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3 Pickups Wiring question / request

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by slowburnaz, Jun 6, 2020.

  1. Jun 6, 2020 #1
    slowburnaz

    slowburnaz Commercial User

    Mar 27, 2002
    Tucson, AZ
    Owner, Turner Pickups
    Hoping someone has a little more switching knowledge than me here, but...

    With a 6-position switch, would it be possible to have the following coil configurations with 3 single coil pickups?

    Position 1: Coil 1 and 2 in parallel
    Position 2: Coil 1 and 3 in parallel
    Position 3: Coil 1 and 2 in series
    Position 4: Coil 1 and 3 in series
    Position 5: Coil 1, 2, and 3 in parallel
    Position 6: Coil 1 only

    Coils are wound such that with either 1 and 2 on, or 1 and 3 on, they are humbucking (RWRP).
     
  2. Jun 9, 2020 #2
    TrustRod

    TrustRod Supporting Member

    Mar 13, 2016
    Northern California
    You could do that with a rotary switch. I would group the 3 parallels together to make the layout simpler.
     
    slowburnaz likes this.
  3. Jun 9, 2020 #3
    slowburnaz

    slowburnaz Commercial User

    Mar 27, 2002
    Tucson, AZ
    Owner, Turner Pickups
    That sounds like a good idea..

    Any ideas on how that schemaric would look? I've always been a little fuzzy on how the rotary switches work... maybe it's time I learn. ;-)
     
    Killed_by_Death likes this.
  4. Jun 9, 2020 #4
    Killed_by_Death

    Killed_by_Death Snaggletooth Inactive

    Jan 2, 2015
    14 Megameters from Groong Tehp
    This isn't a schematic, but it is a wiring diagram with some examples of what you're after:

    fcbb2a8671bd320dd764a36c8ae9e1ac.jpg
     
    slowburnaz likes this.
  5. Jun 10, 2020 #5
    TrustRod

    TrustRod Supporting Member

    Mar 13, 2016
    Northern California
    I'd have to sit down with a pencil for a while. I've done a few but they make my head spin.
     
    slowburnaz likes this.
  6. Jun 10, 2020 #6
    Crater

    Crater

    Oct 12, 2011
    Dallas, TX area
    Rotary switches, and for that matter Fender-style "blade" pickup switches work the same way, since the blade switch is just a rotary switch with limited travel. Another nice thing about rotary switches is many of them are open and you can figure out what terminals do what by following the metal path. :)

    Rotary switches will have a "common" terminal for each pole, and then a single switch terminal that connects to the common when the switch is dialed to the appropriate position. A multi-pole switch has this arrangement replicated two, three or more times. For your pickup switching arrangement, I believe you'll need a four pole, six position rotary switch.