Trying to be different

[LTH68]

Ok so my style is grunge /alternative/80's metal. I want to create a new sound for my self. So I'm going to attempt to build a custom guitar with the intent of being different.

So I got this idea from the Gibson Marauder. The blend pot.

My idea is to make the body an SG but with 3 pick ups

SH-5 custom bridge
P90 middle
Pearly Gates neck


2 volume pots 500k
A Master tone 500k
A blend pot 500k replacing the other tone
5 way switch
Treble bleed

Positions

1. SH-5

2. SH-5/P90 blend

3.P90

4.p90/PG blend

5. PG


So I'm thinking about this and the first thing that pops in my mind is there is ALOT going on here And I'm not sure it's viable.

The first issue i see is a polarity/ phase issue between the p90 and the humbuckers. Because the p90s are reverse wound. But I wonder if you switch the wires around if that fixes the issue ? Or will it sound thin?

The second issue I see is a volume issue because the SH-5 is way hotter than the p90 so it might dominate. I wonder if I can just find a sweet spot in pick up adjustment to compensate or if will make the SH-5 sound thin in position 1? I don't know.

Then of course there is the issue of feedback from the p90 for higher gain with yhe blend and I really like the vintage p90 sound rather than the noiseless p-90. The feed back issue might kill part of the idea, as I just don't see a high gain option working between those two PU meaning the custom and p-90 with out a noise gate and even then it might get weird. Definitely no sustain.

I do not know what a p90 in the middle position would sound like I'm assuming a bunch of mids I was thinking of using a bridge p90 in that position but I don't want to lose that punch and growl I love.

The other thing that was going through my mind is sometimes the best sounding guitars are the most simple set ups KISS. I might be over thinking it


I have my sg body glued up

Madrona wings rosewood/walnut center but I need to figure out what I'm going to do PU wise.

So my question to you guys is, what am I not thinking about?

I've wondered why did Gibson abandon the blend pot? Did they just not think it out,? Kinda like they missed the marketing? Putting a guitar with flat pick ups and marketing it with Paul Stanley. really?

Maybe the idea was not commercially viable?

Is there issues that I'm not thinking about?

Your thought are appreciated

 

[beaubrummels]

The blend as stated, I don't see how that would work. You've specified two blends on one pot. You can only blend two things, not three (unless you were thinking of using the blend to ground out the bridge and neck as a blend?? I don't know if that works. Haven't tried it.). Just use 3 individual volumes, one for each pickup, and you'll be able to do what you wrote.

 

[Teleplayer]

IMO a blend pot is not a great idea for playing with distortion. It adds a lot of series resistance which kills the resonant peak of the pickups. IMO it is generally better to simply switch the pickups in parrallel. Even the middle P90 is quite a fat sound by itself. I would personally avoid the P90 in the middle position unless you are going to be playing clean. Either use a brighter vintage style PAF with A5 magnet or maybe a hum-cancelling strat pickup like STK-S4m.

 

[LTH68]

The blend as stated, I don't see how that would work. You've specified two blends on one pot. You can only blend two things, not three (unless you were thinking of using the blend to ground out the bridge and neck as a blend?? I don't know if that works. Haven't tried it.). Just use 3 individual volumes, one for each pickup, and you'll be able to do what you wrote.

Ok this is what I was thinking am I misunderstanding you?

The plan was never “blend three things at once.” the plan was:
SH-5
SH-5/P90 blend
P90
P90/PG blend
PG
That means the 5-way switch isolates which two pickups the blend pot is controlling. In position 2, the blend only works between SH-5 and P90. In position 4, the same blend pot only works between P90 and PG.

Which mean I need a super five way switch

 

[LTH68]

IMO a blend pot is not a great idea for playing with distortion. It adds a lot of series resistance which kills the resonant peak of the pickups. IMO it is generally better to simply switch the pickups in parrallel. Even the middle P90 is quite a fat sound by itself. I would personally avoid the P90 in the middle position unless you are going to be playing clean. Either use a brighter vintage style PAF with A5 magnet or maybe a hum-cancelling strat pickup like STK-S4m.

That makes sense about the blend pot loading the pickups and affecting the resonant peak.
If the blend is only active in positions 2 and 4 (using a super switch), do you think it would still have a noticeable impact under gain?
Also, would adding small isolation resistors help preserve clarity, or does it still end up not being worth it?

 

[jeremy]

i dont think you can wire the blend the way you want to.

as far as the pup selection, i think a pgn, vintage p90, custom is a fine setup. you shouldnt have phase issues or feedback issues with the p90, but you will get hum since its a single coil

 

[LTH68]

Ok this is what I was thinking am I misunderstanding you?

The plan was never “blend three things at once.” the plan was:
SH-5
SH-5/P90 blend
P90
P90/PG blend
PG
That means the 5-way switch isolates which two pickups the blend pot is controlling. In position 2, the blend only works between SH-5 and P90. In position 4, the same blend pot only works between P90 and PG.

Which mean I need a super five way switch

Ok
.. so I think I'm over complicating this by ac

 

[LTH68]

Ok this is what I was thinking am I misunderstanding you?

The plan was never “blend three things at once.” the plan was:
SH-5
SH-5/P90 blend
P90
P90/PG blend
PG
That means the 5-way switch isolates which two pickups the blend pot is controlling. In position 2, the blend only works between SH-5 and P90. In position 4, the same blend pot only works between P90 and PG.

Which mean I need a super five way switch

Ok I think I'm over complicating this by a wide margin... what I'm hearing is simple is better. Thanks for your response!

 

[Chistopher]

Nowadays its pretty rough to get a "signature" sound anywhere in your signal chain between your pickups and your preamp. Easier to find a cool sound with your fingers and/or time based effects

 

[Artie]

This wouldn't be terribly difficult with a Superswitch, but I'd suggest one thing. To minimize pickup "loading", and ease the vol wiring, I'd do Master volume, blend, 2 tones. Would that be something you'd consider? If so, I can doodle something up.