P-Rails Wiring Question

[Spikeybrummy]

Hi All,

I am in the process of building an oil can guitar (will post some pics later) and wanted some advice on pickup wiring, for the following configuration:

Single Humbucker (P-Rail Bridge)
3 Way Blade (North/Parallel/South)
1 Vol
1 Tone (Series Pull)

I have found a wiring diagram for this config with x2 single coils (Tele setup), but wanted to make sure it would work with the P-Rail.



If I'm right (which I'm probably not), the Tele Neck pickup would be replaced with the Black (North Start) and White (North Finish) wires and the Tele Bridge with the Green (South Start) & Red (South Finish), with the bare wire connected to the Green(?)

I would be extremely grateful for your advice and (ideally) wiring diagram.
Please Note: My 3 Way blade is a cheapo aftermarket version with the lugs numbered 1-8 in a line along the one side.

Many Thanks

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

with the cheap switches make sure your blade switch has two poles.

to do this set the multimeter to continiuity and
de-solder all the wires on the switch
place one multimeter lead on 1
place the other multimeter lead on 5 (second common)

best case scenario - no beep ensuring you've got a lot more freedom
worst case scenario - a beep and this really limits your wiring options
usually import switches can be great as they don't affect your tone. As the pickups, pots and capacitor are the ones doing all the world. But there are some really cheap import ones that only have one pole so no 1950s fender broadcaster wiring, no dan armstrong wiring and so forth.

I'm thinking the 1950s single pickup esquire wiring would work for the P-rail is a good place to start. To add in the single coil with a push pull will take a bit of creativity. Perhaps a tone control that turns into a blend that only works in the coilsplit position to avoid any potential complications?
View attachment 102933

and to convert the switch. Notice how half the switch is blue and half is red
View attachment 102934

 

[Spikeybrummy]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

Thanks for the info shadowfire90.
Thankfully my cheapo blade switch has two poles, so I'm safe there. I have mapped out the lugs and have wired it up to the pots, as per my original post, ready for confirmation of the P-rails wiring.

 

[shadowfire90]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

your best bet is doing 1950s esquire wiring because the portion to focus on either coil as well as parallel with a standard 3 way blade is impossible. The only blade switch that has a chance at doing that is a "Göldo’Double Wafer 3-Way Switch" I saw an article about them on premier guitar a while back. It's a super 3 way blade. Or a 4PDT switch which I've only seen in toggle switch form on Ibanez guitars. Pretty overpriced too.

if you go with a super 5 way blade you can get
series
P90 side of the P-rail
rail side of the P-rail
parallel
series out of phase

and still have volume and tone controls that's an option if your heart is set on a blade switch and 2 pots to add a tone control any other wiring diagram will help. Below is the diagram. The owner of the site is all territorial like ohhh don't post my diagrams without permission. Where as I hope my stuff I draw goes from Afghanistan to Zimbabwe.
https://guitarelectronics.com/1-humbucker-1-volume-5-way-lever-switch/

to add a tone control to this. Modern or 50s style.
View attachment 102965

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

Hi All,

I am in the process of building an oil can guitar (will post some pics later) and wanted some advice on pickup wiring, for the following configuration:

Single Humbucker (P-Rail Bridge)
3 Way Blade (North/Parallel/South)
1 Vol
1 Tone (Series Pull)

I have found a wiring diagram for this config with x2 single coils (Tele setup), but wanted to make sure it would work with the P-Rail.

View attachment 102932

If I'm right (which I'm probably not), the Tele Neck pickup would be replaced with the Black (North Start) and White (North Finish) wires and the Tele Bridge with the Green (South Start) & Red (South Finish), with the bare wire connected to the Green(?)

I would be extremely grateful for your advice and (ideally) wiring diagram.
Please Note: My 3 Way blade is a cheapo aftermarket version with the lugs numbered 1-8 in a line along the one side.

Many Thanks

Back to your original question, yes, your translation of the two pickups in the diagram to the two coils of the P-Rail pickup are correct, and so also yes, you should be able to wire the P-Rail up like in this diagram with a 3-way switch.

Please post a pic of your import switch to help us identify it -so we can then determine how its internal contacts work, and translate it to the 3 way switch in the diagram.

 

[Spikeybrummy]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

Back to your original question, yes, your translation of the two pickups in the diagram to the two coils of the P-Rail pickup are correct, and so also yes, you should be able to wire the P-Rail up like in this diagram with a 3-way switch.

Please post a pic of your import switch to help us identify it -so we can then determine how its internal contacts work, and translate it to the 3 way switch in the diagram.

Thanks kingswebe

This is my 3 way switch

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

Thanks kingswebe

This is my 3 way switch

View attachment 103073

Ok, in the 1st of the two attached pics, i have marked with Red colored hashes, the type of switch that is in the wiring diagram you posted, and the type of switch you own. The labeling of the lugs will allow you to translate between the two types of switches.

In the 2nd pic, i have marked the two lugs of the switch in the diagram that are the two commons (A0 & B0) which should be enough for you to complete the translation.

Let me know if you have any questions.

 

[Spikeybrummy]

Re: P-Rails Wiring Question

Thanks kingswebe,
That confirms what I had thought. I'll get on and wire the pickup in and will post some photos/videos.