Parallel/Series, but with a 3-way pickup selector.

#2
Subscribed, as I'd like to know also. I know you can use a 4-way switch instead of 3 way and gain the series-parallel option when both pickups are on, but I don't know how to do exactly what you're asking, and I'd like to, if it's possible.
 
#7
barlemniscate said:
Update: I found this: https://www.tdpri.com/attachments/stelecaster-wirogram-jpg.666573/
I'm unsure, however, if the neck/bridge isolation (positions 1/3) would be in series.
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In the case of that diagram, the pickups are single coil, so with just one of the pickups, there's no such thing as series or parallel. If you're talking about using two-coil humbucking pickups in each position, and want each in series when it is soloed, then they would simply be wired in series individually. This is the default way they are wired, at least in the instructions that came with my DiMarzio Model J's.
 
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#8
Inara said:
In the case of that diagram, the pickups are single coil, so with just one of the pickups, there's no such thing as series or parallel. If you're talking about using two-coil humbucking pickups in each position, and want each in series when it is soloed, then they would simply be wired in series individually. This is the default way they are wired, at least in the instructions that came with my DiMarzio Model J's.
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If that's the case, then why can you have a P bass with an S1 switch? That's a bit confusing.

But I do think I figured it out - a DPDT switch acts as a pickup selector without blending the two signals, and then they're fed into the standard J Bass S1 wiring. This way, I can have one pickup isolated in series - because the other one had its signal interrupted!

If I am wrong or this won't work, please tell me before I spend ages wiring it up! Thank you!


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#9
barlemniscate said:
If that's the case, then why can you have a P bass with an S1 switch? That's a bit confusing.

But I do think I figured it out - a DPDT switch acts as a pickup selector without blending the two signals, and then they're fed into the standard J Bass S1 wiring. This way, I can have one pickup isolated in series - because the other one had its signal interrupted!

If I am wrong or this won't work, please tell me before I spend ages wiring it up! Thank you!


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Click to expand...

What I meant was, your diagram was of a telecaster guitar with single coil pickups which don't have multiple coils. Perhaps I was taking your diagram too literally. If you substitute humbucking pickups into the diagram from the post I replied to, then for each pickup you have the choice to:
1. Wire that pickup in parallel, in which case it will be parallel when soloed
2. Wire that pickup in series, in which case it will be series when soloed
3. Introduce another switch, separate from the 4-way selection switch, that can toggle the pickup between parallel and series.

Without the extra switch in point 3, in the 4-way telecaster wiring, whether a pickup is in series or parallel when soloed is dependent on how you wired the pickup itself (points 1 and 2 in my list above).

I think what you're getting at is this number 3 option, where you'll have a separate switch to toggle series / parallel for the coils in each individual pickup, and then the 4 way selector to control the combinations of the two pickups?
 
#10
Inara said:
What I meant was, your diagram was of a telecaster guitar with single coil pickups which don't have multiple coils. Perhaps I was taking your diagram too literally. If you substitute humbucking pickups into the diagram from the post I replied to, then for each pickup you have the choice to:
1. Wire that pickup in parallel, in which case it will be parallel when soloed
2. Wire that pickup in series, in which case it will be series when soloed
3. Introduce another switch, separate from the 4-way selection switch, that can toggle the pickup between parallel and series.

Without the extra switch in point 3, in the 4-way telecaster wiring, whether a pickup is in series or parallel when soloed is dependent on how you wired the pickup itself (points 1 and 2 in my list above).

I think what you're getting at is this number 3 option, where you'll have a separate switch to toggle series / parallel for the coils in each individual pickup, and then the 4 way selector to control the combinations of the two pickups?
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In my case, there's only one coil per pickup, as I play on a J bass - sorry for the miscommunication.

My idea is to cut the signal from whatever pickup I want before it gets to the pots with the 3-way switch, and then run the remaining pickups into the pots where they can be put into parallel or series, courtesy of the push-pull S1 switch.

This way, I get to have two volumes in parallel, and a way to play with one pickup or the other (or both!) in series.

The goal is to basically be able to mimic a P bass sound and not lose the J sound(s). I use Epic Custom Shop E1s (E1 for J Bass) and they're super mid-rangy, so I think I could get close.
 
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#11
I'm still not getting something. Not surprising as I'm not an expert! :)

A P bass with a split coil pickup can have an S1 switch because it has two half-coils that can be put in series or parallel. A single-coil jazz pickup doesn't have two "halves" that can be put in series or parallel. It just has that one, single coil, so it's not the same concept.

Unless your single coil pickups have 4 wires each, maybe?

But again, I'm not an expert, and I thought you were talking about multi-coil pickups, so what you're trying to do might just be over my head.

Those Epic pickups look cool, by the way! Bookmarked that to consider the a project I have in the back of my mind.
 
#12
Inara said:
I'm still not getting something. Not surprising as I'm not an expert! :)

A P bass with a split coil pickup can have an S1 switch because it has two half-coils that can be put in series or parallel. A single-coil jazz pickup doesn't have two "halves" that can be put in series or parallel. It just has that one, single coil, so it's not the same concept.

Unless your single coil pickups have 4 wires each, maybe?

But again, I'm not an expert, and I thought you were talking about multi-coil pickups, so what you're trying to do might just be over my head.

Those Epic pickups look cool, by the way! Bookmarked that to consider the a project I have in the back of my mind.
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Well, split-coil pups only have one output and one ground, so there wouldn't even be a way to do that - right? Alas! I wish an expert would comment.
 
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#13
In 8:24 of this video (), he starts to a demo similar system to what I have in mind (ie parallel and series neck pickup only), and there's no tonal difference on fingers - there is, though, on pick and slap when it's what you'd expect. Did he mix up some files or am I crazy?
 
#15
Here are example wiring diagrams showing the 4 conductor P pickup wiring for series/parallel. There have to be two things to put in series ... If it's just one coil that isn't split, there's just nothing you can put in series or in parallel ... it's a single thing. What is it in series with, or in parallel with? It's by itself.
 

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#16
Inara said:
Here are example wiring diagrams showing the 4 conductor P pickup wiring for series/parallel. There have to be two things to put in series ... If it's just one coil that isn't split, there's just nothing you can put in series or in parallel ... it's a single thing. What is it in series with, or in parallel with? It's by itself.
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It'd be in series with the disabled pickup.
 
#17
The point of the selector switch is to be able to keep the bridge pickup but just not have the hot go into the pot (unless the selector is set for middle or bridge). This way, I can adjust individual volumes in parallel and have one of either pickup('s output) or both. Running it through a dead pickup should change the sound.
 
#18
barlemniscate said:
The point of the selector switch is to be able to keep the bridge pickup but just not have the hot go into the pot (unless the selector is set for middle or bridge). This way, I can adjust individual volumes in parallel and have one of either pickup('s output) or both. Running it through a dead pickup should change the sound.
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barlemniscate said:
Hi there - 18 years ago on this thread (Wiring diagram for series/parallel J-bass) someone mentioned being able to have a 3 way switch so that one could have just the neck or bridge pickup in series on a jazz bass, giving you the options of parallel, series, series neck, and series bridge.
Is this possible, and could someone link me a diagram? Thank you!
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On a Jazz with traditional single coil pickups, the two pickups can be wired in series with each other, or in parallel to the output jack, but a true single coil has no wiring options by itself other than to reverse the polarity.

You can wire a Jazz with two single coils to switch between parallel (standard wiring) and series wiring. You can solo either pickup when they are in parallel, but you can’t solo a pickup wired in series with another pickup, both are “in” the same circuit, so both are active.

P bass pickups consist of two separate coils which are traditionally wired in series, but the connection between the two coils can be cut and the two coils can be wired in parallel to the output jack.
 
#19
barlemniscate said:
It'd be in series with the disabled pickup.
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Any two pickups wired in series create one single circuit, just one signal path. One can’t be disabled and one be active.

Two pickups wired in series is the equivalent of one big single coil pickup. The two pickups can be physically separated / mounted in two different positions, but electrically / schematically, they are the equivalent of one single pickup.
 
#20
Tim Skaggs said:
Any two pickups wired in series create one single circuit, just one signal path. One can’t be disabled and one be active.

Two pickups wired in series is the equivalent of one big single coil pickup. The two pickups can be physically separated / mounted in two different positions, but electrically / schematically, they are the equivalent of one single pickup.
Click to expand...
It'd be disabled via the DPDT switch. The hot would never reach the pot to begin with. I posted a diagram above.
 
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