Trying to install dummy coil, dummy coil volume pot, and stacked humbucker in HSS

[WholeLotta]

Hello! I am new to the forum. I am doing some mods to my strat and I am seeking some wiring help. My electronics knowledge is poor, but I can follow a basic wiring diagram. Currently I have SSS but would like to make it HSS configuration, and install a dummy coil (in series or parallel, not sure), as well as a pot that controls the level of the dummy coil. Below are the features that I would like.

Position 1: Bridge Humbucker only
Position 2: Split Coil from Bridge Humbucker + Middle (RWRP)
Position 3: Middle only (RWRP) + Dummy Coil if possible
Position 4: Middle (RWRP) + Neck (without dummy coil)
Position 5: Neck + Dummy Coil

I hope this plan makes sense! I have a 4-pole, 5-way Super Switch, which I understand is necessary (or at least useful) to wire this configuration. My main priority is to have the dummy coil working with the Neck pickup because I use the Neck pickup a lot (but rarely use the Middle). Maybe I am over-complicating things? If anyone can suggest a simpler way to accomplish my goals, please let me know! The main priority is to have the dummy coil on the neck, and have the dummy coil level controllable by one of the Tone pots.

I've been using this video as a guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoPMgAMwAPk

This wiring diagram is from that video, but it's for SSS, and I am trying to adapt it for HSS. I don't really understand how the Super Switch works, so I'm seeking some guidance!

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Fitting a humbucker in the bridge is straightforward enough and auto coil splitting in P2 can be accomplished using one bank of contacts on the superswitch. Which coil needs to remain active, however, depends on the polarity of the middle pickup.

You can probably also use the same bank of the superswitch to bring in tithe dummy coil in P3 and P5 by using the selected switch bank to control the ground wires from the "middle" of the humbucker and the dummy coil.

LMK which pickups you hope to use and I can draw you up a circuit.

 

[WholeLotta]

Fitting a humbucker in the bridge is straightforward enough and auto coil splitting in P2 can be accomplished using one bank of contacts on the superswitch. Which coil needs to remain active, however, depends on the polarity of the middle pickup.

You can probably also use the same bank of the superswitch to bring in tithe dummy coil in P3 and P5 by using the selected switch bank to control the ground wires from the "middle" of the humbucker and the dummy coil.

LMK which pickups you hope to use and I can draw you up a circuit.

Hey! Thank you so much for the quick and friendly response. I haven't decided on which Bridge Humbucker I want yet, but likely a Seymour Duncan JB Jr. or another SD stacked humbucker (preferably one that sounds like a humbucker and isn't trying to sound like a single coil).

I'm wondering, what are your thoughts on the dummy coil part of the mod? I hope it's clear what I'm trying to accomplish (hum-free in every position especially position 5 Neck only, with the dummy coil level being controllable via a pot.) One thing I'm concerned about is that the diagram and video puts the dummy in parallel, whereas I've heard that it sounds better in series? Anyways, thanks again for your help, I appreciate it!

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

No experience with dummy coils I'm afraid, but my experience with Fender's stacked noiseless coil pickups (series) in my Player Tele seems to match others' opinions, i.e. that they loose a little of the "sizzle" of true single coils. Haven't tried rewiring them in parallel though.

What brand are the remaining original pickups and do you have a compass to check their polarity?

 

[WholeLotta]

The SSS set I'm using is this: https://www.toneemporium.com/product-page/te-21-custom-65-vintage-hot-strat-pickup-set

Not sure the polarity and whatnot.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

There are workarounds for polarity and phase differences, mainly swapping the hot and ground wires around, but you may up doing a lot of soldering to get things right.

See if you can buy or borrow a $10 map compass to test the pickups.

 

[WholeLotta]

Actually I ordered some solderless pots from Toneshapers, just so I can do troubleshooting on the fly haha.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

^ until you have to troubleshoot the solderless pots...

Anyway,,,,

Here's a basic circuit for an HSS setup.

It's drawn with a Seymour Duncan humbucker, coil splitting leaving the north (slug) coil active. That would be hum canceling with a standard SD "south up" single coil in the middle. You would put the RWRP "north up" in the bridge (not the middle) to get hum canceling in P4.

The dummy coil comes into play in P3 and P5 only by virtue of connecting its ground wire in those positions only. It's in parallel.

We can modify the diagram once we know the polarities of your single coils and / or to coil split to the screw coil if you like.

 

[WholeLotta]

Awesome! Thank you so much. My parts are coming in next week I think, so in the meanwhile I will study your diagram and see if I can wrap my head around it all. I will update this thread once my parts come in and I can make a bit of progress on the wiring hopefully.

 

[WholeLotta]

Most likely I won't have a Bridge Tone, because I will be using my 2nd Tone knob as the volume control for the dummy coil. I will use the 1st Tone knob as a Master Tone, or maybe just for Middle and Neck singles (I may leave the Bridge without a Tone Knob). Another thing I'm worried about is which pots to use since it is a HSS configuration. I don't mind a slightly darker sounding humbucker, so a 250k pot is probably fine for Master Volume, and then I'll use a 250k pot for the Master Tone, and 250k for the dummy coil control. If you have any thoughts on the matter, feel free to share!

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

If it were me, I would wire in a small 250k "trim pot" for the dummy so you can kind of determine the level, then "set it and forget it". We can figure that out once we know your pickup polarities though.