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Help w/ my Custom Frankenstein ATK-Roadstar Active/passive circuit

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by DanAdams, Jun 23, 2020.

  1. Jun 23, 2020 #1
    DanAdams

    DanAdams

    Nov 3, 2013
    Maine
    Hello.
    I'm loving this weird build (see more here if you're interested in the project the T-40 / ATK Frankenbuild... excitement building)
    However I'm not good with electronics, but I did get this going just fine.
    I can solder well, but I need some hand holding when designing even a simple circuit.

    It sounds and plays awesome. However, the neck pickup has more output, so a blend has little effect, and switching between pickups has a volume difference that makes it un-usable.
    Furthermore, I don't find the ATK's active EQ to be helpful for the neck pickup (from an Ibanez Roadstar)

    What I would like to do is this. have a 3-way pickup switch. the neck pickup being passive all the way, with no tone control, having the ATK pickup only go through to the active preamp, and a split of the two is possible via the 3way switch.
    This way I could make up the gain deficiency of the ATK pickup with the active preamp.

    Could I do that easily? right now the 3way I'm using is the little switch near the ATK pickup). It's one side of a
    3x DPDT 6 Pin 3 Position ON/ON/ON
    That is feeding the complete original ATK preamp, (which is all the other controls)

    I don't have anymore space in the cavity, but I could sacrifice the ATK coil split switch if I had to.

    I'm looking forward to your thoughts.
    IMG_5721.jpeg
    Screen Shot 2020-06-23 at 9.30.42 AM.png
     
    Last edited: Jun 23, 2020
    luqman_the_wise and JRA like this.
  2. Jun 23, 2020 #2
    MonetBass

    MonetBass ♪ Just listen ♫ Supporting Member

    Sep 15, 2006
    Tulsa
    You'll have better luck posting this on the BG side instead of the DB side. Or you could ask a moderator to move the thread. Other than that, I got nuthin'. :D
     
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  3. Jun 23, 2020 #3
    b/o 402

    b/o 402

    Jul 14, 2015
    DC & MD
    Should be very possible.
    Can you rewire the ATK pickup circuit to its preamp just as it was, then take its output to the selector switch? Then bring the neck pickup to the other side of the selector switch.
    From there to a standard volume pot, to the output jack.
     
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  4. Jun 23, 2020 #4
    DanAdams

    DanAdams

    Nov 3, 2013
    Maine
    BAM! I can't believe I didn't think of that. Thanks!
    I still would have a confusing master volume situation. but this is an idea I can work with
     
  5. Jun 23, 2020 #5
    b/o 402

    b/o 402

    Jul 14, 2015
    DC & MD
    If you didn't like the idea of ATK (bridge) volume + master volume, you could hide the ATK pot under the pg once you set it for comparable output level to the neck pu. (Or replace it with a trimpot or resistor network.)
     
    MovinTarget likes this.
  6. Jun 24, 2020 #6
    DanAdams

    DanAdams

    Nov 3, 2013
    Maine
    I wish I could, but the ATK preamp has all the pots directly soldered to the board.
    Although not ideal, I suppose the easiest thing would be to attenuate the neck pickup and keep both pickups going through the circuit...
    Or I guess I could make the neck pickup route deeper, and sink the pickup further into the body.