Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
For the guys that do this, is it usually with the bridge and middle pup? This requires a push-pull tone pot?
Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
- Thread starter Guitar Toad
- Start date
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
Thanks Donzo-
I've seen that Def Eddy thing before. It gives too many options, I gotta keep it simple. I'm just looking to add a push-pull for one additional series-parallel option.
Thanks Donzo-
I've seen that Def Eddy thing before. It gives too many options, I gotta keep it simple. I'm just looking to add a push-pull for one additional series-parallel option.
stevie_bees
Cat In The Hatministrator
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
Artie drew me a schematic for bridge/mid series. I can post it if you like. I haven't done it yet because I'm looking for a decent push/push pot rather than a push/pull. You could also do it bridge/neck!
Artie drew me a schematic for bridge/mid series. I can post it if you like. I haven't done it yet because I'm looking for a decent push/push pot rather than a push/pull. You could also do it bridge/neck!
bert123
New member
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
See its not hard to remember, I'm almost 50.
Now his Chromacaster mod is one where I'd be afraid I'd forget how to play the guitar before I learned what all the positions were.
I've put his Fat-O-Caster 3 position switch in my part-o-caster. I just use the normal setting (standard strat) or the last setting so I can get neck + middle in series (5 way in the middle) or birdge + middle in series (5 way for birdge only).Guitar Toad said:
See its not hard to remember, I'm almost 50.
Now his Chromacaster mod is one where I'd be afraid I'd forget how to play the guitar before I learned what all the positions were.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
I have my Strat wired for series/parallel switching between neck and bridge pickups. Was hoping to get a Les Paul type middle position tone but it's a little too hot and muddy. With my new home-made hot pickups in neck and bridge, I get reasonably close to that tone for a Strat with plain ol' parallel now though.
But there was a side effect with the switch on series in that it changes the tones what you get in the other four positions on the 5-way switch.
The most usable to me is in what would normally be the neck/middle switch position, I get all 3 pickups -- EXCEPT, the neck and bridge are in series, and then in parallel with the middle pu, which, contrary to what you would expect, makes the middle pickup the dominant of the 3 pickups. When I tap the poles with a screwdriver, the middle pu is louder than the neck and bridge. The sound is very different from all 3 in parallel -- much, much cluckier/quackier, sort of like a really beefy version of normal bridge/middle.
I have my Strat wired for series/parallel switching between neck and bridge pickups. Was hoping to get a Les Paul type middle position tone but it's a little too hot and muddy. With my new home-made hot pickups in neck and bridge, I get reasonably close to that tone for a Strat with plain ol' parallel now though.
But there was a side effect with the switch on series in that it changes the tones what you get in the other four positions on the 5-way switch.
The most usable to me is in what would normally be the neck/middle switch position, I get all 3 pickups -- EXCEPT, the neck and bridge are in series, and then in parallel with the middle pu, which, contrary to what you would expect, makes the middle pickup the dominant of the 3 pickups. When I tap the poles with a screwdriver, the middle pu is louder than the neck and bridge. The sound is very different from all 3 in parallel -- much, much cluckier/quackier, sort of like a really beefy version of normal bridge/middle.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
Can't help much if you don't want to fool with a 4-pole/5-way mega switch. There's a cool mod on the GuitarNuts site that I have not tried, but looks right. It replaces the middle pup alone in position 3 with the bridge & neck in series:
I've got a strat with a 5-way mega switch, a parallel/series toggle for any combination of pickups, and a push/pull that adds a neck&bridge combo and a combo of all 3 pups. Actually, both strats have a parallel/series switch, it just gets more complicated with the H/S/S setup.
I use the parallel/series switches all the time, especially in the all-single coil strat. Middle/bridge in series has more definition, bass and balls than in parallel. Not exactly like a bridge humbucker, but close. Neck/middle in series is dark and powerful. Neck/bridge in series can get a great Tele-like tone, only with more balls.
Mike Richardson has a cool layout on the GuitarNuts site too: http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/mikerichardson.php
Enjoy,
Chip
Can't help much if you don't want to fool with a 4-pole/5-way mega switch. There's a cool mod on the GuitarNuts site that I have not tried, but looks right. It replaces the middle pup alone in position 3 with the bridge & neck in series:
I've got a strat with a 5-way mega switch, a parallel/series toggle for any combination of pickups, and a push/pull that adds a neck&bridge combo and a combo of all 3 pups. Actually, both strats have a parallel/series switch, it just gets more complicated with the H/S/S setup.
I use the parallel/series switches all the time, especially in the all-single coil strat. Middle/bridge in series has more definition, bass and balls than in parallel. Not exactly like a bridge humbucker, but close. Neck/middle in series is dark and powerful. Neck/bridge in series can get a great Tele-like tone, only with more balls.
Mike Richardson has a cool layout on the GuitarNuts site too: http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/mikerichardson.php
Enjoy,
Chip
Deaf Eddie
New member
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
I'm not sure if I like "Def Eddie" or "Deft Eddie" better...!
Go easy on me, this is my first post in a loooooong time over here.
Now, y'all take these descriptions with a big ol' grain of salt...
On a Strat with stock or not-too-hot custom pups, here are my impressions:
The TONE produced by the bridge-neck series sounds like a generic humbucker - NOT a bridge humbucker, NOT a neck humbucker, just kind of that nebulous in-there-somewhere humbucker. It's kinda sweet, in a way. One of my favs.
The tone produced by the mid-neck series combo isn't distinctly Strat, nor distinctly humbucker. It's just... well, bigger. Thicker and more trebly than the neck pup alone, but less bite than the the bridge-mid series. If you have a RW/RP mid pup, this combo actually has the noise-reducing capabilities of a regular humbucker.
This here drawing will get-r-done with a single P/P:
http://deaf-eddie.net/drawings/strat-series-2.jpg
And then...
The tone produced by the bridge-mid series is a harder sound, still seems to quack a bit to my ear, but I have heard it described as very similar to a cheap bridge humbucker - as expected, it's not as sweet as the neck-bridge or neck-mid combo. Ditto on the noise reduction to the mid-neck combo.
And theeeeeen...
The tone produced by the bridge-neck series/out of phase is doinky like you'd expect out of phase to be, but not as thin as parallel - I rather like this tone. It is also a hum-cancelling combo. While I could almost use it clean (for most of you, probably not), where this combo really shines is when you add some overdrive or crunch - this combo literally STINGS and sings. It's also extremely condusive to pinched harmonics, a la The Reverend Billy... Now, where'd I leave that peso?
I'm not sure if I like "Def Eddie" or "Deft Eddie" better...!
Go easy on me, this is my first post in a loooooong time over here.
Now, y'all take these descriptions with a big ol' grain of salt...
On a Strat with stock or not-too-hot custom pups, here are my impressions:
The TONE produced by the bridge-neck series sounds like a generic humbucker - NOT a bridge humbucker, NOT a neck humbucker, just kind of that nebulous in-there-somewhere humbucker. It's kinda sweet, in a way. One of my favs.
The tone produced by the mid-neck series combo isn't distinctly Strat, nor distinctly humbucker. It's just... well, bigger. Thicker and more trebly than the neck pup alone, but less bite than the the bridge-mid series. If you have a RW/RP mid pup, this combo actually has the noise-reducing capabilities of a regular humbucker.
This here drawing will get-r-done with a single P/P:
http://deaf-eddie.net/drawings/strat-series-2.jpg
And then...
The tone produced by the bridge-mid series is a harder sound, still seems to quack a bit to my ear, but I have heard it described as very similar to a cheap bridge humbucker - as expected, it's not as sweet as the neck-bridge or neck-mid combo. Ditto on the noise reduction to the mid-neck combo.
And theeeeeen...
The tone produced by the bridge-neck series/out of phase is doinky like you'd expect out of phase to be, but not as thin as parallel - I rather like this tone. It is also a hum-cancelling combo. While I could almost use it clean (for most of you, probably not), where this combo really shines is when you add some overdrive or crunch - this combo literally STINGS and sings. It's also extremely condusive to pinched harmonics, a la The Reverend Billy... Now, where'd I leave that peso?
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Dave Z
New member
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
I have a Pushpull on my vol (the guitarnuts design) and it is cool, it is a bridge 'on' in series with neck or mid, whatever is selected...simple, effective.
The Bridge is RWRP, so either 'humbucker' setting is hum canceling.Not your usual approach but I like it.
Neither sound is quite like a normal 'bucker. Using alnico2pros, the sound is darker & smoother & a bit louder. Good for overdrive stuff...I'll have to play around with it soon & post come clips.
I have a Pushpull on my vol (the guitarnuts design) and it is cool, it is a bridge 'on' in series with neck or mid, whatever is selected...simple, effective.
The Bridge is RWRP, so either 'humbucker' setting is hum canceling.Not your usual approach but I like it.
Neither sound is quite like a normal 'bucker. Using alnico2pros, the sound is darker & smoother & a bit louder. Good for overdrive stuff...I'll have to play around with it soon & post come clips.
Guitar Toad
Toadily Stratologist
Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
Thanks Deaf Eddy, that's a great run-down of the options. I was looking for a fatter sound for use with overdrive and crunchy tone. The bridge-neck series/out of phase sounds very cool.
Dave Z, if you post clips I'd be interested to hear what you've got.
Thanks Deaf Eddy, that's a great run-down of the options. I was looking for a fatter sound for use with overdrive and crunchy tone. The bridge-neck series/out of phase sounds very cool.
Dave Z, if you post clips I'd be interested to hear what you've got.
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Re: Strat: Series-Parallel Switching
I like to think I've got a pretty versatile strat setup:
S-S-S but w/ SD lil 59 in bridge (much better and more useable than standard SC)
Anyway, i've got a push pull which, when down, is the normal strat setup (but with the 59 obviously - not split at all - even in pos2)
With the push/pull up it gives:
5: Neck and Middle in series
4: Neck single
3: Kill
4: 59 humbucking
5: 59 humbucking in series with middle - great raw 'triple' coil rock lead tone
as i said - very versatile 1 axe setup! all the clean/blues/classic rock tones i need
if you're interested drop me a PM and i'll post the schematic
I like to think I've got a pretty versatile strat setup:
S-S-S but w/ SD lil 59 in bridge (much better and more useable than standard SC)
Anyway, i've got a push pull which, when down, is the normal strat setup (but with the 59 obviously - not split at all - even in pos2)
With the push/pull up it gives:
5: Neck and Middle in series
4: Neck single
3: Kill
4: 59 humbucking
5: 59 humbucking in series with middle - great raw 'triple' coil rock lead tone
as i said - very versatile 1 axe setup! all the clean/blues/classic rock tones i need
if you're interested drop me a PM and i'll post the schematic
