Pickup selection by shorting to ground?

lion · 09-03-2009, 12:31 PM

Has anybody ever seen a 2 pickup wiring scheme with a 3 pos toggle setup to short either N, B or none to ground - instead of switching the hot?

Will it work - and has it ever been implemented?

David Schwab · 09-03-2009, 08:31 PM

If you short the hot, you will short out both of them. If you leave the hot end connected and disconnect the ground, you will have a lot of hum.

lion · 09-03-2009, 10:15 PM

huh - dumb question

It's rather obvious!

The reason I led myself to even consider the possibility, is that I have bought a scratchplate with pots and a 3 pos toggle switch The strange thing is in the center position the switchlever has no contact to either of the poles, that is:
UP= contact A+B
CENTER= nc
DOWN=B+C
The seller claims that the harness has functioned with the switch as it is by shorting either of the PU's to ground. Obviously that's not possible, but I can't see how it could be able to switch both PU's ON as it is. The switch looks like a normal angled switchcraft and the switchblades doesn't look bent or damaged.

David Schwab · 09-04-2009, 05:31 AM

Switchcraft makes all kinds of those toggle switches. He got the wrong kind of switch and is trying to pass them off, or he just doesn't know any better.

No one uses switches like those for pickups. Those are used for tone switches on Gretsch guitars, where they switch caps in and out of the circuit.

Switchcraft GUITAR SWITCHES

lion · 09-04-2009, 09:39 AM

Thanks David.

Sweetfinger · 09-05-2009, 11:38 AM

You can wire like a Danelectro, where the pickups are wired in series and the switch shorts each pickup to itself to take it out of the circuit.

09-03-2009, 12:31 PM	#1
lion Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	Pickup selection by shorting to ground? Has anybody ever seen a 2 pickup wiring scheme with a 3 pos toggle setup to short either N, B or none to ground - instead of switching the hot? Will it work - and has it ever been implemented? Last edited by lion; 09-03-2009 at 03:43 PM.

09-03-2009, 08:31 PM	#2
David Schwab Pickup Maker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 5,626	If you short the hot, you will short out both of them. If you leave the hot end connected and disconnect the ground, you will have a lot of hum. __________________ Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger. - Coco Chanel www.sgd-lutherie.com www.myspace.com/sgdlutherie www.myspace.com/davidschwab

09-04-2009, 05:31 AM	#4
David Schwab Pickup Maker Join Date: May 2006 Location: Montclair, NJ Posts: 5,626	Switchcraft makes all kinds of those toggle switches. He got the wrong kind of switch and is trying to pass them off, or he just doesn't know any better. No one uses switches like those for pickups. Those are used for tone switches on Gretsch guitars, where they switch caps in and out of the circuit. Switchcraft GUITAR SWITCHES __________________ Those who create are rare; those who cannot are numerous. Therefore, the latter are stronger. - Coco Chanel www.sgd-lutherie.com www.myspace.com/sgdlutherie www.myspace.com/davidschwab

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09-03-2009, 10:15 PM	#3
lion Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	huh - dumb question It's rather obvious! The reason I led myself to even consider the possibility, is that I have bought a scratchplate with pots and a 3 pos toggle switch The strange thing is in the center position the switchlever has no contact to either of the poles, that is: UP= contact A+B CENTER= nc DOWN=B+C The seller claims that the harness has functioned with the switch as it is by shorting either of the PU's to ground. Obviously that's not possible, but I can't see how it could be able to switch both PU's ON as it is. The switch looks like a normal angled switchcraft and the switchblades doesn't look bent or damaged.

09-04-2009, 09:39 AM	#5
lion Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2009 Posts: 9	Thanks David.

09-05-2009, 11:38 AM	#6
Sweetfinger Senior Member Join Date: May 2006 Location: Phoenix Posts: 409	You can wire like a Danelectro, where the pickups are wired in series and the switch shorts each pickup to itself to take it out of the circuit.

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