Split Coil Wiring Diagram Help - 3H 3V 1T - 3x3 way slide switches (off/on-H/on-S)

[MrCDubya]

Hi,
Thanks in advance for any help on this. I've searched with no luck.

Put simply, I want to install 3 x wide range humbuckers and have individual Jaguar style 3-way slide switches for each pickup. The 3 positions on the switches (for each pickup) will be:

1: Off
2: On - Humbucker
3: On - Single Coil

Then it's 3 volume knobs (one each pickup) and 1 tone knob (master).

Can anyone help? Or put me in the right direction!?

Thanks again,
Charlie

 

[MrCDubya]

So it turns out I want something very similar to a Gibson Skunk Baxter Firebird VII. Jack White plats one...

It has 3 x on/off switches for each pickup plus 3 x coil tap switches for each pickup.

That's nice but I'd like to set all of that in 3 switches rather than 6 if you see what I mean.

So each pickup has one switch - and it's either 'off' or 'on in humbucker mode' or 'on in single coil mode'

Here's a really quick video explaining the 6 switches in the Skunk Firebird:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ohCZerBIZsM

And the Gibson page:
http://legacy.gibson.com/Products/Electric-Guitars/Firebird/Gibson-USA/Skunk-Baxter-Firebird.aspx

 

[Artie]

Here's how to do the 3-way slide switches:

 

[MrCDubya]

Great thanks for the help. Much appreciated.

So check out this rudimentary diagram! Tell me how wrong I am!?

 

[Artie]

That looks good. And I assume you know to join all the pot grounds and jack ground.

 

[MrCDubya]

Yes - so final diagram as follows:

 

[Artie]

Yup. Let us know how this works out and sounds.

 

[MrCDubya]

Thanks - really appreciate the help. I've only just ordered the pickups so it won't be soon!

I got great help here a while ago on a different project below...I aim to report back quicker!

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/for...ini-hums-3-vol-1-tone-4-way-switch-inc-blower

Brief report is currently the last post.

 

[Artie]

Thanks - really appreciate the help. I've only just ordered the pickups so it won't be soon!

This isn't critical, but if you do this slight mod of the middle pickup switch, it should make N/M and M/B hum canceling when both are split.

 

[MrCDubya]

Awesome. Thanks for the tip.

 

[MrCDubya]

While I've got your attention...! Can I just ask a(nother) stupid question!?

I might chose to use 3 x mini toggle switches instead of 3 x slide switches.

Looking at a mini toggle on/on/on switch, there are 6 poles, not 8 like a 3 way slide switch. What would be the wiring for using 6 pole mini toggle on/on/on switches to achieve the same outcome?

And would it possible to get the hum cancelling with the middle switch as in comment #9?

Here's an example of an on/on/on mini toggle switch I have in mind.
https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/components-and-parts/switches/mini-toggle-switches.html

I plan to build the slide switches first but I'd like to have the option to change to mini toggles if it'll work out better.

Thanks!

 

[Artie]

While I've got your attention...! Can I just ask a(nother) stupid question!?

Thanks!

Pretty sure that's do-able. Gimme a sec.

Quik-'n-dirty. No living color.

 

[Artie]

Dang! There's one little issue with that diagram. With toggle switches, the contacts move opposite the handle. So that would be top off. Those switches must be rotated 180 deg's for bottom to be off. I can redraw it if need be,

 

[Ewizard]

The only issue I think may come up aside from the reverse direction switches is the interaction of the volume pots with the way you have it wired currently.

You are essentially looking for the blender Stratocaster wiring. Seen here: https://www.premierguitar.com/gear/the-blender-stratocaster

Adding the tone pot is pretty much exactly as you have it.

 

[Artie]

I pretty much agree with that. 3 switches, and 3 vol pots is somewhat redundant. Even when one pickup is on, it's going to see the load of all three pots in parallel. For 500k pots, that will be 166k. That will be quite a tonal hit. 3 250's will be even worse at 83k.

 

[MrCDubya]

Thanks for the comments - that's food for thought.

Perhaps I'm thinking of 2 different setups... Back to the original thought process:

• The reason for 3 switches in the first place was to coil split each pickup quickly with a switch rather than a push/pull pot.
• Then it made sense to me to utilise each switch to act as the pickup selectors so no need for another switch. (so off/on/on-coil split)
• 3V 1T was there mostly because that's normal for the Firebird VII style 3 pickup setup I had in mind. (Though I really like the idea of blending the volumes as I've done on other builds).

So perhaps if I want 3 switches (slide or toggle), I need 1V 1T. You lose the blending but get the switches.

And perhaps if I want 3 volumes for blending, I want the Strat blender diagram modified with push/pull pots to coil split the pickups (then add a tone as per Ewizards comments).

Will I run into issues / is it possible to put push/pull pots (and a tone) onto that blender diagram?

(Thanks again - this is awesome help and while what I originally had in mind might not be the right option, very happy to get these extra ideas/builds/guitars out of it.)

 

[Artie]

Will I run into issues / is it possible to put push/pull pots (and a tone) onto that blender diagram?

There should be no problem at all. Remember, that the switch and pot portion of a push-pull is both electrically and mechanically independent of each other. They are simply two controls that share a common mounting hole. One uses rotation, and one uses up/down.

And also . . . sometimes it's good to go with your first inclination. Try your idea. If you don't like it, and you don't mind spending the time and trouble, you can try something else. I have several guitars that have been through about a dozen wiring configurations, just to learn.

 

[MrCDubya]

Good call.

Thanks again for the help.

I will (eventually) report back!