PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Tone Meister

Tone Meister

New member
I despise pull/push pots and mini toggles for coil splitting and refuse to consider it. OK, that's out of the way.

Want to install a new set of PRS 57/08 humbuckers and a 5-way super switch in my S2 Standard 22. I am dead set against using the limited proprietary PRS 5-way.

The problem I'm running into is the pickups are 3 wire with a braided shield.

BRIDGE
Black (+)
White (-)
Red (split)
Braided shield (ground)

NECK
White (+)
Black (-)
Red (split)
Braided shield (split)

Has anyone here used a regular super switch? If so, what options are available with the single red split wire without having to perform surgery on the pickups?


  1. No pull/push pots
  2. No $45 limited proprietary switch


Any insight is appreciated
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

I'd start off with this as it's one of the easier ones that actually works on there. Best of all you could convert the tone control to 1950s style very easily. Seeing as this wiring could be done with 3 wire pickups even like the odd Ibanez pickup or so this is a wiring your super 5 way switch could do very easily as you've got the split wire. I have this converted to seymour duncan style but this is a very straight forward diagram.
https://guitarelectronics.com/2-humbuckers-5-way-lever-switch-1-volume-1-tone-05/

Good choice not to use any push pulls or mini toggles, I used to love them but will go out of my way these days not to use them.. however since I do graphic design they are fun to draw out diagrams with. More challenge I guess.
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

shadowfire90 said:
I'd start off with this as it's one of the easier ones that actually works on there. Best of all you could convert the tone control to 1950s style very easily. Seeing as this wiring could be done with 3 wire pickups even like the odd Ibanez pickup or so this is a wiring your super 5 way switch could do very easily as you've got the split wire. I have this converted to seymour duncan style but this is a very straight forward diagram.
https://guitarelectronics.com/2-humbuckers-5-way-lever-switch-1-volume-1-tone-05/

Good choice not to use any push pulls or mini toggles, I used to love them but will go out of my way these days not to use them.. however since I do graphic design they are fun to draw out diagrams with. More challenge I guess.
Click to expand...

That diagram utilizes inners and outers, which is my least preferred layout. Are there other switching options available for the single split wire?

With the screws to the outside, inners and outers are already configured N/S N/S, so a magnet swap isn't necessary.

Any way to wire it like the Core Custom 22/24?

Position 1: Bridge humbucker
Position 2: Bridge humbucker with neck singlecoil
Position 3: Bridge and neck humbuckers
Position 4: Neck singlecoil with bridge singlecoil
Position 5: Neck humbucker
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

I've got an idea I'll draw out for you. I remember a while back you helped me with this Fender Showmaster wiring so I'll happily return the favor.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Alright this is an early concept, lets see how the fellow tone chasers would improve on this as I'm about to go run some errands. The only thing close to questionable is the coilsplits can be sent to either hot lead or ground. I color coded it to make it easier to visualize too. This is inspired by a telecaster project with a hot rail in it with a bit of creativity.

PRS also uses a 180pf capacitor for the treble bleed for brownie points here was what I started with
https://www.prsguitars.com/documents/customs_2017.pdf

Now this is the final product I have for now.
View attachment 102239

and a somewhat blank version if anyone is a fan of microsoft paint could do as all the copying and pasting is done. So just draw over it with a brush and you're set. This is to try something different. I also have completely blank super 5 way diagrams on my hard drive as well.
View attachment 102238



I suppose out of phase is ... heh .. out of the question , hmm, putting both pickups in series I'm not a fan of, there are some options but nothing really in my opinion life changing. I wonder what anyone elses take on it is
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

No out-of-phase needed. I really prefer either the neck or bridge in parallel in one of the notch positions, but that isn't possible since we have the single split wire.

What you've drawn is just fine if I can get those 2 & 4 positions and they're hum canceling.

Thanks!!
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Not a problem. The only concern I've got is PRS described position 2 as "Bridge humbucker with neck single coil" so safe to say that it's bridge in series with the neck coilsplit. That won't be hum cancelling but I'm sure if you've got experience with that PRS setup it won't bother you.

Anyways hopefully we get some second opinions or at least ideas for this project. I always like a challenge.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Your drawing above is the exact same config used on the Core Custom 22 & 24 guitars these days, and it's pretty flexible. I'd much prefer this config over just inners and outers

Ideally, I wanted this:

1) bridge standard
2) inners (slugs) in parallel
3) bridge + neck
4) neck parallel
5) neck standard

This is the way I wire all my HH guitars, except the ones with a 3 way toggle. Highly flexible setup.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

OK, wired it up as drawn and there are a couple of problems. I presume the top pickup in the drawing is the neck?

1) The switch is mirrored. When switching, the pickups are reversed.
2) The middle position reads bridge pickup only.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Sorry for taking so long to get back to you, alright I fixed the issue about the middle position, luckily I left a spare pole on the switch. This will solve the issue.

As for the switch being in reverse try moving the hot leads from the pickups around and it should solve it as the way I've always wired switches is top to bottom like my switch
00
11
22
33
44
55

11
22
33
44
55
00
the approach is a standard super 5 way switch like the Dimarzio EP1112 or the generic south Korean ones I've been seeing pop up on ebay

when wiring it
the top left pole does a majority of the work, sending the pickups hot leads to the volume pot
the top right pole is your neck pickups two coilsplit functions going back and forth between the switches pole to its left
the bottom left pole is now your neck pickups hot lead - I highlighted the new extra wire in blue to activate the pole , the black wires just tell it where to go in the switch selection
the bottom right pole is the bridge pickup


View attachment 102271

I'm actually curious if there is a way to do the optimal wiring you've got in mind because the Ibanez V7 / V8 setup I believe it is as I'm not a big Ibanez fan just people kept bringing them in when I worked on guitars. The bridge pickup in the set I'm thinking of is 3 wire, the neck is a full blown 4 plus bare wire and they figured out that setup. Worst case scenario you'd have to unwrap the pickup and clip a jumper wire from coil to coil and convert it to a 4 wire pickup.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Ok, tried the updated drawing. It does include the middle position now, but the pickups were again reversed somehow. At first I just swapped the hot leads, which made some odd combinations, then I reversed the red split wires and it still isn't as we described above.

I will provide some descriptions and DCR readings for each position. If I don't miss my guess, it seems like we have the bridge pu in parallel at position 4. Is that possible? Because if it is, then I'd like position 4 to be neck parallel and leave the rest the same.

With both hot wires and both red split wires reversed from the drawing, here's what I now have. (Don't forget the neck hot wire is the white wire)

Bridge pu = 9.06K
Neck pu = 8.06K

1) 9.06k bridge both coils active
2) 2.17k both bridge coils and neck screw coil active
3) 4.27k both humbuckers active
4) 4.56k both bridge coils active
5) 8.06k neck both coils active

So, if a parallel humbucker IS possible with the single split wire then here is the updated desired configuration.

1) bridge normal
2) bridge + neck single coil
3) both pickups in parallel
4) neck pickup in parallel
5) neck normal

If this is not possible then I'd first like to determine what I have at present, then adjust the drawing to the Custom 22 scheme that we were shooting for.
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

I'm glad we've got some progress that the middle position works and I appreciate the DC resistance measurements as they help big time. This is what makes this forum fun.

It's come to my attention that there is more than just "super 5 way' like the dimarzio EP1112 and the south korean ones I've got a small box of all my diagrams are based upon. I thought it was just that and Schaller megaswitches. That being said. Wired exactly the way my diagram is assuming the bridge and neck were in opposite order being our dead giveaway this gives me the idea that the switch is one of those fender superswitches or similar? either way it means we're almost done. This is how we check.

hopefully you've got an extra switch laying around to test this.

place the switch in position 1 as if we're in the bridge position
on any part of the switch
0 and 1 the same way this diagram I found on google describes it as
View attachment 102277



it suggests it as below which is opposite to my switches I drew it as for reference
00
55
44
33
22
11

55
44
33
22
11
00
If so this is an easy fix

Now with the parallel on a multimeter at least you can get a parallel resistance by fusing. At least on a seymour duncan pickup. Black with green and bare - lead 1 , then red/white on lead 2 on the multimeter so this will give me tonights challenge to draw out. Luckily I've got a test guitar to try this out on as this is a really beneficial wiring for myself as well to at least try with 4 wire pickups
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

The switch is an Oak Grigsby. Can you determine if my wire swaps actually put parallel bridge on position 4?

RG1527.jpg⁴

This is my ideal configuration, but I don't think it's possible with the single split wire. If we can do it, then fine. If not, the PRS config above will work.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

perfect, I kind of suspected it was one of those 0-54321 sort of layouts. I'm almost done updating the initial wiring.

As for the RG1527 I'll try my best because the Cortek 3PS1SC5 switch is a headache to wrap my head around but what is great about these super switches is we've got so much possibility. I remember my first wiring diagram request I wanted to bounce an idea off of was with an HSH setup I put on a back burner as I despise 2 wire single coils.
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

with the revised switch, I've also added the bridge in position 2 you'll notice the black strip across the bottom left poles bottom 3 contacts and the coilsplits were revised.

1 - bridge - series
2 - bridge series with neck coilsplit
3 - standard 2nd position on a les paul or tele
4 - bridge / neck - coilsplit in parallel
5 - neck - series

let me know how this works out, I'll take a crack at the RG1527 wiring
View attachment 102286
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

I'll take a stab at it in the.morning. Does the avove drawing take into account the neck hot wire being white?
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

just updated the image by deleting the old image in the attachments, if it doesn't pop up let me know. I still have your email from when you sent me the old Dimarzio diagram a while back.

As for parallel in position 4 I was thinking about it and doubt it's possible without hum. The fender showmaster / RG1527 being two examples the bridge pickup is 3 wire as it's just doing the coilsplit. That's totally fine, now the issue is the neck pickups 4 wire as far as I can tell. They did a bad job drawing out the diagram as the black and white off the Ibanez neck pickup are too close together. My reason for those who ever want to talk about my diagrams I draw being messy or whatever is I do them in about 15-20 minutes.. anyways. When I look at a simple push pull variant in a technical way the first time for years it gives me the impression that there really does need to be 4 wires using seymour duncan color code for example to get my point across.

the usual condition for parallel with a 4 wire humbucker is the
north start (black) and south finish (red) are going to one place. Lets say hot
south start (green) and north finish (white) are going to the other place. Lets say ground.
this creates hum cancellation. Similar to position 2 on a strat which parallel is aspiring to become

Otherwise my approach going with will create hum
black / green / bare - ground
red / white - hot
or vice versa for hot / ground
my theory on why it hums is because both coils are pretty much giving you the sound of the 2nd position on a strat where the middle pickup is not reverse wound (RWRP). Assuming magnetic polarity and any other factor is not considered when I'm coming up with this assumption.

A big reason for this assumption is testing a pickup in series , versus series out of phase (tele sound on a humbucker). Both show up as 16k... however.. if I swap the red and say a green wire around. Same everything else I'll still get 16k until I plug the guitar in and get that twang and hum. When measured with a quality multimeter with inductance it'll have a significant drop in inductance a parameter most guitarists should know about.
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Ok, it looks like we are almost there. All positions seem correct except position 2 - all I get is the neck screw coil and no bridge. Here are DC readings at each position.

Bridge = 9.02K
Neck = 8.05K

1) 9.02K
2) 4.04K
3) 4.26K
4) 2.17K
5) 8.05K
 
Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

Glad to see it's almost done, i'll get out my multimeter and tools now and do this myself so you get the perfect diagram. It's snowing really heavy here so it'll give me something to do.

For now double check to see if the three red jumper wires are all three. Anyways I'll back to you in an hour or so.
 
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Re: PRS pickups: Diagram Needed: 2 humbuckers & 5-way super switch

just tested it and it worked for me

my two pickups were
bridge - 14.34k
neck - 7.50k

1 - 14.34k - bridge pickup in series
2 - 3.00k - bridge pickup in series / neck pickup in a coilsplit (hums)
3 - 4.98k - both pickups in parallel - standard 2nd position on a tele and or les paul
4 - 2.53k - both pickups coilsplit - hum cancelling
5 - 7.50k - neck pickup in series

using a parallel resistance calculator i put every number in without decimals
so 14.34k became 1434.... and once the calculation was done just put the decimals back in
https://www.allaboutcircuits.com/tools/parallel-resistance-calculator/

Hopefully your luck is as good as mine, when i was doing a series / parallel wiring before we started the Ibanez diagram on a super switch what messed with me was a cold solder joint and i ended up cleaning the entire switch off and everything worked perfect.

this is position 2
View attachment 102302

and not my best soldering by a long shot but the biggest tip with this wiring I can give people is make jumpers out of tinned wires. If I was selling this to someone I'd definitely cut the extra bit of wire off the contact below. In those cases a good pair of wire cutters make these jobs look professional.
View attachment 102303
 
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