The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

[Artie]

The design plan here was to see what the most number of truly useful tones you could achieve, with the least amount of expenditure on pickups, and with a reasonably easy wiring plan. You just need three coils, (either HS or SSS), to achieve a wide palette of tones.

The Minimulist (HS)

The Minimulist (SSS)

Both diagrams are effectively the same. Just different wire colors for the humbucker or two singles.

The original idea was to just use two DPDT toggles, but after thinking about it, especially with a Strat, it made more sense to retain the Fender style 3-way, and replace one tone pot with a DPDT switch. Using the 3-way, yields two additional tones not shown in my diagram:

Parallel mode: All three coils in parallel.
Series mode: Neck / bridge coils in parallel, with those in series with the middle. (That would be neck/bridge screw-coils, in series with the bridge stud-coil, in the HS configuration.)

I just wired this up in my beater Epiphone Strat and it works great. I'll post pics, and maybe clips, when I get my custom wound single from Zhangliqun.

Artie

P.S. I think this would be killer in an old Cyclone HS or Squier 51.

 

[Aceman]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Very nice Artie! That Minimalist HS would be fantasic on an 80's shredder...

 

[Artie]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Thanks Aceman. Yeah it would. I can't wait to get my custom single from Dave so I can test the HS config.

 

[ErikH]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Interesting. OK Artie. Question.

My SSS Strat has three STK's in it. Could this effectively be done while splitting them AND keeping the Strat 5-way in place? I have a push/pull in the guitar now so no issue there (it splits the STK's right now). Could even make the second tone control be another push/pull but it's a blender right now for bridge + neck.

 

[jtougas]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Would you gain anything by using a DPTT on/on/on for the series/parallel?

 

[Artie]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Interesting. OK Artie. Question.

My SSS Strat has three STK's in it. Could this effectively be done while splitting them AND keeping the Strat 5-way in place? I have a push/pull in the guitar now so no issue there (it splits the STK's right now). Could even make the second tone control be another push/pull but it's a blender right now for bridge + neck.

Hmmm . . . I'll have to think on that and "doodle" some stuff.

Would you gain anything by using a DPTT on/on/on for the series/parallel?

I'll have to think on that too.

Cool... I have a Fendermoth (Fender body Warmoth neck) strat with a single bridge humbucker (4 conductor).

Controls are 1 vol, 1 tone, 1 three-way mini toggle and a 3 position (not 5) strat blade pickup selector

What you can do:

- series (mini toggle down)
- parallel (mini toggle up)
- coil tap (mini toggle middle)
- kill switch (3 position pickup selector)

I use the 3 position for the longer throw...

Sweet! I like simple and unusual wiring schemes.

 

[Zerberus]

Re: The Minimulist wiring scheme is born.

Very nice Artie! That Minimalist HS would be fantasic on an 80's shredder...

My sentiments exactly, perfect for a Lynch for example