Special wiring thoughts

[shnutman]

Hey guys! Noob here to the SDforum. I wanted to get everyone's on a specific wiring I'd like to try.

I read somewhere that you can wire the middle position on a 3-way toggle to cut your signal. I thought this was a fantastic idea since I never use the middle position and a "kill switch" type of setting without having to install an actual kill switch or heavily modify my guitars to do so would be fantastic. I am aware of DPDT switches but I would like to avoid having to replace all the switches in my guitars, if possible. I am aware of turning your volume down on your neck pickup and flipping over, but I would like to see if this option is doable because I sometimes forget that my volume is off on my neck and it's embarrassing realizing that in the middle of a song when you try to flip over.

To give you an idea of what I'm working with, I have 6 guitars that I would hopefully like to set up this way. All of them are set up with dual humbucker Blackouts and Gibson-style 3way toggle switches. Two guitar run 2vol/2ton, two run 2vol/1ton, and the remaining two run 2vol only. I sent an email to one of the support members and they gave my a couple ideas but couldn't assist me further on exactly how to follow through with them. What I would like to avoid is replacing the current switches in my guitars because I believe that there has to be a way to do this with what I am currently using.

I am totally comfortable soldering and re-wiring if necessary. I've taken apart one of my toggles to rearrange the leaves as recommended by the support team, but was not able to get the results I was looking for, so I'm pretty sure that can be done.

If anyone can give me any idea as to how to proceed it would be greatly appreciated. Thanks for your help!

 

[hermetico]

Re: Special wiring thoughts

I am afraid you cannot do that with a typical Gibson 3-way.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Special wiring thoughts

I am afraid you cannot do that with a typical Gibson 3-way.

What if you wire it so instead of selecting the positive lead of each pickup, it grounds out the opposite pickup? In the center position, it would ground out both pickups.

 

[Tune-O-Matic]

Re: Special wiring thoughts

I agree with hermetico. It cannot be done with a standard Gibson 3-way switch because doesn't have enough poles on the switch. The problem you run into is combining the individual outputs of each pickup/volume pot to the jack. If you try to rewire it so that it grounds out the opposite pickup, the hot output of one pickup will always be connected to ground when you try to combine the hot outputs from the switch to the jack. If the switch had another set of poles this would very easy to accomplish.

You could replace one of you volume pots on each of your guitars with Shadow Kill pots so you wouldn't have to drill any holes but that would cost around $150 since they are $25.

A much cheaper solution would be to buy or build a kill switch pedal. Obviously you would have to use your foot instead of your fingers to use it but you wouldn't have to modify your guitars at all.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Special wiring thoughts

I just tried a prototype. I didn't quite follow the explanation about combining hot outputs from the switch to the jack because what I was suggesting was only running the ground wires through the switch. But what happens is it's only a ground lift in treble/rhythm position and when centered, both grounds are connected so both pickups are on. (Wasn't thinking all the way through on my first suggestion.)

I think the ideal solution would be a Center-Off 3-way toggle.

 

[shnutman]

Re: Special wiring thoughts

Thanks guys! I appreciate all the feedback. Guess it's something that I can live without, just thought I'd ask.