how can you control three pickups to get any combination you want? ( i particularly want to switch from using all 3 equally to only 2 in any combination, to only one)
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3 pickups
- Thread starter treebranch13
- Start date
i friend of mmine make something...he put a guitar selector and he can use the three EMG-HZ pickups
ok maybe but on a second though you will get to many knobs on your bass don´t you think...by the way do you want it with preamp or without preamp?
the preamp is coming at the end, so it doesn't make a difference. I would like to avoid killswitches if at all possible. right now the only way is 3 volume knobs but i would prefer blend and maybe 1 toggle
i don't like that look actually. but would this work: a three way toggle with two blends.
the toggle would choose between: bridge/mid, all 3, and neck/mid.
the two blends would be between the bridge/mid, and neck/mid.
but, then if i put both blends on the center detent and the toggle on middle the balance between the neck and mid would be 50/50, and bridge and mid would be 50/50, so together would that be 50/100/50 or 25/50/25 or would it be 50/50/50 (33/33/33)
the toggle would choose between: bridge/mid, all 3, and neck/mid.
the two blends would be between the bridge/mid, and neck/mid.
but, then if i put both blends on the center detent and the toggle on middle the balance between the neck and mid would be 50/50, and bridge and mid would be 50/50, so together would that be 50/100/50 or 25/50/25 or would it be 50/50/50 (33/33/33)
Hi tb13, in answer to your pm...
I've used a couple different 3-pup arrangements, but both are based on a two pickup Bartolini preamp with volume and balance.
System 1 (simple):
Each pickup goes to a 3-position on-off-on double pole (normal dptt) switch which gives on-off-phase. The neck and center pickups then get wired in parallel and go to one side of the balance. The bridge goes to the other side of the balance.
System 2 (not as simple):
Bridge pup goes to on-off-on dptt for on-off-phase, then to one side of the balance. The other two pups go to a on-on-on dptt, then to the other side of the balance. So the out of phase sound is controlled just on the bridge pickup. The switch for the other two gives neck or center or neck+center.
On either setup, once you set the switches to get the pickups you want, then you set the balance to get the mix you want for the bridge pup vs the other two.
Also if you're going to use three pickups keep in mind that you shouldn't set them too close to the strings because the magnets will interfere with the strings. Because of that you need to make sure you do a good job with shielding to keep the s/n acceptable.
Edit:
The other thing you should consider is a 5-position strat switch.
I've used a couple different 3-pup arrangements, but both are based on a two pickup Bartolini preamp with volume and balance.
System 1 (simple):
Each pickup goes to a 3-position on-off-on double pole (normal dptt) switch which gives on-off-phase. The neck and center pickups then get wired in parallel and go to one side of the balance. The bridge goes to the other side of the balance.
System 2 (not as simple):
Bridge pup goes to on-off-on dptt for on-off-phase, then to one side of the balance. The other two pups go to a on-on-on dptt, then to the other side of the balance. So the out of phase sound is controlled just on the bridge pickup. The switch for the other two gives neck or center or neck+center.
On either setup, once you set the switches to get the pickups you want, then you set the balance to get the mix you want for the bridge pup vs the other two.
Also if you're going to use three pickups keep in mind that you shouldn't set them too close to the strings because the magnets will interfere with the strings. Because of that you need to make sure you do a good job with shielding to keep the s/n acceptable.
Edit:
The other thing you should consider is a 5-position strat switch.
i have thought about the 5 position switch but i don't like it because it won't let me use the neck and the bridge without the center. i could couple it with something, but i haven't thought of what.
and thank you for the reply, that gives me some new ideas and some interesting configurations.
my favorite one right now is the one posted above. does any one know if that would work?
and thank you for the reply, that gives me some new ideas and some interesting configurations.
my favorite one right now is the one posted above. does any one know if that would work?
JAUQO III-X
Inactive
I have a bass with 3 single coils and it's M/V/V/V and if I only want 1,2 or all 3 pickups on, it's no problem.
I use separate vol knobs on all three pickups (EMG 35DC, Jx2) along with an EXB Tone control. works just fine. 
This is the best resource that I've found on the web for information about wiring pickups:
http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/category/wiringresources.22pickupdiagrams/
http://guitarelectronics.zoovy.com/category/wiringresources.22pickupdiagrams/
My three-pickup (wired in series) Dillion has an on/off switch and a phase switch for each pickup.
My three-pickup (wired in paralell) Schecter has a five-way switch, similar to a Stratocaster, allowing a single pickup or two adjacent pickups to be used. The tone knob also is a push/pull switch to coil tap the humbuckers. I plan to have the volume control changed to a push/pull switch so that I can use the neck and bridge pickups simultaneously.
My three-pickup (wired in paralell) Schecter has a five-way switch, similar to a Stratocaster, allowing a single pickup or two adjacent pickups to be used. The tone knob also is a push/pull switch to coil tap the humbuckers. I plan to have the volume control changed to a push/pull switch so that I can use the neck and bridge pickups simultaneously.
I just picked up a Fender Urge II (2 J's with a P in the middle) and they do it very simply.
Using a 3 position switch -
position 1 is the P only
position 2 is all 3 on at pan center, pan for neck/P, Bridge/P
(P is full on in all positions)
position 3 is both J's only, pan for neck or bridge.
If you want total control for when all 3 are on then see ryco's scheme ("each is controlled by a vol/tone stack knob").
Using a 3 position switch -
position 1 is the P only
position 2 is all 3 on at pan center, pan for neck/P, Bridge/P
(P is full on in all positions)
position 3 is both J's only, pan for neck or bridge.
If you want total control for when all 3 are on then see ryco's scheme ("each is controlled by a vol/tone stack knob").
Would it be possible to wire up a blend pot between pickup 1 and another blend pot (as opposed to another pickup), and the second pot blends 2 and 3? It seems to me that would allow for all of the variations you are looking for (so would 2X 3-way guitar switches mind you).
Le Fay use a 6-position switch which even gives you serial/parallel option. I'll look up the positions they use.
www.lefay.de
www.lefay.de
