Pickup wiring help!

[live_in_a_hole]

Ok, so I spend about a month deliberating on which pickups to choose for my guitar. Now that I have (JB/Vintage Rails/Jazz) I find there's all sorts of different methods of wiring, coil tapping, parralel thingmabobies etc.

As it stands, my pickup selector is HB-HB/SC-SC-SC/HB-HB from bridge to neck. Is this how I should have my new pickups wired? Also, what are the advantages and disadvantages of different wiring methods?

Cheers
SEAN

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

I'm not sure I understand -- the way you describe it ("HB-HB/SC-SC-SC/HB-HB") makes it look like you have 4 humbuckers and 3 single coils in the guitar.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

I think he means that as: B - B/M - M - M/N - N

btw, (To Sean), technically, the Vintage Rails is a humbucker.

 

[Artie]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

To get back to your original question, I wouldn't say there are advantages and disadvantages, just different tones. With that combo of pups, you really have a lot of options, just depending on how fancy you want to go with the wiring. You could parallel wire either of the full-size 'buckers. You could split them also. I nice tone option is to use one of the full-size humbuckers split, with the Vintage Rails in the #2 and #4 positions.

Adding one push-pull pot to split both humbuckers would be a simple mod that would yield a lot of different tones.

 

[live_in_a_hole]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

Ta for the replies!

I'm afraid I'm not quite sure what this would do tone wise as I know absolutely nothing about pickup wiring. I know that I'm looking for a hard rock tone from my JB. Pearl Jam, Fugazi, maybe even to 'Slayer Proportions'. To be quite honest, I'm in no way an audiophile, I just want a decent setup for my trusty old RG.

What would the push/pull pot do and would it be expensive for me to get installed when the guy fits my pickups??

I really know nothing about the technical side of guitars which is why I'm so desperate for advice generally. Any advice will be greatfully accepted!

Cheers
SEAN

 

[Artie]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

If it was me, I think I'd just do this wiring diagram:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/hum_sing_hum_vol_tone_spl.html

That will give you some nice tone options without adding any new controls. That will split the 'buckers in the #2 and #4 positions. You can always add options later.

Note: That diagram shows a single in the middle. Just use green for ground, black for hot, and connect the red and white together and tape them up. (On the Vintage Rails only.) Do everything else as the diagram shows. Any competent guitar tech should be able to handle that easily.

 

[live_in_a_hole]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

Ok cheers!

Just to clarify, (I'm slow on the uptake, i know!)

that wud make it so

Position: 1 2 3 4 5
Pickup: JB JB/Vintage Vintage Vintage/Jazz Jazz

SEAN

 

[Artie]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

Close. If you connect the red/white wires like that switch shows, you'll get:

1. JB
2. JB (split) - VR
3. VR
4. Jazz (split) - VR
5. Jazz

Assuming here that #1 is the bridge position.

If you want what you listed, just don't connect the red/white wires to the switch. But still connect them to each other and tape them off, just like the VR.

 

[live_in_a_hole]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

Ok, great. Thanks for your help!

Will report back when I've got them fitted into my Ibanez and my Marshall DSL401 fixed. I'm sure it's gonna sound amazing!


Cheers
SEAN

 

[Artie]

Re: Pickup wiring help!

Cool. A JB/VR/Jazz box should be a clean machine. Very articulate.