P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

[ParameterMan]

Ok, I keep figuring out how to do this and then forgetting it again, so I'm documenting it here. It seems this is something a number of people want to do but I haven't seen any other diagrams for it. Onward:

It would be really nice and intuitive to be able to switch all four modes of a P-rails with two switches - one P-90/both/rail and one series/parallel. What follows is a circuit to do exactly that. One switch is a DPDT on/on/on, and one is a regular DPDT so it could be stacked on a push/pull pot if desired.

And here's a cool proof modeled up. The two switches on the left-hand side are the poles of the on/on/on and the two right-hand ones are the regular DPDT, so they need to be switched in the same direction as I couldn't get them to link up. The two 4k resistors are representing the pickup coils. See the cool dots moving!

 

[Phostenix]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I did something similar to this a while back & posted it on the Tele & Strat forums. I used 2 switches to emualte the function of the Seymour Duncan Triple Shot rings. I did it with 2 SPST toggles & with 2P4T rotary switches. Note: the hand drawn rotary switch drawings were wrong. I corrected them later in the threads.

http://www.tdpri.com/forum/tele-tec...ng-seymour-duncan-triple-shot-w-switches.html

http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/tec...ng-seymour-duncan-triple-shot-w-switches.html

 

[Phostenix]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I didn't document it online, but I also have installed a 4P6T rotary switch in a 2 humbucker guitar that gives you these choices:

1. Both pickups as humbuckers (series coils)
2. Both pickups with coils in parallel
3. Outside single coils
4. Inside single coils
5. Neck single coil (outside) & Bridge humbucker
6. Neck humbucker & Bridge single coil (inside)

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I really should have worded my post differently - it seems you're responding to the implication that no-one has come up with a way to utilize all four modes with two switches. Shoot, Duncan had one right out of the gate with this diagram(which is functionally the same as the Triple Shots). I was referring to the specific functionality I described in the title. Not that I care - I love cool wiring of all kinds.

The reason I pursued this wiring is that I personally think the Triple Shot style layout is mentally unwieldy. One has to memorize the four toggle combinations and it's not immediately intuitive. I find that having one "A + B" and one "mode" selector sticks to my brain a little easier. Also, a number of guys have asked for it.

 

[Phostenix]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I've gotten used to the TS rings, but I understand what you're saying. I also don't find the parallel coils connections very useful with the P-Rails. I can see people just wanting the 3 common choices on a single switch and having the parallel choice available if needed.

BTW, on another guitar that has typical humbuckers, I find the parallel coils wiring best when the 2 pickups are in series. Then the parallel coils stand out from the single coils.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

My approach to TS wiring is to reverse it so that the direction of the sliders suggests which single coil is to be selected.

 

[Phostenix]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

My approach to TS wiring is to reverse it so that the direction of the sliders suggests which single coil is to be selected.

Yep. And if the switches point towards each other, they're connected to each other in series. I have found that setup very easy to keep track of. And switching them on the fly seems very natural to me now.

 

[jonaron]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I just installed one with this wiring today. Oh the wires!! I had to run the 4 lead wires to the dpdt on/on/on switch, then 6 wires out to a tele style control cavity, then the lead back to the pickguard to the 3 way pickup selector, then out to the control cavity. The whole job has 10 wires running through a 1/4" hole between the pickguard cavity and the vol/tone control cavity. The guyitar is like a strat/tele hybrid, so switches are mounted on the pickguard, pots in a tele style cavity. Was it worth it? Not sure. I love the p90, i quite like the parallel hum, the single and series are just ok. I wish they would make a triple shot setup that was mountable on a pickguard instead of just a pickup bezel. I guess i could have modded a triple shot, but I have never seen one and wasnt sure how it was layed out. Thanks for the diagram. The whole time i was running all of those wires i was saying to myself, "i sure as hell hope that diagram works" !! It does, thankfully.

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

Well, that's good to hear! I certainly spent enough time quadruple-checking to combat my paranoia that as soon as I uploaded it I'd find a mistake. It's good to hear from someone who's gone through with it.

 

[jonaron]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I see, so i was your unwitting guinea pig I am glad it worked too

 

[ParameterMan]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I see, so i was your unwitting guinea pig I am glad it worked too

Ha. Well, not really. I knew it worked, and had a number of guys express interest, but never heard back from someone who had actually wired it up.

 

[Johy]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

I know this thread is old and I'm sorry, but I'm looking to do exactly this and the schema disappeared from the post. I thought it'd be better to answer rather than starting a new thread. Does anyone have a diagram I could use to have each of my p-rails controlled with a 3-way switch (P90, both, rail) and a 2-way switch (series, parallel) for each? Thanks for any help!

 

[Mincer]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

Welcome to the forum!

If you don't get help with a diagram within a day or so, don't be shy about starting a new thread.

 

[Johy]

Re: P-rails with both coil selector and series/parallel switches

Thanks for the kind words and advice!