Pickup swap in G&L Tele

[ICTGoober]

One of my guys brought me a Chinese G&L Tele that had an SH-16 in the bridge position with a 3 way mini-switch (series, single coil, parallel). He wants a P-Rails installed in the bridge using the same mini-switch. HOWEVER, the pickup is mounted in one of the rings with the little DIP switches.... Which prompts 2 questions - can the pickup be removed from the weird ring and installed in a normal ring, and once done - what has to be done to connect to the mini-switch? I'm thinking don't touch a thing - just install the P-Rails using the ring and forget the mini-switch. I've never dealt with any P-Rails except normal ones... Advice?

 

[Artie]

I'm not sure about the ring you're talking about, (Triple-Shots?), but a P-Rails does series/parallel/split just like any Duncan humbucker. Red/White to ground, gives you the P-90.

 

[switchman]

Yeah that sounds like a Triple Shot. Are the leads wired to a PCB underneath?
If they are then yes you can disconnect from that and wire it to the mini-switch like Artie said. That would lose the 4th option to split to the rail though.
If you keep it in the Triple Shot ring the way its wired now, the White from the ring is hot to the selector switch and Black is ground for a Master volume Tele setup. Then the mini-toggle isn't needed.

 

[ICTGoober]

Yup - Triple Shots is what I think they were called, and it's got the PCB with a ribbon connector and wires galore. I've seen simpler active pickups. Thanks for the knowledge guys, I'll proceed with caution.

 

[ehdwuld]

The triple shot rings should take the place of a mini toogle
it will give you
Full hum 01-10
p90. ..... 10-10
Rail ....... 01-01
parallel ..10-01

The mini toggle that gives you
Full
split
parallel

Is an on-on-on

Can be wired
.
.
.
.
I will edit this onthiwe land , cant recall right off

Alternatively
You can swa that to an on-off-on
That gives you

Either coil
Full in center
Other coil

It can be wired

Red/whIte - center common
ground to one outside terminal
Hot from switch to other terminal

 

[ICTGoober]

After more research and consideration, I don't think I want to remove this ring from the pickup. I will urge my client to choose another pickup to install.

 

[Artie]

Now that I understand better what you're dealing with, I'd approach it like this:

Often, people cut the wire real short to avoid stuffing all that wire into the pickup cavity. If so, leave the TS, or as you said, suggest a different pup.

If there's still enough of the P-Rail wire, I'd disconnect the Triple-Shot, and do the switch, so he has what he's used to. The following standard Duncan diagram would give:

Up: Parallel
Middle: P-90
Down: Series

I don't think people use the rail by itself often.

 

[ICTGoober]

He hates the DIP switches on the Triple Shot ring, and prefers mini-switches or push-pull pots.
After trying to move them on the fly, I see his point.

 

[ehdwuld]

One mini toogle gets 75 % of the ts ring

Someone asked how to get there with two on off minis

I couldn't think that far out

If i was going to put two switches in i would just get the rings

Or settle for the single switch option

 

[Artie]

Like this:

 

[Artie]

In the above, P-90 / Rail can be substituted for stud / screw.

 

[ehdwuld]

In the above, P-90 / Rail can be substituted for stud / screw.

Sweet Artie you are always too much:knockedou

 

[Artie]

Thanks. The on-off-on can be SPDT, but I just don't see those often.

Edit: Speak of the devil:

https://guitarelectronics.com/single-pole-on-off-on-bat-handle-mini-switch-chrome

 

[ICTGoober]

Aaannnndddd... he decided to keep the Triple Shot ring... Which is a good thing because I got tired of waiting and now it's wired that way. The stock neck humbucker remains - he says he never uses it, so that's a relief.

 

[Artie]

Also good, since I made a leetle mistake in post #10. The jumper on the series/parallel switch should go straight across when using two switches.