Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics?

[krm27]

I have a new 5-way switch for my fat-strat clone, and I wanted to dive into my first wiring project. Step 1 was to get a good wiring diagram, or create one, to fit my particular situation. However, I've been stuck at step 1 for hours now, searching the internet. I cannot find a diagram that precisely fits my situation, and I also was searching for some good "primer" stuff on the logic underlying how to wire up switches so I could try to figure it out on my own, with no luck. Everything I find either does not get into enough detail or does not have enough basic explanation.

My situation:

I have a fat-strat clone, HSS pups, with one volume and one tone, and a coil split push-pull on the tone knob. I found a wiring diagram for this on the Seymor Duncan wiring page. However, I don't have that kind of switch, I have a 2-pole Oak Grigsby switch. So I sort of need to understand the "why" of how the SD wiring page is working, in order to translate it to the Oak Grigsby swtich. I cannot for the life of me find a simple online article or youtube video saying "here's we explain the wiring for an HSS with a coil split push-pull onto a 5-way switch." I find all sorts of articles by people wanting to tell me how to wire for automatic coil split, which is not what i need, or other explanations that just don't fit.

I know there are tons of people out there learning to do their own guitar wiring, so I guess I'm just somehow missing the "right" place to go to find tutorials or whatever on this.

Ken

 

[AlexR]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

what is the 2 pole doing....is it switching between the coil split and full??

A lot of the wiring diagrams are with common or standard switches in mind. But there are 2 ways to do wiring......simply soldering on wires where the diagram says, or actually knowing how each component works.

The latter can be done a lot of times just simply looking at things like switches, jacks and pots. But you also might need to have a multimeter so you can see which parts have connection at what switch positions.

There is also the valuable internet, where you can search for the switch you have, and get the right info directly from the manufacturer about how their parts are hooked up internally.

 

[Koreth]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

First thing to figure out is what pickups you want doing what at which switch positions. That will affect how the wiring is to be done. Next you will need to get referene info on the switch(es) you're using, specifically, what points on the switch connect to what other points when the switch is in each of it's possible positions. Diagrams on this are fairly easy to find on the Internet. With this info, you should be able to translate the Seymour Duncan schematic to the parts you have.

Now as for a primer for switching logic, I think what might help myself and other members explain things, is for you to tell us what you know what you think you understand currently, and what you don't know and what doesn't make sense. This will give us a better idea where to start. Having us talking beneath your understanding is likely going to be boring and unhelpful, but talking way over your head is going to be confusing, and just as unhelpful.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

How is your Oak-Grigsby switch different than the one in the Duncan diagram?

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

You say that auto coil tap is not what you need. Are you wanting to be able to split the bucker on it's own? Maybe it would help if you specifically stated what you wanted/needed to accomplish. Then the wiring gurus can tell you how to get there.

 

[Koreth]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

How is your Oak-Grigsby switch different than the one in the Duncan diagram?

I assume he's referring to this diagram. If the diagrams I'm finding of the switch he's referring are correct, both are double-pole switches. The differences are which lugs connect to common at which switch positions, and the physical arrangement of the lugs themselves.

You say that auto coil tap is not what you need. Are you wanting to be able to split the bucker on it's own? Maybe it would help if you specifically stated what you wanted/needed to accomplish. Then the wiring gurus can tell you how to get there.

He stated in his post that he'd have a push-pull for splitting. Sounds to me like he wants to be able to split the hb independent of which pickup is selected at the moment.

 

[Darg1911]

Re: Where is starting point for beginner to understand logic behind wiring schematics

That's what it sounded like to me as well, Koreth. But since the OP doesn't know jack about wiring, it just seemed like specifically stating what he wanted would avoid any confusion. At any rate, if that is the goal, it's easy enough to wire.