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Audere and series/parallel

#5
I wired a series/parallel switch into a 3ZB setup - it'll definitely work. The way I wired it, basically, in series mode the output from both pickups in series feeds into the bridge pickup input of the preamp. You have to use a 3 pole dual throw switch, aka "3PDT" (you can also use a 4 pole dual throw, you just don't use one of the poles). These can be a little hard to find, but they are out there - I got mine at Fry's Electronics.

You'll no longer have control of the individual pickup levels when you're in series mode - neck and bridge pickups will be at equal levels and you'll have to have the blend knob set as if it was favoring the bridge pickup for full volume when in series.
 
#7
Ok, I just ordered a set of Nordstrand dual coils (parallel) and I want to be able to switch from dual to single coil. I wont be able to control the blend when in single coil? I have not ordered a pre-amp yet. Would I be better of going with a vol/vol set up?
 
#8
allenhumble said:
Ok, I just ordered a set of Nordstrand dual coils (parallel) and I want to be able to switch from dual to single coil. I wont be able to control the blend when in single coil? I have not ordered a pre-amp yet. Would I be better of going with a vol/vol set up?
Click to expand...

you are doing something different here, I am doing the 2 pickups as a single pickup in series, you should still be able to coil tap the pickups individually and use the blend
 
#11
This would work in a theoretical sense, You can add the switch and put the pickups in series ahead of the pre. However, as noted above, you'l also have to turn the blend all the way out to favor the whichever input get's the signal - not real practical for stage use.

If you really want this to work - you need to lose the blend and order the pre with Vol, Vol.

Having lived with a series / parallele switch for a bit - in my opinion - a waste of effort. A large pre-defined volume boost isn't generally something I find usable in live playing - volume boost yes - but it's not always the 3 - 6 - 10 or whateve db jump you get off the switch ... Song to song, ensemble to ensemble - it varies Better to hold some gain in reserve and use that and your own dynamics to control the boost.

As always YMMV. Go fot it! Make it Tort. (gotta cover the basses you know ...)

NOTE: OK - I'm rethinking this - I still don't like the Series parallel pickup approach - it's totally overhyped as a feature in my book but - I'm not so sure the blend control is an issue. The question to be answered is ... Is each pickup at 50% with the blend in the middle or is each at 100% ? Either way is 'balanced/blended' ... my suspicion is that it is 100% which case the blend is irrelevant. You still get the dramatic, uncontrollable not very useful - volume boost ... with no need to touch the blend knob. Essentially you made a kill switch for the other side...

(yeah, I know.. don't hold back .. tell us what ya really think :D)
 
#12
allenhumble said:
Ok, I just ordered a set of Nordstrand dual coils (parallel) and I want to be able to switch from dual to single coil. I wont be able to control the blend when in single coil? I have not ordered a pre-amp yet. Would I be better of going with a vol/vol set up?
Click to expand...

I prefer vol / blend myself ...

I run an Audere 3ZB in my G&L L2500. That one has dual humbuckers of course. Each pickup has a single, series, parallel switch ahead of the pre. The pre itself is Vol / Blend. It works fine. The pre has +/- in for each pickup so from a wiring perspective - nothing really changes. It's a matter of what signal is coming down the two wires.

There are 2 basic diagrams for 4 or 5 wire humbuckers. Dimarzio and Duncan. They each have different assignments for the 4 wires. You should compare the Nordstrand wiring diagram against each, then do a google on the series parallel switching. There are good diagrams out on the net for it.

You'll also need a DP/DT on-on-on switch for each pickup - Stew Mac or Bayou Audio Cables is where I get mine ... The one from Stew Mac is better for rear routes as it has a longer threaded barrel and deals with a thicker top better. the one from Butch (Bayou) is an Allparts and is better when you're coning through a contole plate / pickguard / thin top. I've used the Allparts in a rear route - it can be done - the Stew Mac switch is just easier.

The issue from the OP was in wiring his 2 pickups in series together or parallel and separate using vol / blend. What he faces is essentially shutting off one of the two sets of +/- to the preamp.

That's a worthwhile mod IMO.
 
#13
4Mal said:
This would work in a theoretical sense, You can add the switch and put the pickups in series ahead of the pre. However, as noted above, you'l also have to turn the blend all the way out to favor the whichever input get's the signal - not real practical for stage use.

If you really want this to work - you need to lose the blend and order the pre with Vol, Vol.

Having lived with a series / parallele switch for a bit - in my opinion - a waste of effort. A large pre-defined volume boost isn't generally something I find usable in live playing - volume boost yes - but it's not always the 3 - 6 - 10 or whateve db jump you get off the switch ... Song to song, ensemble to ensemble - it varies Better to hold some gain in reserve and use that and your own dynamics to control the boost.

As always YMMV. Go fot it! Make it Tort. (gotta cover the basses you know ...)

NOTE: OK - I'm rethinking this - I still don't like the Series parallel pickup approach - it's totally overhyped as a feature in my book but - I'm not so sure the blend control is an issue. The question to be answered is ... Is each pickup at 50% with the blend in the middle or is each at 100% ? Either way is 'balanced/blended' ... my suspicion is that it is 100% which case the blend is irrelevant. You still get the dramatic, uncontrollable not very useful - volume boost ... with no need to touch the blend knob. Essentially you made a kill switch for the other side...

(yeah, I know.. don't hold back .. tell us what ya really think :D)
Click to expand...

haha I see your point. For me however on some stages nothing will do except putting them old single coils in series to cut through without having to fiddle with the amp and mess the soundstage up. It's one of these things where nothing else would work, at least not the things I tried.
 
#14
Doesn't Series Parallel require a common ground? If thats the case you would have too loose the ability to blend the pickups completely as you will need individual discrete grounds for each pickup to work at all with the audere's buffered pickup input system.

If you must have a preamp and series parallel you would be best served with another brand preamp.
 
#16
joeyl said:
It is the preamp that reconciled me with active electronics .
Click to expand...

That was the case with me as well. I have two now and prior to these I was the 'anti-preamp' guy ...

I'm not with you on the needing two pickups in series to cut through though and for precisely the reason you mention - this is me the sound guy talkin' ...

Sound checks are for getting the balance - once I have the balance - I don't f&ck with it...

So now that the band is balanced and the sound stage is set - I did all that with your amp by the way ... If the performance requires that I need a dramatic shift volume wise - I step on the boost switch for my Bassbone ... see there I have a control to determine how much boost this time ... I also use it for the second bank of tone controls so it's at my feet. I don't have to visit my amp except to turn it off after the set ...

I dinked about at length with a series parallel setup. I didn't like the volume jump and I didn't like the resultant tone - big tone change ...

Me - I get enough tonal and volume flexibility with the BassBone and with the Audere and it's z-mode. I really don't feel like I've fully grokked the z-mode, blend and EQ combinations yet. it seems like I can find something new every time I play with it ... mostly it stays flat EQ wise and I ride the blend and z-mode.

My advice - as you can guess - is get the Audere in place and then think about the S/P switch ...
 
#17
Using this as a wiring diagram:
serpar.jpg


Yes it can be done. But when in standard mode, you will NOT be able to blend the pickups. IE, you are loosing the ability to blend period. Also this might effect your Z-Mode switch from working properly.
 
#18
joelb79 said:
Doesn't Series Parallel require a common ground? If thats the case you would have too loose the ability to blend the pickups completely as you will need individual discrete grounds for each pickup to work at all with the audere's buffered pickup input system.

If you must have a preamp and series parallel you would be best served with another brand preamp.
Click to expand...

hmmm. That may mean a different switch. I'm not in love with the idea anyway as is obvious but the DP/DT that I use for S/S/P humbucker wiring is probably a set of poles short for this task. TP/DT switch ?
 
#19
Hi Everyone,

One very important part of the Audere system is this:

Keep the signal ground and chassis/shield ground separate!

Regardless of what kind of switching you're doing prior to
the inputs, the Audere will not tolerate any contact
between the signal ground (pickup lead ground)
and the shield ground (cavity foil, pickup braid, etc.)

If there is such a contact, the preamp will go kind of haywire.
The bass control will start cutting signal in the "boost" position,
and the blend control will not function correctly.

Best wishes,
Martin Keith
 
#20
joelb79 said:
Doesn't Series Parallel require a common ground? If thats the case you would have too loose the ability to blend the pickups completely as you will need individual discrete grounds for each pickup to work at all with the audere's buffered pickup input system.

If you must have a preamp and series parallel you would be best served with another brand preamp.
Click to expand...

Nope - the 3ZB does not have a discrete ground for each pickup. It uses one common wire. Each pickup's hot wire does have its own wire going into the preamp, though.

I used a 3 pole dual throw (aka 3PDT) on-on switch. Wired it like this.............

picture the pin layout on the back of the switch.........

123
456
789

(where the switch position would be up or down, not left or right)

make the following connections.....(wire colors are for a 3ZB, not sure of other moderls).......

pin 1 - jumper to pin 9
pin 2 - bridge pickup ground and preamp wire for pickup common ground (green on white)
pin 3 - preamp wire for neck pickup hot (blue on white)
pin 4 - bridge pickup hot wire
pin 5 - neck pickup ground wire
pin 6 - neck pickup hot wire
pin 7 - jumper to pin 8
pin 8 - jumper to pin 7
pin 9 - preamp wire for bridge pickup hot (black on white)

.........and you're done.......

Alternately, you could use a 4 pole dual throw (aka 4PDT)switch, just don't use the 4th pole.
 

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