rewiring 5-way selector

H-400

New member
I just got an ESP ltd H-400. It has Seymour Duncan JB/59 pickups. The 5-way selector is not wired to have both humbuckers on at the same time. Can I re-wire it to have both on? Is there anything about this combination of pickups that would make me not want to do this? I saw an alternate wiring diagram on the SD website, but wanted to make sure I wouldn't screw anything up by trying this.
 
Re: rewiring 5-way selector

welcome to the forum and congratulations on your new guitar - enjoy and play in good health ...

there is no reason that those 2 pups can not be combined as the results of a rewiring as long as you take into account what the current switch can actually do ...

what combinations does the current switch provide?

what combinations do you want it provide?

are you open minded about needing to get a new switch if that is what is needed in order to arrive at what you want?

let us know - and we'll see what we can do to help

cheers
t4d
 
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Re: rewiring 5-way selector

Thanks for the reply. I'm a central Marylander also (Rosedale hun).
My current switch setup is like this:
pos#1=neck hum pos#2=outer singles (split) @ half output (parallel) pos#3=outer singles (split) @ full output (series) pos#4=inner singles (split) @ half output (parallel) pos#5=bridge hum

I would like to have the switch something like this:
pos#1=neck hum pos#2=outer singles (split) @ full output(series) pos#3=neck and bridge (series) pos#4=inner singles (split) full output (series) pos#5=bridge hum

I'm open to any suggestions; I was even thinking about is it possible to convert it to just 3-way (neck hum; neck and bridge hum; bridge hum) Any help is greatly appreciated!
 
Re: rewiring 5-way selector

hey there ... i am in ellicott city ... not too far away at all !

you have it wired exactly like my brian moore is wired ... probably using a P-type mega switch (this recreates the switching of the PRS rotary switch with a 5-way blade) ... to do what you want would require a superswitch .. if you are open to that, i will noodle on a wiring diagram for you

are the pickups humcancelling in pos 2 and 4 as wired now? .. if they are, it seems as though the magnet was already flipped and the wires were (poperly) reversed .. if they are not hum cancelling currently, we could get you set up with hum cancelling if you are open to a magnet flip

let me know
t4d
 
Re: rewiring 5-way selector

The switch I have is called an 'Ultraswitch'; is that the same as a 'superswitch'? And yes, positions #2 and #4 are hum-canceling.
 
Re: rewiring 5-way selector

H-400 said:
The switch I have is called an 'Ultraswitch'; is that the same as a 'superswitch'? And yes, positions #2 and #4 are hum-canceling.
never heard of 'ultra' but i guess it was inevitable ... if they keep this up, the next switch will be "maxiswitch - with wings" (lil joke for the married bros who've ever been sent out to buy a feminine hygein product) :D

let me see what i can come up with

cheers
t4d
 
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Re: rewiring 5-way selector

yes you need a new switch... its called a multi pole or super strat switch.. i jsut bought one myself... and i must say its quite a handful if you dont know what your doing... make sure it fits into your body to. there monsters. in this situation id say go to your local shop ask them to order that switch for you... then have them do it.. it will save alot of trouble on you.
 
Re: rewiring 5-way selector

that schematic is not quite what you said you want ... it has pos 2 and 4 as parallel and you said you wanted series ... i am still scratching my head, but cant get it ... i think you need a 6 pole switch to do it, and i dont think they exist .. i'm still trying though

bump - artie, ever see one like this? all series?

cheers
t4d
 
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