Variatone alike switch (But 1 position only)

[Mick Bailey]

Mike,
Here is my wiring idea that creates a variable Varitone like effect. I used a push pull volume pot to switch dual pickups on but out of phase. I wired individual volume controls for each pickup and then when the dual pickup mode was out of phase, a slight change of one pickup volume gave me a variable Varitone like effect.
Give it a try.

Joseph J. Rogowski

I like this idea - I had an old 70s Kasuga LP type guitar (LG2000 in solid maple) that was wired out of phase and with independently wired controls. The sound of this guitar through my Bee Baa was the best I ever had. With the bridge pickup turned up, the slightest movement of the neck volume altered the tone dramatically. It was a little bit knife-edge; most of the range was in the last 10% rotation. It had a Dimarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, and the original rather strangely constructed Maxon humbucker in the neck position that had 6 pairs of stamped polepieces in one bobbin and regular screws in the other.

Chuck, The 42TM019 is the transformer I've used myself for Varitone circuits, though I think if I was building this circuit these days I'd use Gibson's humbucking design wound in two sections to reduce noise. The main issue I have with the Varitone is the volume drop. I built a pedal with a buffered Varitone and preamp, but of course this loses the pickup interaction and shifting resonant peak - you get a mid shift only.

[FernandoEsteves]

It'll be hard to find an on/on/on with enough poles to do what you want with a single switch. Also, you won't have the varitone option in both series and parallel configurations. But...

You could use pull switch pots. Assuming you'll have a volume and a tone control you could put the series/parallel switch on one pot and the varitone switch on the other. No extra switch on the front of the guitar and you'd have the varitone option in both pickup modes. If you're planning to omit a tone control you could use an 2P2T on/on switch for the pickup mode and put the varitone on the pot switch and you'll still have the varitone option in both pickup modes. Or... Put the pickup mode switch on the volume pot and use a fancier switch (on/off/on toggle or even a rotary switch) for more varitone options.

EDIT: OOOooo... Just thought of another option. If this is to be a rocker guitar (assumed from the single humbucker though I suppose it could be a jazz guitar) you could use a double pole on-off-(on) switch. (on) indicates "momentary" operation. As in non latching. Then you could put the varitone on the on latch, the middle would be off and you could use the momentary for a mute the same way some guys are using pinball machine button switches. Orient the switch so the momentary position is on the down stroke so it feels natural to your picking hand. Now you have some very cool tricks. Series/parallel, varitone selectable for either pickup mode and a mute switch and still with only a volume knob and one switch on the guitar.

OK! But what is the value of the capacitor should I use to have a slight treble cut? Very little, not as much to sound as a neck humbucker, perhaps as a middle humbucker

[Chuck H]

OK! But what is the value of the capacitor should I use to have a slight treble cut? Very little, not as much to sound as a neck humbucker, perhaps as a middle humbucker

If what you want is a less bright, but still full gain tone then you probably don't need the inductor. But if you also want a gain reduction with the less edgy tone I think the inductor can help. So what is it? Using adjectives like "sweeter tone" means NOTHING because the term is subjective and we all define it differently. Please describe exactly, in plain talk anyone can interpret, everything about the tonal change you want with the sweet switch.

[Mick Bailey]

The value of capacitor depends on what your own hearing preference is, as well as your pickup's characteristics. A 0.0047 uF capacitor would be my starting point, but whenever working on a guitar I expect to audition a few values of a component to get the best result. You may want to experiment with locating the capacitor on the pickup output, or after the volume control and tone pot (assuming you're using one). There's a subtle difference in sound between the two positions.

[FernandoEsteves]

If what you want is a less bright, but still full gain tone then you probably don't need the inductor. But if you also want a gain reduction with the less edgy tone I think the inductor can help. So what is it? Using adjectives like "sweeter tone" means NOTHING because the term is subjective and we all define it differently. Please describe exactly, in plain talk anyone can interpret, everything about the tonal change you want with the sweet switch.

Well, I said I want it to sound more like a middle pickup and not like a neck pickup. Think that is a technical info, doesn't?

[FernandoEsteves]

The value of capacitor depends on what your own hearing preference is, as well as your pickup's characteristics. A 0.0047 uF capacitor would be my starting point, but whenever working on a guitar I expect to audition a few values of a component to get the best result. You may want to experiment with locating the capacitor on the pickup output, or after the volume control and tone pot (assuming you're using one). There's a subtle difference in sound between the two positions.

thank you

[Chuck H]

Will you be using the volume control on the guitar to reduce gain when then the sweet switch is incorporated? I ask because you didn't comment on my gain inquiry. And it could affect where the circuit is located (before or after the volume control).

[FernandoEsteves]

May use now and then, but probably not much

[freefrog]

Hello FernandoEsteves,

Ain't got the time to read the whole topic so I don't know if my humble contribution will echo what others said, but... if you want "just a position that cuts a little of the treble to have a little sweetier tone for melodic parts", it might be interesting to start with a simple switchable capacitor between hot and ground...

Watch (and listen) this: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u2sjeVQpS94

Then consider that any length of cable can be sonically emulated by a a small capacitor of the same value (= typically, something a bit above 100pF per meter for the 47 best brands named @ https://www.shootoutguitarcables.com...nce-chart.html but some cables go up to 300pF per meter).

Bill lawrence evoked a 2.4nF to mimic the coily cable used by Hendrix... http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/Al...leandSound.htm

I've myself a simple 1nF cap in my Strat number 1 : it already does a good job when it simply comes to soften the high range AND to enhance the high mids, as explained here: http://zerocapcable.com/?page_id=209

If the tone becomes too "telephonic" (with nasal mids translating a too high Q factor), just reduce the capacitance involved and/or add a resistor in parallel with the cap.

Not that (R)LC filters are not interesting: these last decades, I've mounted various home made versions of Lawrence Q filters, Gresco Tone Qube, Torres mid control, Gibson Varitone... they all work and each has something great to offer! Positions 2 & 4 of a Strat or Acoustic guitar tones can even be mimiced thx to a single PU + a LRC network. But the presence of an inductor generally gives a "notched" filter, doing more than what you want. Hence my humble advice, FWIW (= my two cents, not far from the price of a cheapo cap). :-)

[FernandoEsteves]

Thank you, will take a look on it!