down for the humbucker on the 500k tone. I'll look into it. It would definitely make things simpler.

Thanks

 

[Narzugon]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

I see!

Well the Classic Antique as 3 knobs... so you actually have 2 tone knobs and 1 volume right? The Standard Pros only have 2 knobs: 1 master volume and 1 master tone.

Man you gotta post some pictures and sound clips of your Suhr though! I owned this Standard Pro (called the S4 back in the day) since 2011 and it's been my go-to as well!

No actually you are right. I'm wanting 1 master and 1 tone since I'm replacing the other tone with a blender. I just found a Suhr schematic for that setup. I'll give that a go as well!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

That wouldn't be too dark for the humbucker? I was already thinking of starting with a .015 cap

Low value caps are great, I'm using a 10nf right now. If you use a 500k volume pot and a 250k no load tone pot, you'll get clear and usable tone through most of the range of the pot, and when you hit 10 the no load makes it extra bright but not overkill like if you were using a 1 meg volume.

 

[Narzugon]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

\m/

 

[Narzugon]

Re: One Vol and Tone with HSS Strat Question

I have everything wired and working. There is one thing I am trying to understand from this Suhr schematic. The schematic is "HSS 5 Way Blend".

One pole of the 5 way super switch basically handles the tone pot.
It's common goes to the middle lug of the tone pot.
The tone pot has a 47n cap on the 3rd lug and goes to ground.

Lugs 1,2,3,4 on the 5WSS are tied together and go to another common then goes out to Lug 1 on the Master Volume.

Lug 5 has a 47n Cap going over to Lug 4. (Positions 4 & 5 are Hum/Mid and Hum)

What is the purpose of the cap across lugs 4 & 5? At first I thought it was a tone cap for the humbucker. If it is how is it variable? Neither side of it ever sees ground.