Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

[RMorgan]

Hi everyone,

This is Rafael, from Brazil. This is my first post here, but I hope to be able to contribute more in the near future.

Well, I'm planning to build a very minimalist Strat with the following configuration:

-Single Coil (SSL-1, Neck)
-Humbucker (59, four conductors, Bridge)
-01 Volume Pot
-01 Gibson style three way switch.

I've never really used the tone controls and the middle pickup, so I decided to get them out my way altogether.

My switch is exactly like this one

The thing is, the usual thing to do is to configure the switch wiring for a Humbucker (right), Humbucker/Single Coil (middle) and Single Coil (left). I was wondering if it's possible to configure this switch so that the middle position would activate only one coil of the humbucker, instead of summing the bridge and neck pickups.

So it would be something like Humbucker (right), Split Humbucker (middle) and Single Coil (left).

Is it even possible? If it is, could you teach me how to do it? If not, what else do I need to get it done?

Thanks in advance,

Raf.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

No, it's not possible with that Gretsch type switch. You would have to add a p/p vol pot to split the bucker.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

No, it's not possible with that Gretsch type switch. You would have to add a p/p vol pot to split the bucker.

Ok. Thanks for the reply, brother.

Do you know where I could find the proper schematics for this configuration (with a push/pull pot)?

I'm a total newbie regarding electronics, so maybe you or someone else could point me to a link with easy to follow instructions and/or illustrations.

Thanks again. I really appreciate the help.

Raf.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

I wonder if it would be possible using a Gretsch Tone switch, which is on-on-on and wire it to the ground side of the circuit. Tab 1 connects HB green to ground, tab 2 connects HB red+white to ground, tab 3 connects the other pickup negative to ground. Positives of the pickups would go to positive on the volume. Each pickup wouldn't 'turn on' until the ground side was completed through the switch.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

I wonder if it would be possible using a Gretsch Tone switch, which is on-on-on and wire it to the ground side of the circuit. Tab 1 connects HB green to ground, tab 2 connects HB red+white to ground, tab 3 connects the other pickup negative to ground. Positives of the pickups would go to positive on the volume. Each pickup wouldn't 'turn on' until the ground side was completed through the switch.

That's an interesting though, man.

What exactly would be the advantages of that?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

That's an interesting though, man.

What exactly would be the advantages of that?

The advantage would be you could use a 3-way switch the same size as any Gibson/Gretsch-style 3-way (wouldn't need a blade super switch or a second push-pull pot or separate toggle switch just for the coil splitting.)

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

Or instead of the stock 3-way, just use a DPDT on-on-on switch.

Number the lugs like this:
1 4
2 5
3 6

Attach the bridge pup hot/black wire to lug #4
Bridge red and white to lug #2
Ground wire (from back of vol pot) to lug #3
Hot wire from neck pup to lug #6
And lug #5 to vol pot input lug.

Then when switch is down you get full humbucker (coils in series). When switch is in the middle you get split bridge pup. When switch is up you get neck pup.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

Or instead of the stock 3-way, just use a DPDT on-on-on switch.

Number the lugs like this:
1 4
2 5
3 6

Attach the bridge pup hot/black wire to lug #4
Bridge red and white to lug #2
Ground wire (from back of vol pot) to lug #3
Hot wire from neck pup to lug #6
And lug #5 to vol pot input lug.

Then when switch is down you get full humbucker (coils in series). When switch is in the middle you get split bridge pup. When switch is up you get neck pup.

This is exactly what I want, man!

I'll see if I can buy one of these around here.

Thanks a lot!

Raf.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

Hi again guys,

I hope everyone is ok.

Well, so I got my self a push/pull pot.

Could anyone explain to me how should I proceed from here. I mean, aside from the usual three lugs, the push pull pot's got six more. So, what wires go where?

Thank you again for your time,

Raf.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

A typical push/pull pot is only an on-on, not an on-on-on, so you won't be able to get the options you wanted or what I explained in my previous post.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

A typical push/pull pot is only an on-on, not an on-on-on, so you won't be able to get the options you wanted or what I explained in my previous post.

Thanks man,

Yeah, I've been considering installing a on/on/on switch for the humbucker, as an independent control, so I can play it in series, parallel and split coil...Then I would connect it to the normal three-way switch. Is it worth it? I mean, I would add another switch just for the sake of the parallel sound. Could you please illustrate such kind of wiring, just like you did in post #7?

Or maybe I could simply replace the three-way switch with the on/on/on and forget about the parallel thing, having just the series, split coil and single coil options. What do you think?

Thanks again. You've been really helpful.

Raf.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

I generally like the parallel humbucker sound much more than the split sound. So, if it were me, I would use the p/p pot to control series/parallel of the bridge bucker, and the Gibson type 3-way to switch between pups. You get some very usable nice sounding tones, quite a bit of variety, and simplicity/ease of use.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

I generally like the parallel humbucker sound much more than the split sound. So, if it were me, I would use the p/p pot to control series/parallel of the bridge bucker, and the Gibson type 3-way to switch between pups. You get some very usable nice sounding tones, quite a bit of variety, and simplicity/ease of use.

Thank you again, brother.

So, how am I supposed to wire the push/pull pot to achieve that?

I know it's probably very simple, but I'm a total newbie regarding electronics.

Cheers,

Raf.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_1v_1t_sp

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_1v_1t_sp

Alright man. Thanks.

Just another thing. If I were just to replace the regular three-way switch for the on/on/on switch, looking forward to achieve series humbucker/parallel humbucker and neck single coil, how would the wiring differ from the one you've posted on post #7?

This way I wouldn't have to drill any more holes in my pickguard and I would avoid the annoyances of the push/pull pot. The only disadvantages would be that I wouldn't have access to the split coil configuration, but I think I'm going to follow your advice, stick to series/parallel and keep things simple.

Sorry for asking you these many questions, but these things can be quite confusing.

My best regards,

Raf.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

Hi everyone,

Basically, I want to know if it's possible to achieve the following configuration by replacing the regular three-way-switch with the on/on/on switch:

Position 1: Brigde's humbucker series.
Position 2: Bridge's humbucker parallel.
Position 3: Neck's single coil.

If it's possible, could anyone show me how to wire it?

Thank you very much.

Regards,

Raf.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

No, you could get series/split/parallel, but you wouldn't be able to introduce another pup.

 

[RMorgan]

Re: Wiring help for a H/S/Volume/3 Way Switch Strat

No, you could get series/split/parallel, but you wouldn't be able to introduce another pup.

Thanks, brother.

So, that scheme you've kindly illustrated on post #7 wouldn't work?

Man, this stuff can be confusing.mg: