Prail and switch wiring

[Mikenewport]

Hello to all,

I am installing a P Rail and want to use an on-on-on mini toggle switch to get series/split/parallel. I have before me a Seymour Duncan diagram (wiring information for humbucker pickups) which clearly indicates where each lead wire goes to which terminal o the switch. So far so good.

My query is this, will the centre position 'split' give me the P90 half of the pickup? because this is what I would like in the middle position.

If it does not select the P90 which wires would I have to swap around to achieve this.

This mod is going in a 335 style guitar so you will understand my anxiety about getting it right first time !!!

Many thanks in advance. Mike

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

I'd strongly urge you to use a Duncan Triple Shot for the P-Rail instead, mostly because it is a 335-style, and also because the TS was made for the P-Rail. They go together like water and wet.

For a DPDT 3-way On-On-On, don't wire it as a normal series/split/parallel, wire it as a 3-way selector, because the P-Rail is 2 pickups in one shell. As well, you'll have the option to split to either pickup.

 

[Mikenewport]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

Thanks for the reply DrNewcenstein

I almost entirely agree with the tripleshots however it's a rewire and the holes are there already.

Some progress though I now have two diagrams that originated with 'Hermitico'. These are for P90-parallel-rail and P90-series-rail, as well as the original SD diagram, which is for series/split/parallel.

I guess I've always thought of bridge pickups as being a bit thin and weak, the series split parallel would give me slightly differing voices but thick enough to stop my grumbling. I am still concerned whether the split position gives me the P90 though.

Many thanks, Mike

apologies it was 'Sanford' here's the link
https://forum.seymourduncan.com/sho...le&highlight=P-rail+with+on-on-on+mini+toggle

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

The SD diagram should state which wire goes where to decide which coil gets cut off in the split.

If not, they have another (regular 4-conductor humbucker) splitting diagram that says "swap these two to split to the opposite coil" and is the same principle. Though I can't recall which one.

 

[Mikenewport]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

Many thanks for that DrNewcenstein, I'll do a search for that one. I'm hopeless at the geeky bit, never been able to work out switches but can read a diagram ha ha

Cheers Mike

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

I'd strongly urge you to use a Duncan Triple Shot for the P-Rail instead, mostly because it is a 335-style, and also because the TS was made for the P-Rail. They go together like water and wet.

For a DPDT 3-way On-On-On, don't wire it as a normal series/split/parallel, wire it as a 3-way selector, because the P-Rail is 2 pickups in one shell. As well, you'll have the option to split to either pickup.

Except then you would have P-90/parallel/rail. You'd lose series. Which isn't a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. I don't particularly care for P-Rail in series, but the OP might.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

I don't mind the series setting, but it is certainly my least favorite. I think the P-Rail has so many other things going for it, that I wouldn't miss it.

 

[Mikenewport]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

hiya Mincer and GuitarDoc,

Thank you for replies. I would really like to ensure that the P90 alone was one setting. I have diagrams that show P90/parallel/rail, P90/series/rail and parallel/split/series. The pickup is in the bridge position so I would prefer the 'thicker' settings. It will be paired with a jazz pickup at the neck , which I think is great. Both of you folks seem to prefer parallel over series, could I ask why this is? I would be happy to follow parallel/split/series if I could insure that the split was to the P90. Am I missing out by not caring so much about rail as a setting. Many thanks

Mike

 

[DrNewcenstein]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

Except then you would have P-90/parallel/rail. You'd lose series. Which isn't a bad thing as far as I'm concerned. I don't particularly care for P-Rail in series, but the OP might.

You're right. Would an On/Off/On wired as a 3-way selector give Series in the middle?


Even if the guitar was already wired for the mini-toggle, there are other uses for it. You can wire it to invert the phase of the other pickup, or as a kill switch, or a Tone bypass, or as series/split/parallel for the Jazz.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

hiya Mincer and GuitarDoc,

Thank you for replies. I would really like to ensure that the P90 alone was one setting. I have diagrams that show P90/parallel/rail, P90/series/rail and parallel/split/series. The pickup is in the bridge position so I would prefer the 'thicker' settings. It will be paired with a jazz pickup at the neck , which I think is great. Both of you folks seem to prefer parallel over series, could I ask why this is? I would be happy to follow parallel/split/series if I could insure that the split was to the P90. Am I missing out by not caring so much about rail as a setting. Many thanks

Mike

My experience with P-Rails was mostly as a neck pickup, so it was too indistinct in series mode for me. It might work for you as a bridge pickup, though. I do think split to the P-90 is a better sound than split to the rail, in both neck & bridge, but the rail isn't a bad sound. I like like the P90 sound best.

 

[Mikenewport]

Re: Prail and switch wiring

Hi

Just to let you know I have wired both pickups (jazz/P-rail) in the way described in SD schematics. At the neck you get parallel/slug/series at the bridge you get parallel/P90/series, this is using a DPDT on-on-on switch.

The results couldn't be better. The jazz pickup at the neck, I really like the parallel setting best. The P-rail however seems great in all postions, P90 , parallel and series in order of preference.

In the middle pickup selector position the combination of neck (parallel) and bridge (P90) is what I've attempted to get for years. Excellent. Being a semi it should stay like this for years!!!

Thanks to all above for their contributions, much appreciated.

Mike