HSS Rewire

[MrBump]

Hi Guys.

I know this topic comes up periodically, but I'm still struggling to come up with an answer.

I'm revamping my Charvel ST - it's turning into an HSS.  But I'm struggling a little with getting the sound right.

I initially tried 3x300k pots in a volume, tone, tone config with a .022 cap on the tone pots.  The bridge HB sounded great, but the neck and bridge SCs were very VERY bright.  It's now wired with 3x250k pots, and the SCs sound great but the HB is just too muddy.

I reckon that the 300k pots were actually duff - I over soldered the volume pot to the point that the shaft just fell out - not sure what brand they were, I ordered CTS but they didn't look like them.  So I'm wondering if the brightness (which was really, really extreme) was more to do with faulty pots than the slight increase in value...

I'm going to try 2x500k pots now in a V&T configuration.  Will having fewer pots change the signal at all?  Surely it must....

Also - has anyone got a HSS wired with 500k pots?  I know that there's some electrickery that can be done to make the HB see 500k resistance with 250k pots - presumably this can be done by just wiring a 250k resister between the hot output of the pickup and the switch?

Or am I just being overly sensitive about this?

[gwEm]

i've farted about with this type of thing quite often. you'll get something that works in the end, but it might take a few attempts.

my first suggestion : try wiring the humbucker without any connection to the tone pot.

[darkbluemurder]

Also - has anyone got a HSS wired with 500k pots?  I know that there's some electrickery that can be done to make the HB see 500k resistance with 250k pots - presumably this can be done by just wiring a 250k resister between the hot output of the pickup and the switch?

I have. One volume, one tone (both 500k Audio taper) and one blend control (can be 250k or 500k Audio). I have to dig out the schematic where a 470k resistor is added in parallel to all positions except the one where the humbucker is used alone.

Cheers Stephan

[Philly Q]

Also - has anyone got a HSS wired with 500k pots?  I know that there's some electrickery that can be done to make the HB see 500k resistance with 250k pots - presumably this can be done by just wiring a 250k resister between the hot output of the pickup and the switch?

I think it's the other way round, you use 500k pots and rig it with resistors so the single-coils "see" 250k.  There's a really good Suhr wiring diagram somewhere but I don't have access to it at the moment.

Interesting thread, if I ever get round to wiring any of my "under the bed" guitars I will have this issue to contend with....  :?

[xXNicFlairXx]

Here's the Suhr diagram.

[MrBump]

Thanks - saw that in a previous post... Not sure I understand it completely, but can probably work it out.

I think i might have a crack at a straight build with 2x500k pots and see what that gives me.  If nothing else, it's improving my soldering skills!!!

[Philly Q]

Not sure I understand it completely, but can probably work it out.

Likewise!  I do prefer the diagrams which look more like the actual components, but this one is almost there.

[MrBump]

I've got a question about the Suhr diagram.

As far as I can see, it should work fine with just a regular 5 way, rather than the superswitch?  And one of the hot wires from the SC goes directly to the 470k resistor (and the switch), then to earth - can they both be wired that way?

Think I might have a go, if I'm understanding it.

[Philly Q]

As far as I can see, it should work fine with just a regular 5 way, rather than the superswitch? 

I can't get my head around the workings of a superswitch, so I'll approach it this way: does the Suhr wiring allow all three pickups to be connected to a tone control?

I ask that because I know that you can use a normal five-way switch with an HSS setup and an automatic coil-split in position 2.  However, when you do that you lose the option to wire it with bridge and middle (or neck and middle) sharing a tone control like they do on a modern Strat.  One or other pickup has to go without a tone control.  I'm guessing the same is true with the Suhr wiring unless you use the superswitch.

[xXNicFlairXx]

This might help understanding the superswitch.
With regards to the Suhr diagram, i followed it but omitted R1 and C1 as this is one of those volume pot treble bleed thingys.

[Philly Q]

This might help understanding the superswitch.
With regards to the Suhr diagram, i followed it but omitted R1 and C1 as this is one of those volume pot treble bleed thingys.

Dammit, the treble bleed was the only bit I understood! :lol:

Thanks for the diagram, could be useful.  It's already helped me to the realisation that the poles are "active" in pairs, I'd been too dim to work that out before!