Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: Guitarzan on August 30, 2006, 10:37:47 PM

Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on August 30, 2006, 10:37:47 PM: I'm looking for a weird one here!

I need a diagram for 2 humbuckers with independent volume control, no switch, and no tone pots!

So far I have them both working but only one pot is effective.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on August 30, 2006, 11:33:27 PM: To clarify things....

I want to be able to turn one pot off, and still have one pickup working, and in the opposite, turn the other off and have the opposite working.

Instead of haveing a switch, I'd like to be able to control the pickups with only the pots.

I think I need a stereo jack!
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: lp_man on August 31, 2006, 01:42:29 AM: Quote from: Guitarzan
To clarify things....

I want to be able to turn one pot off, and still have one pickup working, and in the opposite, turn the other off and have the opposite working.

Instead of haveing a switch, I'd like to be able to control the pickups with only the pots.

I think I need a stereo jack!

Stereo jacks are usually used to turn off active electronics in guitars so I don't think you'll need one. I'll have a look around for a diagram for you see if I can find anything.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Searcher on August 31, 2006, 02:29:48 AM: Interesting idea. Have you thought of a blender knob? That way you get volume and, instead of a selector switch, you have a knob that , err, blends the pickups.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on August 31, 2006, 05:53:22 AM: Quote from: Searcher
Interesting idea. Have you thought of a blender knob? That way you get volume and, instead of a selector switch, you have a knob that , err, blends the pickups.

Yes I have, but I wanted to try to do it with what I have first. I was thinking I could have 3 knobs, where one is the blender, panning from one to the next, and the other two would be the volume controls.

Quote from: lp_man
Stereo jacks are usually used to turn off active electronics in guitars so I don't think you'll need one. I'll have a look around for a diagram for you see if I can find anything.

My dad and I were looking at the wiring, and we think that there is no way to do it except with some sort of switch or stereo jack. The problem is when you turn one volume pot all the way down, the guitar stops making sound. I think that they are both independent (you can hardly tell with SD's) but when I open the circuit (turn the pot all the way down), and since both are part of the same circuit, the sound is cut.

But if I get a stereo jack then I need a stereo cable (probably).

I'll bet someone will come along and make me look stupid and prove me wrong :P !
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: 3th3r on August 31, 2006, 07:54:13 AM: I have never tried this myself, but I think this will give you two independent volume controls:

1. Connect the ground wire from each pickup to ground.
2. Connect lug 1 on each pot to ground.
3. Connect each pickup's "hot" wire to lug 2 (middle) on its respective pot.
4. Solder a wire connecting lug 3 to lug 3 to the tip connector on the jack.
5. Connect the ring connector on the jack to ground.

Basically you are swapping the connections on lugs 2 and 3.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: PhilKing on August 31, 2006, 12:19:19 PM: 3th3r has it - you need to use the Jazz bass wiring style.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on August 31, 2006, 11:19:26 PM: It worked guys!

This is great! I'm glad I don't have to buy anything new.

Hey if I want to add an capacitor, do I just add it to the middle and outer lugs on the pots?
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on August 31, 2006, 11:57:07 PM: Quote from: Guitarzan

Hey if I want to add an capacitor, do I just add it to the middle and outer lugs on the pots?

If you want a treble bleed cap then yes- so that it stays bright sounding as you turn down (between lugs 2 & 3)
Also recommend a 150K resistor in parallel with the cap
I posted a piccy of this in a previous post- repeated below
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on September 01, 2006, 12:39:05 AM: Feline, what does the resistor do when you link it in parallel?

Also what values do you reccomend for the capacitor? I looked for the other post but couldn't find it. Sorry for the repost.
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on September 01, 2006, 12:44:06 AM: It helps keep the load that the pickup sees a little more constant between full up and turned down. The cap bleeds through a little treble at the high end of the scale to compensate for what seems to be lost usually

the resistor is 150K ohm and the cao is 0.001 Mfd
The number on the cap is the giveaway - the one you get should have it on there
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: Guitarzan on September 01, 2006, 12:59:42 AM: Thanks a bunch Feline!

Perhaps when I have the money I'll buy a guitar someday!
Title: Strange Wiring Diagram!
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on September 01, 2006, 11:35:15 AM: Quote from: Guitarzan
Thanks a bunch Feline!

Perhaps when I have the money I'll buy a guitar someday!

I rather like the one in your avatar - being a Lynch fan and all that