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Wire up a humbucker to a switch for Series/Single Coil/Parallel

Discussion in 'Pickups & Electronics [BG]' started by Sundogue, Dec 22, 2014.

  1. Dec 22, 2014 #1
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    As the title explains, I want to wire up my two dual coil humbuckers to two switches so i can switch each pickup to either Series/Single coil/Parallel.

    I've found some diagrams for this but without a little additional explanation they leave me scratching my head. I could just wire them up Series/Parallel and the diagram for that is easy for me to understand as each pup has it's own switch. Combining the two to switches so I can use a single coil off each at the same time, just requires a little more info for me to wire it up.

    If anyone has a diagram and can explain it i would appreciate it. I have this one that appears to be how to wire it up. Is the top one the switch for the neck pickup and the bottom one the switch for the bridge pickup, and you connect all the leads as marked from both pups?

    proxy.php?image=http%3A%2F%2F2ndnaturecreations.com%2FMusic%2Fswitchforpickups.png

    It is the section taken from this diagram...

    %3A%2F%2F2ndnaturecreations.com%2FMusic%2FHumbucker%2520series%2520parallel%2520wiring%2520guide.png
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2014
  2. Dec 22, 2014 #2
    Bill Thompson

    Bill Thompson

    Sep 19, 2014
    DiMarzio would give you that info. However, to get the combinations that you want, with Dimarzio's wiring plan, you would have to add a phase switch to each pickup. Adding a phase switch would allow you to pick which coil is on when the pickup is in single-coil. Something to look into. Cheers, ;^D.
     
  3. Dec 22, 2014 #3
    line6man

    line6man

    Jun 20, 2008
    Close to Los Angeles, CA
    What is it that you don't understand about that diagram?
     
  4. Dec 22, 2014 #4
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    Perhaps it just confuses me because I was originally going to wire up my SD NYC-5 pups each with their own switch and just have each be able to do either Series or Parallel individually.

    Now, if I want to run both pups single coil (but together for hum cancelling) I need a 3-way DPDT, On-On-On switch, correct? And also, because they are no longer being wired independently they should now get wired to both switches as in this diagram?

    m%2Fproxy.php%3Fimage%3Dhttp%253A%252F%252F2ndnaturecreations.com%252FMusic%252Fswitchforpickups.png

    Top switch would give me the control for the neck pup and when in the center position would use the outside (north) coil and the bottom switch would give me control over the bridge pup and in the center position would give me the outer (south) coil? Switches in up or down positions would give me Series/Parallel respectively.

    Is that right?
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2014
  5. Dec 22, 2014 #5
    Bill Thompson

    Bill Thompson

    Sep 19, 2014
    That's correct. In single-coil, both pickups would act as a humbucker simply with the coils spread apart. Like a Jazz bass. However, in a two pickup guitar, Gibson Les Paul for example, the bridge pickup is rotated 180 degrees from the neck pickup. Also something to look into if the pickups are marked neck or bridge. Cheers, ;^D.
     
  6. Dec 22, 2014 #6
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    Yes mine are neck and bridge pickups specifically. But, I would assume, more for the string spacing than anything else. Are they supposed to be rotated to avoid phase issues? These pickups (Seymour Duncan NYC-5 Soapbar humbuckers) are designed to be wired up in any configuration. Again, I'm assuming they are designed to just go in the same way.
     
  7. Dec 22, 2014 #7
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    Just got my pickups today in the mail. They came with wiring diagrams. One of them (pictured below) show a Series/Split/Parallel diagram. Since both the ground and hot comes off each switch and go to the same place anyway, should I wire each pup to a DPDT On/On/On switch individually (as in SD's diagram)? Because their diagram looks a little different than the one I posted earlier. Or is theirs different because it shows only one pickup? If you buy a set, why would they only show a diagram for wiring only one?

    Also, I should point out that I am wiring it to my preamp electronics. The hot leads go to my blend pot. If I wire them up so I can use them as single (outer) coils (via the switch), should I keep the blend pot centered to avoid hum when that is selected (or does it make any difference)?

    sdwiring.jpg
     
    Last edited: Dec 22, 2014
  8. Dec 22, 2014 #8
    mmbongo

    mmbongo I have too many basses. Supporting Member

    Aug 5, 2009
    Upstate, South Carolina
    Yes you need two switches to do what you want to do. One for each pickup.
     
  9. Dec 22, 2014 #9
    line6man

    line6man

    Jun 20, 2008
    Close to Los Angeles, CA
    It is exactly the same diagram.
     
  10. Dec 23, 2014 #10
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    Yeah, I'm starting to understand it now. It's really much easier than I thought initially. I tend to make things more difficult than they really are. Perhaps it's just my OCD.
     
  11. Dec 23, 2014 #11
    Bill Thompson

    Bill Thompson

    Sep 19, 2014
    Yes, it would have to do with phase issues. If they are marked that way, the bridge pickup should already be rotated. N/S-S/N.
     
  12. Jan 10, 2015 #12
    Sundogue

    Sundogue

    Apr 26, 2001
    Wausau, WI
    Wired up the pickups as per the diagram provided with the pups by Seymour Duncan. Wired it up with two On/On/On DPDT switches for Series/Single Coil/Parallel.

    Works like a charm.