P-rails wiring with one volume pot

[Johy]

Hi there,

Here's the setup I would like with 2 p-rails, I can't find a diagram covering it and I'm not knowledgable enough to figure it out. I want only one master volume pot, and then: a 3-way switch to control which pickups are used (bridge, both, neck), one 3-way switch for each p-rails (P90, both, rail) and one master 2-way switch to set both in series or parallel (if I understand correctly, humbucker or PAF-like, respectively).

Any help would be highly appreciated. Thank you so much!

 

[dystrust]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

I know it's possible because my brother used to have a guitar set up like that, but it's beyond me. Sorry I couldn't be of more assistance.

 

[Johy]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

Thanks! Yes, I saw some ideas here and there, but every time pictures were too old and not available. It's definitely possible, but I just don't understand on-off-on switches enough...

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

When you say "both in series and parallel" are you talking about the pickups in series/parallel? Or the coils series/parallel?

 

[Johy]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

I was sure this would lead to confusion but didn't know how to phrase it. Thanks to you I can, I want to switch series/parallel for coils and not for the pickups, and preferably with only one switch controlling this for both simultaneously - but one switch each would be fine otherwise. Thank you so much!

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

It would take a special switch to do it, one with twice as many lugs as a typical mini-switch used in guitar wiring.

You can do the coil selection for both pickups easily with an on-off-on DPDT switch.

Series/parallel would require white/red together for normal series, and red to hot / white to ground for parallel, but all 6 lugs of an on-on DPDT switch would get used up just for one pickup when you do that - so you'd need a 4PDT switch to do both pickups at the same time.

Also note that when in parallel, your coil selection switch would do nothing, in my estimation of how this would need to be wired. Someone else can chime in if they have a cool, slick way of making this happen with 'standard' DPDT switches, each operating both pickups.

 

[Johy]

Re: P-rails wiring with one volume pot

Thank you so much, this is really helpful! I'm starting to see clearer now. The coil selection is now sorted out - SD has a diagram somewhere for that. And for the series/parallel switch, I'll try with 2 DPDTs for tests and if I really want only one switch, I'll use a 4PDT. Thanks!

If anyone else has another idea, please let me know as I'm always interested in understanding guitar electronics!