Author Topic: Re-wiring a Ibanez S2170FW (Read 7936 times)

ailean · « **on:** July 21, 2007, 05:39:40 PM »

Hi all

My wife just bought this Ibanez S2170FW

It comes with a 5 position switch:

1) Neck
2) Neck & Middle
3) Middle
4) Middle & Bridge
5) Bridge

She has declared that this will be her 'War Machine' so I think it's destined for a pair of Warpigs or Painkillers (I think Warpigs are the current thinking). And we'll need to get advice on the middle pickup.

However this switch configuration does not allow you to play both humbuckers together which is a real shame if you have a calibrated pair (I know my Nailbombs sound great together).

How difficult would it be to put in a 7 position switch wired as above but with an option of both humbuckers, and maybe an 'all 3' position?

I guess we'd probably need it professionally done?

indysmith · « **Reply #1 on:** July 21, 2007, 05:56:48 PM »

The prestige S-series have unusual switches made specifically for them i think. Mine has a "super-switch", which is a bitch to figure out; mixing up all the contacts in order to prevent people from switching pickups easily (i suppose they want you to take it to ibanez, thus taking your money).
I took mine to a professional when i got my nailbomb fitted, and to figure it out he had to take the entire superswitch to pieces and map it out...
Good luck! lol

PhilKing · « **Reply #2 on:** July 22, 2007, 04:22:35 PM »

I put the superswitch in my Ibanez and added an on-on-on DPDT mini toggle for the single coil. This gives me the following:

Mini Switch pos 1
Bridge HB
Bridge in Parallel
Both HB's
Neck Coil Cut (Screw coil on)
Neck HB

Mini Switch pos 2
Bridge HB + Single coil
Bridge in Parallel + Single coil
Both HB's + Single coil
Neck Coil Cut (Screw coil on) + Single coil
Neck HB + Single coil

Mini Switch Pos 3
Single coil only (blade switch not in circuit).

I am using a Nailbomb bridge, Irish Tour middle and Cold Sweat neck.

ailean · « **Reply #3 on:** July 22, 2007, 05:52:20 PM »

Quote

I put the superswitch in my Ibanez and added an on-on-on DPDT mini toggle for the single coil.

That sounds like a good solution to me, do you have a wiring diagram for that? There is no way I'd be able to figure that out myself :)

WezV · « **Reply #4 on:** July 22, 2007, 06:12:14 PM »

I reckon phil's on the right track - lots of options with that and very easy to wire. I have done 'neck overide' switches before but this looks like a better solution

on simple on switch would look like this, thats either a SPDT switch or half of a DPDT switch (like found on push/pul pots). This is simpler than phils because it doesnt have the single coil by itself option - which you probably dont want anyway on a 'war machine'

then you just need to find a wiring scheme for 2 humbuckers and a five way switch that you like - lots of options there. Or keep it simple and just have a 3-way switch

ailean · « **Reply #5 on:** July 22, 2007, 06:26:19 PM »

I'm probably being thick here, but let me see if I've got this right.

(for PhilKing's example)

Set your 5 way the way you like it.

Add a 3 position switch between the 5 pos switch and the volume.

Wire the 3 way as

1) straight through
2) Add the single coil
3) only the single coil

Is that right?

ailean · « **Reply #6 on:** July 22, 2007, 06:42:17 PM »

I just had a thought and I don't know if this would work.

We'd rather not do anything to the woodwork, so could we use a push pull pot on the volume (currently a standard pot). And do something like this:

5 pos switch

1) Bridge HB
2) Bridge parallel
3) Both HB
4) No pickup
5) Neck HB

2 pos volume switch:

1) Straight through
2) Add the single pup

This would give the option of having the single on its own.

I'm assuming that if we leave position 4 open it won't mess up the single coil when that is selected?

Is this workable or am I insane?

PhilKing · « **Reply #7 on:** July 22, 2007, 07:56:43 PM »

For an easy wiring, you could use a Tele 3 way for the blade and get

Bridge HB
Both HB
Neck HB

And add a push pull to the volume to get the bridge parallel and the tone to get the single coil. You can wire the tone to give you single in parallel with the blade or single alone.

ailean · « **Reply #8 on:** July 22, 2007, 08:28:32 PM »

Thanks guys, I think I'm getting the hang of this wiring stuff now, however I think I'll still get someone else to weild the soldering iron :) Putting in my humbuckers was about as much as I can handle and I'm not sure my wife's brand new guitar is the place to practice :)

I had thought of a 3 way, but as we have a 5 way in there already we may as well use it, and it gives us more options in the future.

By the way, Tim came back with a reply to Sue's email:

Quote

Hi Sue,

for serious metal/shred I'd have to say Warpigs with a Trilogy Suite mid coil.This'll turn it into a fire breathing monster but a musical one too.

Sounds good to me!