A 3 way switch that does parallel/series/bypass

[Tommorichards]

Im thinking of doing this, however, i know i can do it using 2 switches, but is there a certain way of wiring this with only 1 switch. It also needs to be the same kind of switch as a dpdt.

Im planning on adding it to a VVT jazz bass.

[rumblethump]

You should be able to do it with one on/on/on dpdt switch. I wired my P bass series/off/parallel. I think I got a diagram from Kent Armstrong pickup site.

[line6man]

Just wire a DPDT On-Off-On switch for standard series/parallel, instead of an On-On.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by rumblethump

You should be able to do it with one on/on/on dpdt switch. I wired my P bass series/off/parallel. I think I got a diagram from Kent Armstrong pickup site.

On-On-On gives series/single coil/parallel switching.

[Tommorichards]

Originally Posted by line6man

Just wire a DPDT On-Off-On switch for standard series/parallel, instead of an On-On.

Would that give me the bypass option, ie, pickup > Jack?

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

Would that give me the bypass option, ie, pickup > Jack?

Ah, I see that you're referring to a master series/parallel rather than series/parallels per-pickup.

No, it would bypass a pickup if you do it that way.

[Tommorichards]

So is there a certain type of switch i could get?

[tstone]

Could you clarify a bit?

In the "bypass" position, you want both pickups wired straight to the jack, bypassing the volume and tone controls? And do you want that bypass position to have the pickups in parallel or series?

[M0ses]

Seems like two strange things to put all on one switch.

[SGD Lutherie]

It might be possible with an on-on-on 4 pole switch.

[Tommorichards]

Originally Posted by tstone

Could you clarify a bit?

In the "bypass" position, you want both pickups wired straight to the jack, bypassing the volume and tone controls? And do you want that bypass position to have the pickups in parallel or series?

Pretty much. And in parallel.

So
1 = pickups parallel
2= pickups series
3= pickups straight to jack parallel.

It would be helpful.

[tstone]

Yeah, looks like it takes a four-pole, three-way on-on-on switch.

[Tommorichards]

While i am very grateful for that, do you have it in schematic form? ie the stuff line6man normally posts?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

While i am very grateful for that, do you have it in schematic form? ie the stuff line6man normally posts?

The diagram in my post shows that what you want to do is theoretically possible. It is a schematic, what you are looking for is a wiring diagram. But wiring diagrams require knowledge of the particular parts being used, and I don't have a switch I can recommend. You're almost certainly talking about a rotary switch. I don't think I've ever seen a toggle switch with the required 16 contacts. Perhaps someone else has better information.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

While i am very grateful for that, do you have it in schematic form? ie the stuff line6man normally posts?

I'll draw a diagram for a rotary switch if you want it, but my rotary switch diagrams don't follow the actual arrangement of the lugs on the switch, they just identify what is to go to each position.

And as tstone pointed out, that IS true schematic form. What you want is a wiring diagram.

[Tommorichards]

Thanks. I always get the 2 mixed up.

Instead of the rotary, is there a possibility of an on/off/bypass switch instead?

Appreciate the help as well guys

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

Thanks. I always get the 2 mixed up.

Instead of the rotary, is there a possibility of an on/off/bypass switch instead?

Appreciate the help as well guys

No.

You would need one pole to toggle the output between ground, the volume pots, and the pickups, a second pole to toggle the bridge pickup between the volume pots and the first pole, and a third pole to toggle the neck pickup between the volume pots and the first pole. 3P3T switching would take the form of a 6PDT On-On-On with external jumpering, which, to my knowledge, does not exist.

[Tommorichards]

What about an off/bypass switch centre off (so centre off position would do nothing to the circuit)?

Wouldnt it just need to toggle the jack to ground in off position, and take a hot wire from each pickup (or the parallel/series switch) to jack?

[tstone]

Originally Posted by Tommorichards

Wouldnt it just need to toggle the jack to ground in off position, and take a hot wire from each pickup (or the parallel/series switch) to jack?

Unfortunately, it's not that simple. The series/parallel ability complicates things, because it means that the negative lead on the neck pickup is not always grounded; sometimes it is connected to the positive lead of the bridge pickup. To accomplish the bypass position, you need to:

1. Disconnect jack from volume and tone controls.
2. Connect neck pickup negative lead to ground
3. Connect neck pickup positive lead directly to jack
4. Connect bridge pickup positive lead directly to jack

That's four functions, which again takes a 4-pole switch.

Now, if you were willing to have the bypass control give neck + bridge in parallel direct to jack when the series/parallel switch was in parallel position; and bridge pickup only direct to jack when the s/p switch was in series position, then you could get by with two switches: a DPDT on-on for the series/parallel function, and a 3PDT on-on for the bypass function.

3PDT toggles like that are easily obtainable, the DPDT s/p switch could be either a toggle switch or a push-pull switch on one of the pots.