Can I still install a 3 way switch on my Stingray?

JoshuaTSP · #1 12-13-2009, 12:11 PM

I've got a Stingray 5 with Duncan preamp and duncan basslines pickup. Bought it that way.

The pickup doesn't have the dummy coil.

Can I still install a 3 way switch?

I'd imagine the single coil mode would be noisy?
I'm mostly interested in having series and parallel options.

thanks!

JoshuaTSP · #2 12-13-2009, 01:16 PM

this says I can't?
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support...=musicman_3way

...but I have all of those wires. 4 from the pickup and the preamp.

walterw · #3 12-13-2009, 01:32 PM

that does seem odd.

the bass doesn't already have a 3-way switch?

JoshuaTSP · #4 12-13-2009, 01:41 PM

nope. It was hard wired parallel.

Bleu · #5 12-13-2009, 01:43 PM

It's says you can't unless you have bought the 3 coil replacement pick-up. Which you haven't bought i guess. You either don't wire the third position (kill switch) or use the one that seymour duncan gave.

walterw · #6 12-13-2009, 01:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

nope. It was hard wired parallel.

did someone put a different pickguard on it? i've never seen, and can't find a picture, of a music man stingray 5 without that 3-way switch.

JoshuaTSP · #7 12-13-2009, 01:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Bleu

It's says you can't unless you have bought the 3 coil replacement pick-up. Which you haven't bought i guess. You either don't wire the third position (kill switch) or use the one that seymour duncan gave.

I'm just looking to confirm that if I wire it stock, it'll work, but the single coil mode will be noisy?

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

did someone put a different pickguard on it? i've never seen, and can't find a picture, of a music man stingray 5 without that 3-way switch.

eastcoasteddie · #8 12-13-2009, 02:05 PM

now why would someone go and do that?

I don't see why it shouldn't work....the 3-coil wiring in that .pdf still has 4 leads + bare (red/black/green/white + bare), same as a standard 2-coil pickup. I think it will work, but the single coil setting will be noisy.

That's what I think they mean by "will not be a drop-in replacement", it won't be quiet as original.

JoshuaTSP · #9 12-13-2009, 02:26 PM

Not sure why they wouldn't want the series/parallel modes?

I'm going to install a switch right now.

JoshuaTSP · #10 12-13-2009, 04:15 PM

WOO! It does work.

Series will be the loudest of the settings right?
If so, then I have the switch installed with series near the bridge.
There's a slight high pitch buzz in series mode too.

Otherwise, single mode is pretty much useless since it's about half the volume. I like the ability to choose series or parallel though!

walterw · #11 12-13-2009, 08:27 PM

ok, you could have just said the switch was missing

eastcoasteddie · #12 12-13-2009, 08:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JoshuaTSP

WOO! It does work.

Series will be the loudest of the settings right?
If so, then I have the switch installed with series near the bridge.
There's a slight high pitch buzz in series mode too.

Otherwise, single mode is pretty much useless since it's about half the volume. I like the ability to choose series or parallel though!

Yes, Series is the loudest. I find that parallel is about the same volume as single coil.

Sweet that you got it to work!

JoshuaTSP · #13 12-14-2009, 05:01 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by walterw

ok, you could have just said the switch was missing

Quote:

Originally Posted by eastcoasteddie

Yes, Series is the loudest. I find that parallel is about the same volume as single coil.

Sweet that you got it to work!

Is the buzz inherant in series mode? Or does the dummy coil cancel that out normally?

eastcoasteddie · #14 12-14-2009, 07:53 AM

Usually, you shouldn't have a buzz in Series, because it still is "hum bucking"...
But in my Jazz bass, on which I performed a "Dr. Moreau" type of pickup/electronics surgery, I have the bridge pickup switchable to give me series/parallel/split coil, and I can choose either either coil when I split it (north or south coil, depending on the position of 2 different toggle switches). I am getting a little bit of buzz in series, but I think it might be due to all that wiring I put into it.

The neck pickup I left it with parallel/split coil only, no series. Splitting the neck coil gives me South coil of that pickup only. I find that when I split the neck coil (south) and the bridge coil (north), I get no hum. But if I split the neck (south) and bridge south, I get hum...weird...

JoshuaTSP · #15 12-14-2009, 08:02 AM

I had the same impression.
Although, I had the same experience with my J bass. Series was noisy.
Guess I'll just have to crack the bass open again, and figure out what's wrong.
I had a hard time getting the electronics to fit, so maybe something is inadvertently touching?

Any tips to hunting down a buzz?