Understanding the middle pickup

[Gtrjunior]

I’ve decided to go ahead and order a set of pickups from my favorite supplier.
It’s going in an HSH Ibanez.
I already know what I want for the 2 humbuckers.

But I’ve got questions regarding the middle pickup.

If I go with a true single coil am I correct in my assumption that all positions except position 3 will be hum cancelling?
....this will be wired as standard Ibanez wiring with a 5 way switch.

If I decide to go with a stacked single or a rail type pickup is it safe to assume that positions 1/3/5 will be hum cancelling while positions 2/4 will not be hum cancelling?

And will i need a rwrp middle? How do I know?
Is there any additional info I should know before placing my order?

Thanks!

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Understanding the middle pickup

If I go with a true single coil am I correct in my assumption that all positions except position 3 will be hum cancelling?

This depends on the way the coils of the humbuckers are wound and which coil you choose to combine with the single coil. But it should be possible to wire so that all positions except 3 will be hum cancelling. Do you have a wiring diagram that you're following for this?

If I decide to go with a stacked single or a rail type pickup is it safe to assume that positions 1/3/5 will be hum cancelling while positions 2/4 will not be hum cancelling?

Again, this depends how you wire it. 1/3/5 should be hum cancelling as you're just using the individual hum cancelling pickup for them. It will probably be possible to combine one coil from the rail pickup and one coil from the humbucker to make positions 2 and 4 hum cancelling as well . . . or you could just wire both humbucker coils in parallel with both rail coils to make them hum cancelling.

And will i need a rwrp middle? How do I know?

It depends on the pickups you've currently got and the coils you want wired. In a humbucker, one coil is wound one direction and one coil is wound the other direction . . . but this changes from manufacturer to manufacturer. You have to figure out the coil winding direction on the humbucker and the pick the opposite for the single coil. (Also note, RWRP for single coils is different depending on who makes the pickups . . . my understanding is that Seymour Duncan single coil RWRP pickups are the same wind direction as single coil Fender regular pickups.)

 

[Gtrjunior]

Re: Understanding the middle pickup

I don’t have a particular diagram but I was going to go with the factory Ibanez scheme.

The pickups I’m planning on buying are Fokin pickups...I don’t have any way of knowing what direction he winds.
I suppose an email telling him what I’m looking to do would be the best way. I’m sure he could suggest options and would know how to wind the pups to achieve what I’m looking to do.

 

[Blille]

Re: Understanding the middle pickup

Just ask for the direction or explain what you want. I got an SSL-1 between a jazz/JB set and I got what you’re after. It’s nice.

 

[Gtrjunior]

Understanding the middle pickup

Just ask for the direction or explain what you want. I got an SSL-1 between a jazz/JB set and I got what you’re after. It’s nice.

I sent out an email a little while ago. I should expect to hear back tomorrow sometime with the time difference and all.
I’ll update when I know a little more.