Help with wiring 3 humbuckers in a Strat

[Sam_pp]

Hi guys, first time poster here.

I'm having some problems in figuring out how to wire a guitar of mine up.

Right,

Its a cheapy strat copy (not sure that matters); 3 single coils, 5 way switch, 1 volume pot and 2 tone pots.

What i'm trying to do is change the single-coils for humbuckers (2xGiovanni (by Artec) GCH-1's and 1xGiovanni GCH-2-N-IV), change the pots so they control each pickups volume and keep the 5 way switch.

I would like the switch in 1st position to be the neck pickup, 2nd position to be a mix of neck and middle, 3rd position to be the middle pickup on its own, 4th position a mix of middle and bridge and finally the 5th position be just the bridge pickup on its own.

I've scoured the net and kind find anything of the sort like what i've described. Is it at all possible???

Thanks in advance guys

Sam

[big_teee]

Seymour Duncan has a bunch of ways to wire them.
Heres One.
Wiring Diagram
Wiring Diagrams - Seymour Duncan

[Sam_pp]

PERFECT!! Thanks. I swear i checked everywhere ha ha.

So how would I change those 2 tone pots to independent volume ones? Is it just a case of taking those capacitors off? (sorry for my poor electronics knowledge)

Thanks again man.

[Chuck H]

Sorry if this is insulting in any way... But based on the wording of your inquiries I don't think you have the chops to pull this off. Only because it's not a common scenario and there is no rote wiring diagram to reference. I suppose any one of us could draw one up. But there is litterally NOTHING in it for us. That combined with the lack of personal connection and I'm afraid your best move is to pay a qualified tech to set this up for you. Three pickups on independent volume controls should actually negate the switch... But there will be options to discuss regarding HOW independant the pickups will be. This has everything to do with signal loading due to multiple volume pots and how the switching will affect pickup independence. What your asking for is really simple at face value, but not actually simple at all.

[Sam_pp]

No insult taken man. Yeah I'm not too experienced in this kind of stuff.

Thanks for the advice, I didn't realise how complicated it would be. I think i'm gonna need to delve into some books and start from the bottom up.

Thanks for your help man,

Best wishes.

[Sock Puppet]

I would use 500k pots for this as Chuck pointed out are necessary... just take a look at this:

WDU-HHH3T22-01

Remove the tone contro, taking the output from your "out" on the strat switch and wire the "hot" outer lug of each volume control to their respective places on the 5 way switch.

You might want to consider this if it's a cheap strat copy and you're just looking for sounds:

Doug Wilkes Guitars - How do you get almost any imaginable sound out of a guitar wi th a single pickup? Doug Wilkes has 'The Answer'

[big_teee]

Just wire them regular.
I make pickups and loaded pickguards all the time.
One I do is with 3 mini Rail pickups.
I use the regular 5 way switch, a 250k Vol. Pot.
One 250k Tone for neck, and middle pickup.
Use a 500k Pot for the high output bridge pickup.
Everyone that has tried them like that combo.
Just build something, and start experimenting.
T

[52 Bill]

I suppose any one of us could draw one up. But there is litterally NOTHING in it for us. That combined with the lack of personal connection and I'm afraid your best move is to pay a qualified tech to set this up for you.

Gee Chuck that was kinda harsh wasn't it?

[rjb]

...it's not a common scenario and there is no rote wiring diagram to reference.

Maybe uncommon, but not unheard of.
From Richard Thompson's site: Gear & Tunings


Ferrington Custom Guitar
(with a mixture of pickups)

I like my blue Ferringtoncaster best, although the top string could be louder.

The blue Ferrington has a P90 at the neck, an Alnico Strat in the middle, and a Broadcaster at the bridge. It has a 5 position p/u selector. Each p/u has a volume control, but no tone. In the blend positions, this gives infinite tone combinations between p/us, by backing off the volumes.

[Chuck H]

Gee Chuck that was kinda harsh wasn't it?

Yeah. It didn't feel good writing it. But I was still unwilling to work out and CAD a diagram. So that was my point. I don't mind that the statement was recognized as a little harsh. But unless your working on a diagram for the OP you feel the same way and just didn't say so

[Chuck H]

Maybe uncommon, but not unheard of.
From Richard Thompson's site: Gear & Tunings


Ferrington Custom Guitar
(with a mixture of pickups)

I like my blue Ferringtoncaster best, although the top string could be louder.

The blue Ferrington has a P90 at the neck, an Alnico Strat in the middle, and a Broadcaster at the bridge. It has a 5 position p/u selector. Each p/u has a volume control, but no tone. In the blend positions, this gives infinite tone combinations between p/us, by backing off the volumes.

Great... But where's the schematic or diagram?

[Steve Conner]

I think it ought to work fine if you use the trick used in some Les Pauls. Wire the volume controls "backwards" with the pickup connected to the wiper, and the hot end of the track to the selector switch.

I can't be bothered turning that into a layout drawing either. Especially since the wire colours on humbuckers vary between manufacturers, so the drawing has a 75% chance of being wrong.

[Sam_pp]

Cheers for all the info guys . Its nice to see so many knowledgable people here.

I'm gonna have a tinker in the next few days and see what I can come up with. I will post up my results...............

[Chuck H]

I'd suggest 1M, A10 pots. That is, 1 meg resistance with 10% value at half rotation. With all three pickups in service this will present a load of (roughly) 333k. The shallow taper should help the pots to feel more intuitive with this sort of arrangement. Bournes makes some that are available through Mouser.

[rjb]

...Wire the volume controls "backwards" with the pickup connected to the wiper, and the hot end of the track to the selector switch.

I agree (but would have used a lot more words to say the same thing).
Here are Artec color codes and wiring diagrams: http://artecsound.com/wiring/wiring_book01.pdf
I went ahead and drew up a quick & dirty sketch; use at your own risk.
I second Chuck's suggestion regarding pot type.