Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

bonedish

bonedish

New member
Mistake in title: should be 3-way switch 2 volume 1 tone!

So after playing multiple HH and SS guitars, I find that I don't really use positions 2 & 4 on my HSS Strat. I'm not too worried about this, since I have a SSS Strat that I plan to keep with a 5 way switch.

My question is: are the posts/terminals on a standard 3-way switch the same as a 5-way switch (NOT a superswitch)?

Would the diagram of the Any Timmons wiring be the one I'd use (minus the connection for the middle pickup)?

Also, where's the best place to purchase the pots and 3-way switch online? I want to make sure I get the best product possible while giving my business to a good company (not sure if this really matters).

Thanks for y'alls help!!!


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Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

bonedish said:
My question is: are the posts/terminals on a standard 3-way switch the same as a 5-way switch (NOT a superswitch)?]
Click to expand...

Totally different.

bonedish said:
Would the diagram of the Any Timmons wiring be the one I'd use (minus the connection for the middle pickup)?]
Click to expand...

No. If you use the switch in the diagram, you will still have 5 positions, but pos #1 an 2 will be the same (bridge pup), #3 will be nothing, #4 and 5 will be the same (neck pup).

The "standard" 3 way switch won't work in that diagram. If you want separate vol for each pup and master tone, use this diagram and substitute the single coil for one of the hummers in the diag...

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_2v_1t_3w

bonedish said:
Also, where's the best place to purchase the pots and 3-way switch online? I want to make sure I get the best product possible while giving my business to a good company (not sure if this really matters).

Thanks for y'alls help!!!]
Click to expand...


CTS makes great pots, etc. There are many places to buy them, I get mine here...

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Potentiometers/CTS_Control_Pots.html
 
Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

That is quite interesting diagram: If you use 500k pots (for vol) the bridge pickups "sees" 500k and the singlecoils "see" 250k.

Tell us what switching you exactly want? What are the switch positions on the 3-way? Do you want separate vols and master tone? Anything else specific? Maybe we'll be able to help you better.
 
Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

Zhaggy said:
That is quite interesting diagram: If you use 500k pots (for vol) the bridge pickups "sees" 500k and the singlecoils "see" 250k.

Tell us what switching you exactly want? What are the switch positions on the 3-way? Do you want separate vols and master tone? Anything else specific? Maybe we'll be able to help you better.
Click to expand...

Thanks to GuitarDoc!

Zhaggy - positions I want are bridge - bridge/neck - neck (kinda like a Tele with no coil splits). Basically, I want to get rid of positions 2 & 4 and have separate volumes for the neck and the bridge. I basically want to be able to turn down one volume and flip the switch to get my "cleans" from my amp. Other than that, I don't think there's anything more specific....

For complete details, I'll be using all 500k pots, a Custom in the bridge and a DMZ Fast Track 1 in the neck position.

I currently have my Strat wired like the Andy Timmons schematic I posted above. I'm not too crazy about the "master volume" and neck/middle volume", as it gets way too muddy on the neck/middle positions if I turn the neck/middle volume down and try and switch to the neck or middle for cleans (kind of like a Les Paul). But maybe this is because of what you've posted - how would the neck/middle be seeing 250k if I'm using all 500k pots?

Thanks to you both for your enlightenment!!! :friday:
 
Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

bonedish said:
Zhaggy - positions I want are bridge - bridge/neck - neck (kinda like a Tele with no coil splits). Basically, I want to get rid of positions 2 & 4 and have separate volumes for the neck and the bridge.

But maybe this is because of what you've posted - how would the neck/middle be seeing 250k if I'm using all 500k pots?

Thanks to you both for your enlightenment!!! :friday:
Click to expand...

Well if you're using a LP switch it's the diagram tha GuitarDoc got you and if you're using a 3-way tele/strat switch or something else it's this diagram. Basically they are the same same diagrams.
www.dimarzio.com/sites/default/files/diagrams/2h2v1t_3w_all.pdf

In the Andy Timmons diagram the master vol is always on the circuit and when you switch to the neck and/or middle the second pot comes into the circuit and the master vol being still in the circuit they are in parallel making it a "virtual" 250k.
 
Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

Oh and be sure to check which colour wire goes where because you're using SD and DMZ pickups together.
 
Re: Wiring help - converting to HS Strat - 3 way 2 volume, 2 tone

Zhaggy said:
Well if you're using a LP switch it's the diagram tha GuitarDoc got you and if you're using a 3-way tele/strat switch or something else it's this diagram. Basically they are the same same diagrams.
www.dimarzio.com/sites/default/files/diagrams/2h2v1t_3w_all.pdf

In the Andy Timmons diagram the master vol is always on the circuit and when you switch to the neck and/or middle the second pot comes into the circuit and the master vol being still in the circuit they are in parallel making it a "virtual" 250k.
Click to expand...

Good info to know - this makes perfect sense as to what I'm hearing.

Zhaggy said:
Oh and be sure to check which colour wire goes where because you're using SD and DMZ pickups together.
Click to expand...

I believe the red for the DMZs and the black wire for the SDs, right?
 
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