P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

[THRobinson]

Hey guys...

Looking at the P Rails and still in debate mode about the upgrade. Saw a video where someone installed them and was pretty cool with the combination of push/pull pots to get different configs... but... was wondering if there were pots that pulled out maybe 2-clicks? and can wire that way?

Basically... I'd want the 3-way switch on the Les Paul (Agile AL-2000 actually) to switch between neck/both/bridge and I'd like each volume knob to control each pickup, and when pushed all the way in, humbucker, one click out P90 and another click out Single.

Basically, in the end, I'd like to be able to use humbucker bridge and P90 neck for example but I don't think (from the wiring I saw) you can do that.

I saw there were plastic surrounds for pickups with small switches that's pretty cool, but a bit pricey and not sure how well the cream colour matches the rest of the hardware I have. Also not sure which would be cheaper, a pair of those (triple shots?) and basic CTS pots as an upgrade, or a full set of the CTS pot/switches.

Anyways... just wondering if other options for the wiring of these.

Using 2-ways... maybe a way so that the vol/tone knobs are on/off switches? like vol turns on/off the single, and the tone turns on/off the P90 in the same pickup? so when both in, it's humbuckers, and both out I guess off? Actually that may be the better method vs 3 position knobs sticking way out.

Any diagrams for something like that?

 

[Gardog]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

Triple shot pickup rings are what you want. The ts-2 is for arch tops. Easy to wire up and give you total flexibility. P-rails are awesome in lp style guitars.

 

[Mincer]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

Triple shot pickup rings are what you want. The ts-2 is for arch tops. Easy to wire up and give you total flexibility. P-rails are awesome in lp style guitars.

I agree here. Triple Shots are the most elegant way to do what you want without a mess of wires in there (and without having to add extra switches).

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

+10 for TS rings.

 

[THRobinson]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

Again, debated the rings, but, would much rather the push/pull knobs.

More complicated, but, not a fan of how the rings look.

Sent from my Nexus 10 using Tapatalk

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

To each his own.

 

[THRobinson]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

Kinda disappointed... Woulda thought more people would have tried various wiring setups.

 

[Artie]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

There is another option, and this might be how I do my own P-Rails. Convert the guitar to master Vol/Tone, and use the other two holes for the proper switches that you'd need. Easily reversible if you didn't like it, and all the wiring remains in the control cavity.

 

[roseblood11]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

I use two P-Rails in my '79 Ibanez Musician wired like this:
http://musikding.rocks/wbb/index.php/Attachment/419018-seymour-duncan-2-p-rails-GENIAL-jpg/
Very flexible and easy to use circuit. I used a tone pot just for the neck pickup and a master volume.
Rotary at position 3, tone pot fully ccw. P90 at the neck through a fuzz face is the perfect smooth lead tone. When I switch off the fuzz and set the toggle to the bridge pickup (both at the same time), I get the perfect rhythm tone.
Off course, you could use the stock Les Paul set of pots instead

 

[jeremy]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

never seen three position push/pull pots. i could see them as being cool and also awkward to use if they exist. you can use just push/pull pots to get a lot of choices but the triple shots are the easiest way to get all the options.

 

[BRHGM]

Re: P Rails in a Les Paul (ish) Guitar - 3 way Switches

Push pulls are two position. You could get by with one and it would do what you want. Wiring two push pulls means twelve wires soldered into that small cavity rather than six. The triple shot is simpler and gives you more options such as phase and parallel. Don't get me started on Jimmy Page wiring.