Author Topic: Series/Parallel push-pull with 2 HBs? (Read 9361 times)

gingataff · « **on:** January 03, 2007, 02:53:17 PM »

I want to put a series/parallel push-pull tone knob in my Ibanez 540R which has 2 humbuckers and a 3 way switch. The best diagram I can find is on stewmac http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/I-DIMARZIO.html but there are a few points that I'm not sure about:

1) Do I still have the hot run from the pup to the selector switch and then to the push-pull or the reverse, connect the hot to the push-pull and then run a wire from there to the switch?

2) Can I wire both pickups to the same push-pull or will this short the pickups and mean that at least one coil from each pickup is always on?

Philly Q · « **Reply #1 on:** January 03, 2007, 05:32:17 PM »

The hot wire from the pickup would normally go to the push-pull, then you'd run a wire from there to the switch.

That being the case, it wouldn't be possible to use the same push-pull for both pickups. I think you need to replace both your pots with push-pulls.

I can't find a 100%-useful diagram, but this one shows 2 humbuckers, 2 (push-pull) volumes, 1 tone and a three-way switch. It should be fairly easy to adapt for 1 vol, 1 tone.

No doubt Phil King will post later and I'll turn out to be completely wrong again. :oops:

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** January 03, 2007, 06:56:48 PM »

I am going to join in, but just to say that you are right Philly!

You can only do series/parallel for one pickup on a dpdt switch. There is a qpdt switch that would do both, but as far as I know, only Fender have them on a switch (for the S1 switching).

Philly Q · « **Reply #3 on:** January 03, 2007, 07:04:06 PM »

That's a relief! :D

gingataff · « **Reply #4 on:** January 04, 2007, 01:36:48 AM »

Thanks for the info guys, although it's not the answer I was hoping for it certainly makes sense 8)
Fitting two push-pulls seems like a bit of hassle to me, I might just go with a coil split instead although I can always change my mind at a later date :?

WezV · « **Reply #5 on:** February 28, 2007, 03:52:53 PM »

Dont forget there are other ways to do the series/parallel switch.

I think the stew-mac diagram is for making the two coils in a humbucker in series/parallel with each other. If you want to do this with two pickups you need two push/pull pots but it only works with pickups with two coils.

The other way is to have a switch that decides whether a pickup is in series/parallel with the other pickup. This will affect the middle seting only and depends on where you can place it in the circuit. It works with single coils as well. It is common for Jazz basses to have this Mod so the neck pickup is either series or parallel with the bridge pickup.

Here is the wiring diagram on a jazz bass:

http://www.guitar-mod.com/wiring/j_series.gif

This could be adapted for use on a guitar with a volume for each pickup, like a les paul

froglord · « **Reply #6 on:** February 28, 2007, 10:16:25 PM »

I'd go for a simple coil split.

On my Eggle I wired up my Mules to give series, parallel and coil split options (it has a crazy rotary switch with sixteen lugs). I only use the series and coil split. The parallel option just sounds like a compromise between the two.