SG Controls seem Weird

[Cayce]

My son has an SG Standard I bought for him about four years ago. I haven't played it that often (I have my own toys) but picked it up recently and noticed that in the middle position on the trhree-way, the two volumes don't operate independently of each other. If the bridge pickup volume is at zero, the neck pickup gives nothing, even at full volume. Start cranking the bridge PU volume and both pickups deliver, but at almost full volume each, right away. Shouldn't these two operate independently in the middle position?

Thanks

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

I think that's normal. I own four guitars with two pickups and two volume controls; they're all like that.

The way it works is this: The output of each volume control goes to an input on the 3-way switch. When a volume control is rolled all the way down, it's basically bypassing the resistor value of the pot (and the pickup, for that matter) and feeding ground to the switch input.

When the switch is set to the middle position, it ties the outputs of the two volume controls together. If one pickup's volume is on full but the other is turned down all the way, the one that's down (grounded) will pull the other to ground. The result: No output.

 

[AlexR]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

Back in the '50s the wiring was done so you can have independent volumes. At some point they decided to change, and I have no idea why you would remove the flexibility of the blend option - but there you have it.

The changes are minor if you want to try it.... they require a soldering iron and about 5 minutes. I have both SG's and one or two other guitars wired this way. It also has the benefit of keeping the highs more present as you roll the volume down.

 

[Jessie's ghost]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

It looks like the main difference here is that you switch the input and output (or the pickup and the switch) at the volume pot. Instead of pulling the pot's output to ground, you ground the pickup but leave the switch input at the "top" of the pot.

Cool. Does this work like a Jazz bass?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

Does this work like a Jazz bass?

Yes. (Apart from the Gibson including a PU selector switch.)

 

[Hellion]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

Normal stuff. While it's a pain in certain aspects, I've found it advantageous for blending the pickups. On my SGs, I roll the tone totally back on the neck pup, and have the volume anywhere between 3 & 5. Gives it a nice pseudo woman tone with a bit of an edge for crunchy rythym parts, then flip the switch down for the cutting tone.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: SG Controls seem Weird

That whole concept of why anyone would change to dependant wiring baffles me. So I wire all of my guitars with the independant/50's wiring for more tonal and balance control.