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Humbucker 5 way switch: neck coil, bridge coil, parallel, series, off

Adam Harzuf

Adam Harzuf

Nov 16, 2004
156
14
Germany
#1
Hey all,
Can I achieve this with the switch shown? If not, which one should I get?
I wouldn't mind having this using two smaller switches that just require a driller.
I actually have two (4 lead each) humbuckers and plan to do the same for each. This will allow for any combination of the 4 coils.
Then simply master volume and a varitone.

Thank you!
Adam
 

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#2
Take a look at the Fender Roscoe Beck. I think your best bet would be a 4 way for each pickup (inner/outer/series/parallel) and then a three-way pickup selector for neck/both/bridge.

That said, perhaps @rojo412 can tell you if that exact switch will do exactly what you want it to.
 
#3
I don't think I'm fully versed enough on the blade switches to know if that would work for sure. It may require something like a "super switch" to achieve the right settings.
5-way 4-Pole Lever Switch-Oak Grigsby
Most blade switch wiring I've seen that involves series/parallel operations, tends to require the extra capabilities of that type of switch. Or, a similarly capable rotary switch.
 
#4
two fingers said:
I think your best bet would be a 4 way for each pickup (inner/outer/series/parallel) and then a three-way pickup selector for neck/both/bridge.
Click to expand...

It's a good idea that I might consider. However, I prefer the option to mute the bass entirely without touching the volume knob.


two fingers said:
Take a look at the Fender Roscoe Beck.
Click to expand...
That Fender, as far as I understand, doesn't give you an inner/outer option for each pup. Or am I wrong?
 
#5
Adam Harzuf said:
It's a good idea that I might consider. However, I prefer the option to mute the bass entirely without touching the volume knob.



That Fender, as far as I understand, doesn't give you an inner/outer option for each pup. Or am I wrong?
Click to expand...

I was referring more to the option to keep pickup selection separate from coil selection. But, yes, you are correct. In single coil mode the RB Sig uses the two coils that are in the 60s position for a Jazz.
 
#6
My first thought is that a Super Switch for each pickup would get the job done. These look just like regular blade switches from the top, but they have four separate poles underneath. That means they take up a bit more room, but they provide far greater versatility.
 
#10
Adam Harzuf said:
Hey all,
Can I achieve this with the switch shown? If not, which one should I get?
I wouldn't mind having this using two smaller switches that just require a driller.
I actually have two (4 lead each) humbuckers and plan to do the same for each. This will allow for any combination of the 4 coils.
Then simply master volume and a varitone.

Thank you!
Adam
Click to expand...
I would say that it's not possible in one switch, but I'm sure someone has tweaked out jumping wires enough to make something like this actually work.

I would use three ways with push pull pots. Jumping wires that way. Front coil, back coil, both coils. Push pull switching between series and parallel. For each pickup.
 
#11
I used to have that diagram somewhere - it's what I did with my JBass (only I used a 4 way switch and skipped the "off". The same circuit replicated twice (and then wired in parallel to the rest of the controls) should do.

EDIT: Found it - or something like it:

Rotary switch for you series/parallel guys!!

In this case, "neck" and "bridge" are actually your north/south coil leads. You do one of these for each pickup, then take those and wire them in parallel to the next step of the circuit (your volume pot most likely).

If you get a 5 position switch, you still use the same diagram and the 5th position does nothing.

EDIT2: For some reason thought you wanted rotary switches, not a blade switch. Sorry! :-)
 
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#15
I thank you all for your help, awesome! :thumbsup:
I prefer not to have rotary switches because it's harder for me to see what's the current situation (and I don't like the chicken-style knobs). I have always found toggle switches more comfortable as well.

two fingers said:
I think your best bet would be a 4 way for each pickup (inner/outer/series/parallel) and then a three-way pickup selector for neck/both/bridge.
Click to expand...
Is there any schematic available for 4 way inner/outer/series/parallel switch?
 
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#16
Matthijs said:
Check Www.freewayswitch.com
They are marketed for guitar and the schematics are for guitars, but they can be adapted to do what you want. I think there’s a prewired one that does outer coils parallel/ inner coils series, next to the usual three-way.
Click to expand...

This is a nice and compact idea, thank you. However, I like the idea of having the flexibility of choosing all coil combinations. To have a 4 or 5-way switch (with one axis of motion) for each humbucker would be really ideal, as it would give me an immediate understanding of where I'm at. On this website, I didn't find a solution that makes sense for this wish (e.g. a 6 way for each pup would probably be overkill). I'm also not interested in more than necessary options, like out-of-phase. The price is still some consideration as well.
 
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#18
yodedude2 said:
push/pull volume knob, pull for mute?
Click to expand...
Yes, that's a nice idea. But still, I might come back to the wrong volume setting if I'm not careful. I don't know if that would be critical or not, as I never had such a configuration. I might choose your solution if the switch solution won't take care of the muting.

Therefore, this might be the best compact solution:
Each pup: 4-way toggle: inner/outer/series/parallel
Sum: 4-way toggle: neck, bridge, both, mute

I would still prefer to stay with the original one (which is appealing to me because of visibility and simplicity of operation), just:
Each pup: 5-way blade: inner/outer/series/parallel/mute

And it would be awesome if it can be done with a simple 5-way blade!
 
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#19
Adam Harzuf said:
Hey all,
Can I achieve this with the switch shown? If not, which one should I get?
I wouldn't mind having this using two smaller switches that just require a driller.
I actually have two (4 lead each) humbuckers and plan to do the same for each. This will allow for any combination of the 4 coils.
Then simply master volume and a varitone.

Thank you!
Adam
Click to expand...

Cheers…the switch shown is standard 5-way, it’s unusable for your goal.
The easiest way to manage this in my experience (because it can’t be done in the ‘order’ you desire) is to be flexible. Understand what is available.

DPDT on/off/on = inner/series/outer (with both pickups) (one switch only for both pikcups)
DPDT on/on/on = inner coils/parallel/outer coils (one switch per pickup)
DPDT on/on/on = series/split (you choose inner or outer/parallel (one switch per pickup)
DPDT on/on = series / inner or outer (you have to choose) (one switch per pickup)
DPDT on/on = parallel / inner or outer (you have to choose) (one switch per pickup)
5-way Super Switch = Bridge Full / Bridge-Neck outer coils / Neck - Bridge Full / Bridge-Neck Inner coils / Neck Full
5-way Super Switch = Bridge Series / Bridge Parallel / Neck - Bridge Series / Neck Parallel/ Neck Series (run a DPDT) for parallel but that only works in one position and you will have to switch it back before moving the super switch.

Outside of that…you need to look at other options. Ernie Ball has a great 5 way for HH inner/outer/parallel. That would be a smart choice for me for that style of pickup.

two fingers said:
I was referring more to the option to keep pickup selection separate from coil selection. But, yes, you are correct. In single coil mode the RB Sig uses the two coils that are in the 60s position for a Jazz.
Click to expand...
I agree with this wholeheartedly. It's the best approach in my experience. It's intuitive to know where the pickup selector is and then to choose what to do with each pickup. This is easily my choice for actual real-time real world performance and sensibility.

ctmullins said:
My first thought is that a Super Switch for each pickup would get the job done. These look just like regular blade switches from the top, but they have four separate poles underneath. That means they take up a bit more room, but they provide far greater versatility.
Click to expand...

^^^
This is the only real option. (Series-Inner-Parellel-Outer-Series Out Of Phase) Although there's a hiccup. With one volume and one tone, there is no 'off' for the neck or bridge, so no option to play one pickup alone. The last position can be grounded to create the 'mute' the OP wants but it's connected to the wiper at the volume. Unless my brain is missing the obvious, that is unusable.

Adam Harzuf said:
Each pup: 5-way blade: inner/outer/series/parallel/mute
And it would be awesome if it can be done with a simple 5-way blade!
Click to expand...
Sorry man...the physics don't allow for it.
 

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