Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

J

Jahanasaurus

New member
Hey there folks, I know it's extremely uncool to make your first post a cry for help but I desperately need some advice!

I agreed to replace my friends pickup selector in his Schecter C-1 Classic.

This is what the original selector looked like:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26344803/photo 4.JPG


It seems to have 7 terminals and an extra tag for ground.

I have replaced it with one that looks like this:

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26344803/Screen Shot 2012-03-05 at 23.02.28.png

it has 8 terminals but no grounding tag. Also, terminals 4 and 5 seem to be the only two attached together, unlike the pic.

I basically wired it up exactly the way it was before using terminal 1 as the replacement for Ground. I also tried to follow the wiring diagram from Schecter: http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26344803/schecter_C1_CLASSIC.pdf

Here is how my wiring looks (i know it's not great soldering skills!)

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26344803/photo 2.JPG

My problem is this:

NONE of the positions are working except number 2 (one second closest to the bridge)

and there's a lot of buzz. Any ideas? I'm tearing my hair out as I don't know what to check for and I don't have a multi meter here, nor do i know how to even use a multi meter to test what i'm looking for!

I apologise, i'm pretty new to wiring electronics etc! Learn by doing i guess, any tips?

Thanks!
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

First of all, we are here to help. Probably many of the regulars here came here seeking advice.

As for your problem, you need to take a look at the switch and trace the PCB (I think that switch has a PCB on the back, but your photo doesn't show it) to find out which terminals go where. There are many different blade-style switches and they are all different in terms of the terminal lay-out.
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

I would just grab my multimeter and pin out the terminals. Go buy one that has a continuity tester in it. I can't see **** in that picture, but it looks like the terminals are connected to one of six blades inside, 3 on each side. So they will go in order, I'm just not sure which one(s) is/are the common(s).

Also, where'd you get that switch? It looks nice and ballsy - I want one.
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

No problemo, hope it helps!

As for your question, first, don't use that Schecter diagram. It's not helping. Second, decide what you want the pickup selector to do. For mine (Schecter C-1 also) I have a 5-way blade switch wired up so that:

1. Bridge
2. Bridge + Neck
3. Neck
4. Neck + South coil of Bridge
5. South coil of Bridge

In general, you can do this with a continuity tester: when the selector is towards the bridge pickup side of the guitar find the terminal that connects to the common terminal by probing the terminals with the tester. Then wire the hot lead of the bridge pickup to that terminal. Do the same for each terminal and hot lead, but on seymour duncan pickups, the black and red+white wires can be used at hot leads on the five way in order to get split-coil sounds out of them.
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

so what am i looking for when probing for the common terminal? I've attempted probing terminal 8 and found it to be linked with terminal 2. is this the kinda thing i'm mean to be doing?

Also when you mean

"1. Bridge
2. Bridge + Neck
3. Neck
4. Neck + South coil of Bridge
5. South coil of Bridge"

is this on order of position so that your neck pickup is selected when your switch is in the "middle position"?

I'm so confused, and I'm sorry to be such a pain!

Also have you got a wiring diagram for your described layout?

thanks!
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

so what am i looking for when probing for the common terminal? I've attempted probing terminal 8 and found it to be linked with terminal 2. is this the kinda thing i'm mean to be doing?

Also when you mean

"1. Bridge
2. Bridge + Neck
3. Neck
4. Neck + South coil of Bridge
5. South coil of Bridge"

is this on order of position so that your neck pickup is selected when your switch is in the "middle position"?

I'm so confused, and I'm sorry to be such a pain!

Also have you got a wiring diagram for your described layout?

thanks!
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

The 8 terminal import switches are usually "Fender" type switches with the lugs all in a row instead of 4 on each side (see these diagrams).

Unfortunately, these are really set up for 3 single coils pups and don't give you many options for 2 humbuckers, although this diagram would work.

If you want the original switching you need to get a P Megaswitch.
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

I don't think schecters came with megaswitches. I replaced my stock switch in the C-1 with a Fender switch.
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

drdave said:
The 8 terminal import switches are usually "Fender" type switches with the lugs all in a row instead of 4 on each side (see these diagrams).

Unfortunately, these are really set up for 3 single coils pups and don't give you many options for 2 humbuckers, although this diagram would work.

If you want the original switching you need to get a P Megaswitch.
Click to expand...

Ok, thanks for all the help! :)

however, i still don't get the "position" terminology, is position "3" the "middle switch position" and is that the one that will give me solely neck pickup? I'm used to having the switch all the way at the back being bridge only, then different coil option and then the position all the way to the front being the neck pickup? is this the way it it'll be or have i got it all wrong?

thanks!
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

Okay so I tried wiring it up the way Dave said. I only have 2 positions working.. second closest to the neck and the middle position, both giving me the BRIDGE pick-up

this is how I've wired it, exactly to the diagram..

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/26344803/photo (1).JPG

What could possibly be wrong now? :( Should I be considering another switch?
 
Re: Schecter C-1 Classic Pickup Selector wiring help!

Jahanasaurus said:
however, i still don't get the "position" terminology, is position "3" the "middle switch position" and is that the one that will give me solely neck pickup? I'm used to having the switch all the way at the back being bridge only, then different coil option and then the position all the way to the front being the neck pickup? is this the way it it'll be or have i got it all wrong?
Click to expand...

The diagram shows how to get more options using a standard 5-way switch, but you're right, they end up in a strange order. If you want to have "typical" switching (front=neck, back=bridge) you're going to either need a different switch or settle for fewer options.

Jahanasaurus said:
What could possibly be wrong now?
Click to expand...

You need to "translate" the switch in the diagram to the switch that you have using the cross reference. The switch that's in the diagram is laid out like the switch labeled "Fender Oak Grigsby", the switch that you have is (probably) the one labeled "Import Switch" in the 5-way cross reference drawings.

Looking at the wiring diagram and the Fender switch we have:

Bridge Black - A1
Neck Black - A2
Bridge R/W - A3
Output - A0

on the left side of the switch and

B0 -
B1 -
B2 - Ground
B3 - Neck R/W

on the right side of the switch.

Your switch is all 8 terminals in a row which gives:

A1 - Bridge Black
A2 - Neck Black
A3 - Bridge R/W
A0 - Output
B0 -
B1 -
B2 - Ground
B3 - Neck R/W

Also, the picture of the import switch makes it look like A1 is on the right in your picture, and B3 is on the left, which is the opposite of how you tried to wire it.

Hope that's clear enough.

You could also start from this diagram and then do the translation with the cross reference. Positions 2 and 4 probably wouldn't be useful, but 1,3,5 would be neck, neck+bridge, bridge.
 
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