Wiring check: auto-splitting with STK-S1/2 Classic & Hot Stacks

amdkj

New member
I've got a TB-14 Custom 5 trembucker with a middle STK-S1N Classic Stack (not the S4 Classic Stuck Plus) and neck STK-S2N Hot Stack. I like the individual positions and the middle + neck, but I've never been happy with bridge + middle.

I recently made the bridge auto-split in position 2, as per the standard HSS 5-way auto-split diagram. The tone in 2 is now much better, but it's not humcancelling and the middle pickup dominates the balance a little too much. The middle Classic Stack has 4-con wire, so I assume I can auto-split that, too, both to make position 2 humcancelling and balance output with the split bridge better.

I can't find a diagram to split both bridge + middle, but not neck, though. SD's diagrams page doesn't seem to think anyone would ever split two pickups but not the third. Could I modify the order of a normal HSH diagram, treating it like HHS instead, to create this effect?

Excuse the crude drawing, but I think this is how I'd need to change the order of HSH auto-split wiring to split the middle in position 2 instead of the neck in position 4.

If I'm right, the ground (B2) is being connected in positions 2, 3 and 4.
In position 2 both the bridge and middle series links (B0 & B1) are connected to it, so they split and humcancel together.
In position 3 and 4 the bridge series link is still connected to ground, but that pickup isn't on in those positions anyway so it doesn't matter.
Middle series link only connects to ground in position 2 so it stays humcancelling in 3 and 4.
Neck isn't involved so it's always humcancelling.
Controls are master volume and tone so there's no need to include the tone in the switch.

Is this right?

Also, does anyone know if the top coil of the Classic Stack will be humcancelling with either coil of the bridge anyway? The bridge currently splits to the slug coil, but I'm happy to split to screw if it means position 2 will be humcancelling. I understand the bottom coil of the Classic/Hot Stack is uselessly weak, so those have to be split to the top coil. I know how to flip the bridge humbucker magnet if that helps, too.

AFAIK the Classic Stack and Hot Stack have the same coils, so if anyone knows that it works for one then it should work for the other.

This guitar is cursed with locking tuners and ​a floating bridge, so there's no spare string to slack off in order to get under the pickguard easily, and once the strings are out I can never get them back in the locks; every time I open the guitar up it requires a full restring. So I want to get this right with as little trial-and-error as possible.

Cheers and TIA.
 

Attachments

  • 5switch_sm.png
    5switch_sm.png
    154.9 KB · Views: 0
  • 5switch_sm.png
    5switch_sm.png
    154.9 KB · Views: 0
I wish there was information about the coil direction and polarity for the older STK-S1 bridge! I need South up and top coil per the diagram here. There is maddeningly no info on this.

image.png zz0.t39rorjjotzz
 
I would suspect they are south up, top going, per Fender 1950's spec, which all Duncan singles are (except Antiquity Texas Hots). The stacks are based on equivalent Duncan singles, and split they should be true single coils that would work with other Duncans, so I would assume the main coil of a stack is south up, top going.

The best way to be sure is call the shop and confirm before you order.
 
Back
Top