It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 4:46 pm

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Help with some crazy wiring Diagram.
Posted: Sun Mar 14, 2010 9:01 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:23 pm
Posts: 157
So heres what i want to do. I have a Gretsch 6118. It has 2 pickups (Tv classics) i want to put a third pickup in the middle. There is a Master Volume, Individual Volumes, a 3 way pickup selector and a 3 way tone selector. Any ideas how to wire a 3rd middle pickup in. Im not opposed to adding a 3rd individual volume pot.


-Vince

_________________
-Fender 92' Telecaster unknown
- 2007 Gretsch 6118T
- Ibanez 02' AF85 Artcore hollowbody, modded
- Epiphone Firebird
- Line 6 Variaxe 300
- Squire strat (refinished)
- 2008 Fender Supersonic
- Fender Blues Junior (original)


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Help with some crazy wiring Diagram.
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 7:09 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
vjcor wrote:
So heres what i want to do. I have a Gretsch 6118. It has 2 pickups (Tv classics) i want to put a third pickup in the middle. There is a Master Volume, Individual Volumes, a 3 way pickup selector and a 3 way tone selector. Any ideas how to wire a 3rd middle pickup in. Im not opposed to adding a 3rd individual volume pot.


-Vince


Greetings Vince.

I can give you MANY ways to wire in a third pickup. First off, do you have any ideas as to what you'd like in terms of total pots and switches and what you'd like them to do?

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Mon Mar 15, 2010 8:43 pm
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:23 pm
Posts: 157
Awesome thanks Martian,

Im thinking very similar to a Les Paul Custom. a third pickup volume for the third pickup really is all i think. so, each pickup has its own volume, the pickup selector and tone selector would stay the same and the master volume would still be the master volume. so really would like to just be able to blend in the middle pickup (maybe out of phase? actually wonder your opinion here) The tone switch would affect all 3 pickups too.

Thanks for the interest and help

-Vince

_________________
-Fender 92' Telecaster unknown
- 2007 Gretsch 6118T
- Ibanez 02' AF85 Artcore hollowbody, modded
- Epiphone Firebird
- Line 6 Variaxe 300
- Squire strat (refinished)
- 2008 Fender Supersonic
- Fender Blues Junior (original)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 5:25 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
vjcor wrote:
Awesome thanks Martian,

Im thinking very similar to a Les Paul Custom. a third pickup volume for the third pickup really is all i think. so, each pickup has its own volume, the pickup selector and tone selector would stay the same and the master volume would still be the master volume. so really would like to just be able to blend in the middle pickup (maybe out of phase? actually wonder your opinion here) The tone switch would affect all 3 pickups too.

Thanks for the interest and help

-Vince


I'm happy to be of assistance.

Everything you've stated can be done. However, I'd like to enlighten you about several things:

For what you are considering, routing and drilling are required to accomplish this overall task; the value of your guitar will be forever diminished as any of these modifications are obviously, NOT reversible.

Premising you only want to use that middle pickup for blending, if you use a dedicated pot for it, ideally, you should use a 500K, alpha taper (A), left handed, no-load pot for two reasons: 1. Without a no-load pot, that middle pickup would never truly be out of the circuit and because of this, the other two pickups would be affected tonally and output wise; 2. If a left handed pot is not used, the pot would have to be wired where it works backwards with '10' being '0' and vice-versa. Unfortunately, a 500K (A), left handed, no-load pot has to be custom made. Luckily, yours truly makes them all the time. It should be noted that 'regular', 250K (A), right handed, no-load pots are readily available. However, due to the the halved resistance "K" value of the pot, this too will affect tonality of not only the pickup it is assigned to but whichever one(s) it is teamed with.

Another alternative would be a third, totally 'normal' 500K (A) pot and a third 3 way toggle switch. The pot would simply be a volume control for that pickup exactly like the other two are; this second toggle would allow for ANY combination of the pickups.

Your guitar is currently wired so that lowering the volume of one pickup does not affect the volume of the other unless the master volume is used. I would presume that you'd like this system maintained. Of note is the fact that only Les Pauls from the 50s or some Custom Shop models continue to be wired this way whereas with post '50s models, lowering the volume pot of one pickup affects the other when both or all three (as applicable) are selected.

For phasing capabilities, another alternative would be a a 500K (A) push/pull pot in accordance with the previous paragraph. A mini-switch would also accomplish this too. Either way, if you want phasing capabilities, one of your pickups would have to be disassembled and internally rewired to allow for it.

Regardless of the particular options you choose per the above, unless you REALLY know what you are doing, this job is best left to a GENUINE pro.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 10:19 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Aug 09, 2007 6:23 pm
Posts: 157
ok, so, I understood most of that. I am fully aware that it will diminish the value and that major routing was needed. I am capable of that myself. The electronics are what scare me.

I guess my next question is, I have used some local guitar techs and they are all awful. Any suggestions on who i can send it to? I live in Philadelphia but i am willing to mail it practically anywhere. Mars may be a little far, postage may be more than i can handle... hehe

-Thanks so much for the help martian

-Vince

_________________
-Fender 92' Telecaster unknown
- 2007 Gretsch 6118T
- Ibanez 02' AF85 Artcore hollowbody, modded
- Epiphone Firebird
- Line 6 Variaxe 300
- Squire strat (refinished)
- 2008 Fender Supersonic
- Fender Blues Junior (original)


Top
Profile
Post subject:
Posted: Tue Mar 16, 2010 11:13 am
Offline
Rock Star
Rock Star
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jul 24, 2007 7:33 am
Posts: 8461
Location: Mars, the angry red planet.
vjcor wrote:
ok, so, I understood most of that. I am fully aware that it will diminish the value and that major routing was needed. I am capable of that myself. The electronics are what scare me.

I guess my next question is, I have used some local guitar techs and they are all awful. Any suggestions on who i can send it to? I live in Philadelphia but i am willing to mail it practically anywhere. Mars may be a little far, postage may be more than i can handle... hehe

-Thanks so much for the help martian

-Vince


You're quite welcome and today's your lucky day. I have an outpost directly north of you and not too far (Central NJ); how about that?

If you want, shoot me an e-mail, the address is:

haneng@ix.netcom.com

and we'll discuss particulars.

_________________
You dig?


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 6 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: