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Post subject: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 10:59 am
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There has been a lot of talk about wiring and which pots to use for HSS guitars, but nothing specifically on what I am looking for, at least not that I have found.

Basically, I swapped the Atomic Humbucker for a Duncan Alnico II Pro. The pup now sounds muffled, as if the tone was turned way down, as opposed to how wonderful it sounded in my MIM HSS w 500k pots.

I believe this is due to the 250k pots the American Special uses all around.

What pot values should I be using to maximize the humbucker tone? In my MIM, I sometimes had to turn down the tone on both the singles and the hubucker to tame the high end, which I would be fine with, but wondering if there are any alternatives.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Wed Feb 20, 2013 11:45 am
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Typically humbuckers get 500k pots and a .022 cap.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Thu Feb 21, 2013 4:23 pm
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Something else sounds wrong a pot and a cap are not gonna change what your talking about.
Can you post the wiring picture?

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:08 am
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Not that it would matter that much but I believe the Atomic is a way hotter pickup than the Alnico II pro. Like chalk and cheese.

Additionally I don't think changing pots will make an effect, it could just be the wiring.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 4:40 am
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Remember that Fender and SD pickup wiring colour codes are not the same. If you replace the pickup and wire it up with the same colour wiring then it won't work!

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wi ... olor_codes

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Sat Feb 23, 2013 10:35 am
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Bingo Frank I bet this is the case.
I have moved three different pickups into my highway one, Fender SD and Dimarzio.
They all sounded right with the 250k and grease bucket
Actually the 250k sounds better sometimes, the 500k allows the pickup to over saturate and go microphonic at high volume.
I left the 250k in 2 of my 3 strats and the 300k in my Les Paul Custom
500k sounds better in the living room mostly I think.
More saturation at low volume.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Thu Mar 07, 2013 10:40 am
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Thanks. It sounded fine with the 250k when I played at band volumes... But now, my next question...

I know that the SD and Fender pickup wiring are reversed, so now in the bridge (full humbucker) and middle position on the 5-way, the two pickups are out of phase. I actually really like this tone and think it adds an interested sound to the guitar's arsenal...

So...

Is it possible to wire in a push/pull pot so the pickups would be arranged as follows on the 5-way

Position 1: bridge full
Position 1 Push/Pull Engaged:bridge split
Position 2: Bridge full and middle out of phase
Position 2 Push/Pull Engages: Bridge Split and Middle in phase

???


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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 4:29 am
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Dimarzio and Seymour Duncan both have diagrams on push pull switching.
I never was a fan so I dont have any thoughts off top my head.
Im sure you can find something close on those sites though.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 6:13 am
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It's strongly recommended to use a 5-way 4-megapole super switch which allows those wiring options.

The S1 switch is a nice solution but not the best IMHO. I advise you to use Deaf Eddie's Fat-O-Caster system as suggested by 93greenstrat instead.


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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:04 am
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Right on hook him up chromeface. I only use 70s and modern standard wiring myself dont like splitng a humbucker. by the way I got that Fender Hot Rod in and going in the Highway one. Its awesome. stratyest humbucker I ever heard really lovin it for the whole vintage modified vibe.

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 7:41 am
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chrisliua wrote:
Is it possible to wire in a push/pull pot so the pickups would be arranged as follows on the 5-way

Position 1: bridge full
Position 1 Push/Pull Engaged:bridge split
Position 2: Bridge full and middle out of phase
Position 2 Push/Pull Engages: Bridge Split and Middle in phase

???


Short answer, no.

Long answer, probably not. A coil tap only needs a single pole switch but the phase reverse requires a double pole switch. Most push-pull switches only have two poles so you can't engage coil tap and phase switching in one switch. Plus the added complication of requiring the 5-way switch to do phase/tap selection makes it a nightmare to design the wiring. You'd be better off with separate switches for phase and coil tap. Although with a 5-way 4-pole switch you just might be able to switch in an additional 2-way 4-pole switch for the tap/phase. Just don't ask me to draw it all out for you!

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Post subject: Re: American Special HSS w SD Alnico II Pro Wiring
Posted: Fri Mar 08, 2013 10:29 am
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Thanks all. I have 2 push/pull pots lying around so I'm thinking about using one to split the bucker and the other as a phase switch on the middle pickup, this way I can have the following options...

Position 1: Bridge, full
Position 1 Push/Pull 1 Engaged: Bridge, split
Position 2: Bridge, full and middle; in-phase
Position 2 Push/Pull 1 Engaged: Bridge Split and Middle, in-phase
Position 2: Push/Pull 2 Engaged: Bridge full and Middle, out-of-phase
Position 2: Both Push/Pull 1 and Push/Pull 2 engage: Bridge Split and Middle out-og-phase
Position 3: Middle
Position 4: Middle and Neck, in phase
Position 4 Push/Pull 2 engaged: Middle and Neck out-of-phase
Position 5: Neck


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