Wiring a Les Paul With Push-Pulls (Internal Series/parallel + coil selector?)

[youwotm8]

Hey, first post

So I'm trying to figure out how to set up my LP which has Lollar DBs in both positions

My idea was to have the neck and volume controls be series/parallel WITHIN each pickup.

I'm curious whether it's possible to combine this by having either tone knob be a coil selector switch, to select only the inner coils of each pickup, for example. Or potentially neck pickup for only inner coils, and bridge pickup for the outer coils?

So to clarify:
Bridge Volume: Internal Series Parallel
Neck Volume: Internal Series Parallel
Bridge Tone: Inner coils of BOTH humbuckers
Neck Tone: Outer coils of BOTH humbuckers

I prefer having everything as push/pulls, but an option might maybe to replace one of the tone knobs with an on/off/on switch


Might be complicated, but like the idea, so would be grateful for any help

 

[piblock]

There's a lot of good info here which should help you accomplish exactly what you want.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/emulat...itches.279861/

For that level of granular control, I would consider the Duncan Triple shot rings. Especially if you're mostly recording or playing at home.


​​​The Freeway switch would limit you to six settings, but you could go from any coil / series / parallel / phase setting to any other quickly which would make things much easier playing out.

https://www.freewayswitch.com/

 

[youwotm8]

There's a lot of good info here which should help you accomplish exactly what you want.

https://www.tdpri.com/threads/emulat...itches.279861/

For that level of granular control, I would consider the Duncan Triple shot rings. Especially if you're mostly recording or playing at home.


​​​The Freeway switch would limit you to six settings, but you could go from any coil / series / parallel / phase setting to any other quickly which would make things much easier playing out.

https://www.freewayswitch.com/

Ah cool, appreciate it. The triple shot or the freeway are kind of last-option solutions for me, trying to save some money

This looks really promising. Just to be sure, does "parallel" put the coils within the humbucker in parallel, or both humbuckers?

 

[youwotm8]

Actually, on second thought, I think this system might be overly complicated.

Is it possible to have one knob, eg. Neck tone, switch on inner coils for each pickup, and bridge volume, the outer coils? Sort of as having two master coil tap knobs. Then have the two volume knobs be parallel/series?

 

[piblock]

Glad to help!

It puts the coils of each humbucker in parallel with themselves. It doesn't affect the relationship between the individual humbuckers.

To put the two pickups in series with each other would require another switch. And at some point adding more options could make your head spin trying to keep track of it all.

 

[piblock]

Is it possible to have one knob, eg. Neck tone, switch on inner coils for each pickup, and bridge volume, the outer coils? Sort of as having two master coil tap knobs. Then have the two volume knobs be parallel/series?

I'm not sure how you would wire it, but it sounds possible. That sounds just as complex though as far as operating it.

 

[Artie]

Here's the answer to your first request. Let me chew on the second.

 

[youwotm8]

Here's the answer to your first request. Let me chew on the second.

Oh wow, you're amazing <3

 

[Artie]

Thank you. Note that there's actually three black wires going to the neck & bridge volumes. The pup black wire, out to the 3-way, and the jumpers to the bridge tone push-pull.

P.S. It seems to me that your 1st and 2nd ideas are the same. I'll reread it, but I'm not catching the difference.

 

[youwotm8]

Thank you. Note that there's actually three black wires going to the neck & bridge volumes. The pup black wire, out to the 3-way, and the jumpers to the bridge tone push-pull.

P.S. It seems to me that your 1st and 2nd ideas are the same. I'll reread it, but I'm not catching the difference.

Cool, thanks! Yea you're right, they're the same idea. I don't know why I phrased it as if it's new

Btw, will the 3-way work normally? Middle-Position = two buckers in series?

 

[Artie]

Btw, will the 3-way work normally? Middle-Position = two buckers in series?

Well, the middle would be "normal" both pups in parallel relative to each other. The individual pups will be series/parallel based on the position of your push-pulls.

LP style 3-ways don't lend themselves to series wiring without extensive mods.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Normal LP style 3-way toggles work bridge, bridge plus neck in parallel, neck.. And thats the pickups, not individual coils within the pickups.

As others have said, the switches don't lend themselves to series switching unless extensive use is made of push-pulls or other complex wiring.

 

[Mincer]

I'm curious whether it's possible to combine this by having either tone knob be a coil selector switch, to select only the inner coils of each pickup, for example. Or potentially neck pickup for only inner coils, and bridge pickup for the outer coils?

If this is possible (I am eager to see the replies) you will have to flip a magnet on one of the pickups if you want it to remain hum-cancelling when using inner or outer coils.

 

[Artie]

If this is possible . . .

Unfortunately, it isn't with push-pulls. You need a DPDT on-off-on to do inner/outer on one pup, with one switch. Oddly, you can do inners or outers with two pups with two push-pulls. (As I've shown.) I know that seems counter intuitive, but it just is.

 

[Mincer]

Unfortunately, it isn't with push-pulls. You need a DPDT on-off-on to do inner/outer on one pup, with one switch. Oddly, you can do inners or outers with two pups with two push-pulls. (As I've shown.) I know that seems counter intuitive, but it just is.

This is why you inspire me,

 

[youwotm8]

If this is possible (I am eager to see the replies) you will have to flip a magnet on one of the pickups if you want it to remain hum-cancelling when using inner or outer coils.

Do you mean I lose hum-cancelling in Artietoo's setup above, or do you mean only if I have a coil-selector within each humbucker?

 

[Mincer]

If you are able (with whatever switch) to select inner or outer coils, you need to flip a magnet to retain hum-cancelling. You wouldn't if the switch selected just bridge-side coils, and/or neck-side coils. Those would be hum-cancelling. But without a flipped magnet, inner or outer coils are not.

 

[Artie]

Tomorrow, I'll redraw that to show neck-side/bridge-side, and then flipped magnet wiring, so that you have a choice of two different hum-cancelling modes.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Wouldn't have imagined that was doable.

ArtieToo, you're a wizard. Thanks again for all you've shared over the years!

 

[youwotm8]

Tomorrow, I'll redraw that to show neck-side/bridge-side, and then flipped magnet wiring, so that you have a choice of two different hum-cancelling modes.

Amazing, thank you!