Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

[Tone Meister]

Pickups will be B&B L500XL (bridge) - B&B L280SM (middle), and B&B L500XL (neck). I already have the two L500XLs and will need to order the middle pickup. Q: Will I need to order a RWRP middle pickup to retain hum canceling in positions 2 and 4 with the configuration above?

Also, I need help with this wiring diagram if someone is willing to draw it up. Please specify the exact switch I'll need to use and specify N/S orientation. I'm willing to change pot values, if recommended, and have any value I need on hand. Thanks in advance!


Color Code for Wilde and Keystone Pickups

Single Coil Size for Strat
Neck -- White Wire Hot/Black Wire Ground
Middle -- Green Wire Hot/Black Wire Ground
Bridge -- Red Wire Hot/Black Wire Ground

All Pickups with White/Black/Blue Wires
White Wire -- Hot
Black/ Blue Wires -- Ground

All Pickups with White/Black/Red/Green/Blue Wires
White Wire -- Hot
Black/Blue Wires -- Ground
Red/Green Wires -- Twist together, insulate with shrink wrap or electrical tape for humbucking OR solder to either a push/pull or on/off switch for split coil.



This image came from the appropriate Bill Lawrence website and I have annotated the drawing with UNVERIFIED color codes gleaned from this website:

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

I did run across this diagram drawn by fellow member @BriGuy1968 last year for member @amuri. Did this turn out to be a valid workable diagram? If so, only the correct color codes would need to be sorted out.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

As far as I know, yes… It did fine for him.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Wow, that's a great diagram!

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

As far as I know, yes… It did fine for him.

That's good to know since I can use the stock switch. Just need to verify the L500XL wire colors and translate them to that drawing. Cannot get any tech info from Wilde Pickups (Bill and Becky), so I still don't know if I need a RWRP middle pickup, or not. I know with DImarzio and other hum-canceling pickups that RWRP doesn't anply. Is that the case here?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

RWRP is only a consideration when pairing single coils in order to eliminate 60 cycle hum when they’re used together. Since your other two pickups are humbuckers it really doesn’t apply.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

RWRP is only a consideration when pairing single coils in order to eliminate 60 cycle hum when they’re used together. Since your other two pickups are humbuckers it really doesn’t apply.

OK Brian, I modded your diagram using the wire color codes gleaned from elsewhere. How does this look to you?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Sorry it took me so long to respond, Tone Meister, was a busy afternoon and evening yesterday!

Anyway, it looks to me like it should work fine. I’m not familiar with the Bill Lawrence wire colors, so I’m taking your word for it, but assuming they’re correct you should have a good diagram there. [emoji1303]

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

OK, the only thing I'm not sure about is how to shut off the inner (S) coil for the humbucker?

I know that if I connect the green/red coil-split connection to ground it will split to the neck outer (S) coil. So, then do I need to connect the green/red coil-split connection to the output positive to split to the bridge outer (N) coil?

Like this?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

One of the limitations to that diagram, I remember from when I was making it, is that you can only split to the south coils. That’s a limitation of using a standard five way switch. I could come up with a diagram that would allow you to split to the north (outer) coil in the bridge, but you would have to get a super switch in order to make it happen.

Alternatively, you could just flip your bridge pickup around. If it has a logo or if it’s zebra-striped it will look upside down, but if not you won’t be able to tell the difference unless you’re looking closely. The nice thing about this diagram is that if your center pickup is NOT RWRP then your second and fourth positions will be hum-canceling.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

OK, so if I use your original diagram, altered with my color codes, then it'll work the way I had it by flipping one pickup?

Too cool, because guess what? I have a zebra set and both are oriented the same. I'll flip the bridge and that will do it?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Yup... you’ll be golden!

I dig having the zebras going in opposite directions too... it’s just the right thing to do!

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

One of the limitations to that diagram, I remember from when I was making it, is that you can only split to the south coils. That’s a limitation of using a standard five way switch. I could come up with a diagram that would allow you to split to the north (outer) coil in the bridge, but you would have to get a super switch in order to make it happen.

I have a super switch on hand, and my middle pickup is his "noise free" design. I believe you mentioned that RWRP wouldn't be an issue with a middle pickup like that? For future consideration, I'd also like to have a drawing that splits to the outer coils in case I decide to build another Frankencaster with HSH a configuration.

Actually, I'm willing to solve this issue either way. I realized today I was gonna have to send one pickup back to have it oriented correctly. I just want this configuration and have hum-canceling in all positions.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

One thing I noticed, you have the switch's hot output tied to the coil split side of the switch. On these 500XLs that will shut off the north coils. In that case, that lug should be connected to ground in order to shut off the south coils instead, right?

 

[BriGuy1968]

Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Well, it kinda depends on which coil is north and which one is south. For Seymour Duncan pickups the “hot” wire (black) is the beginning of the north coil and the beginning of the south coil (green) is connected to ground. When you connect the coil ends (white and red) together for series operation you can then use that as your “split wire.” If it’s connected to hot, the signal takes the shortest path to ground and bypasses the north coil, running just the south coil. If you connect the split wire to ground then the south coil is bypassed, leaving only the north coil.

I’m really not familiar with the Bill Lawrence pickups, so I’ll just say that if they’re like the Seymour Duncan pickups, where the hot is the beginning of the NORTH coil, then this will be true. If they are the opposite, where the hot is the beginning of the SOUTH coil, then connecting the split wire to hot would run only the north coil and connecting it to ground would run only the south coil.

You do bring up an interesting alternative, though. If you were to connect ground to the lug on the right side of the switch instead of hot, then the pickups would split to the opposite coils from what the diagram shows or to the coils you want if the pickups are wired backward from the SDs.

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Exactly. The codes for the BL are as follows.

SS = white = positive of S coil and HOT
SF = green = ground of S coil
NS = red = positive of N coil
NF = black = ground of N coil and NEGATIVE
Common = blue

Here is what I was thinking. I just made this, so its accuracy isn't verified. (Still learning)



Based on this:

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Okay... I woke up this morning before the alarm and had a little time, so here are the easiest answers for ya.

Choose your Zebra... which color you want on the outside decides which pickup gets flipped and which wiring to use:

Either one should get you where you need to go. Let me know if you have any questions. [emoji6]

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Yours looks better than mine! I did this late last night ....

 

[Tone Meister]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

Thanks Brian. I will be able to use all three of your drawings at one point or another.

 

[BriGuy1968]

Re: Wiring diagram needed for HSH configuration

You’re quite welcome.