Solution to SSH 500k vs. 250k pot problem?

[Xeromus]

I think SSH is my favorite pickup combo in a guitar. But how do you go about the pot problem? I like 500k's for humbuckers and 250k for singles. 500k's make singles too bright and 250k takes too much of the edge of humbuckers. What's the best compromise? How do fender and other manufacturers handle it? 500k volume and 250k tone?

 

[Artie]

Re: Solution to SSH 500k vs. 250k pot problem?

There's a simple way to have the 5-way automatically convert a 500k pot to a 250k when selecting the neck or middle, but while my server is down, I can't post the pic.

Give me a 'til tomorrow. I think I can post a pic on an alternate site.

Artie

 

[Artie]

Re: Solution to SSH 500k vs. 250k pot problem?

I'll elaborate. In its simplest form, you only use one side of a 5-way in a normal Strat wiring. So you use the "other" side to switch a 500k resistor in parallel with a 500k pot in the #1 - #4 positions. You get 500k for the bridge, and 250k for all other positions.

Edit: Except for the dual-tone control thang, but I still think it will work.

 

[ErikH]

Re: Solution to SSH 500k vs. 250k pot problem?

I love that trick. In my homemade I have a humbucker / single configuration but use a LP style 3-way. I was going to put a 500k resistor from the neck pickup connection to ground on the switch but I forgot to put it in there. The neck single is a APS-1 and actually sounds pretty good with a 500k. Could be due to the A2 mag softening things in it a bit.