Splitting and Blending Humbuckers (RBV-ish)

[-Asdfgh-]

Awesome, thank you -- missed that one (there are a *lot* of schematics on that site!). Interesting though that that wiring scheme calls for a master volume and a bridge blend as opposed to separate neck and bridge volume pots; with a 4p6t I think you can do that but I wonder if that's how they pull it off with this switch. Definitely gotta delve into that one further to understand it!

There's a humbucker example too, with an additional DPDT (on a push pull) that gives you two single coils. If I have my wiring right, and I can actually understand it enough to solder it, even given the breadboard mock I have, I might be able to get humbucking (series and parallel) and either coil, without needing any additional switches (like Seymour Duncan triple shots). We'll see. But if so, it's a scheme that would work for dual humbucking basses too. It does need four DPDTs, so it suits best a dual volume, dual tone set up if you don't want extra switches, even if the nature of the volumes isn't quite as a Les Paul (but it's close enough).

 

[solderfumes]

There's a humbucker example too, with an additional DPDT (on a push pull) that gives you two single coils. If I have my wiring right, and I can actually understand it enough to solder it, even given the breadboard mock I have, I might be able to get humbucking (series and parallel) and either coil, without needing any additional switches (like Seymour Duncan triple shots). We'll see. But if so, it's a scheme that would work for dual humbucking basses too. It does need four DPDTs, so it suits best a dual volume, dual tone set up if you don't want extra switches, even if the nature of the volumes isn't quite as a Les Paul (but it's close enough).

I just ran through that schematic and it's pretty clever! *However*, as I suspected it doesn't actually allow for separate volume and tone controls -- only a master volume and a bridge volume. Still, maybe it doesn't matter too much!

If you have a 2HB bass, another way you could go to get all the combinations would be to add two more toggle switches: one of which would put the neck and bridge pickups in series, and another would put them out of phase. That would leave you with V/V/T/T (and you can make these push pulls to implement your series/parallel/north/south switching for each individual pickup) and then two mini-toggles to give you the series and out of phase combinations of neck and bridge.

 

[-Asdfgh-]

I just ran through that schematic and it's pretty clever! *However*, as I suspected it doesn't actually allow for separate volume and tone controls -- only a master volume and a bridge volume. Still, maybe it doesn't matter too much!

It gives you all the mix options, just not the ability to swap pickups and radically alter volume at the same time. But then there are boost pedals.

If you have a 2HB bass, another way you could go to get all the combinations would be to add two more toggle switches: one of which would put the neck and bridge pickups in series, and another would put them out of phase. That would leave you with V/V/T/T (and you can make these push pulls to implement your series/parallel/north/south switching for each individual pickup) and then two mini-toggles to give you the series and out of phase combinations of neck and bridge.

For my LP project the plan was to have as close as possible to standard LP controls, both in function and visually with the pots down. Granted there's a master volume, but that's the main compromise, but as long as the 6 way switch in in the 'standard territory' lane then it's close. If I get it right it's something like 72 different pickup combinations. It's for a friend for a milestone birthday, and a guitar that does almost everything. It's missing each pickup half out-of-phase with itself, basically, and not much else, except maybe optional capacitor options, treble bleed options, or direct connection options. But I couldn't see a way to squeeze those into the format.

 

[solderfumes]

It gives you all the mix options, just not the ability to swap pickups and radically alter volume at the same time. But then there are boost pedals.

True, although with the caveat that you can't have a blend where the neck pickup is low and the bridge pickup is high, which actually makes some sense on your typical P or P/J I guess. EDIT it should also be noted that if you were to use one of these switches for the *individual* pickups (i.e. to get all the combinations of the two coils in one HB) then the volume thing doesn't come into play at all.

For my LP project the plan was to have as close as possible to standard LP controls, both in function and visually with the pots down. Granted there's a master volume, but that's the main compromise, but as long as the 6 way switch in in the 'standard territory' lane then it's close. If I get it right it's something like 72 different pickup combinations. It's for a friend for a milestone birthday, and a guitar that does almost everything. It's missing each pickup half out-of-phase with itself, basically, and not much else, except maybe optional capacitor options, treble bleed options, or direct connection options. But I couldn't see a way to squeeze those into the format.

A man after my own heart! My own Les Paul and semi-hollows have Triple Shots and series/OOP options. There are definitely some interesting series combinations of the two pickups when you put them into single coil mode!

 

[-Asdfgh-]

True, although with the caveat that you can't have a blend where the neck pickup is low and the bridge pickup is high, which actually makes some sense on your typical P or P/J I guess. EDIT it should also be noted that if you were to use one of these switches for the *individual* pickups (i.e. to get all the combinations of the two coils in one HB) then the volume thing doesn't come into play at all.



A man after my own heart! My own Les Paul and semi-hollows have Triple Shots and series/OOP options. There are definitely some interesting series combinations of the two pickups when you put them into single coil mode!

Good point on neck low bridge high which I hadn't considered. As they say here in the UK 'bum'. I will have a think.

In terms of options, a significant birthday for someone who has a les Paul should be one that can also be a telecaster, almost. A friend with an Aria PE LP complained I would just put the pickups in single coil mode and tweak it and make it sound much like a Telecaster