Multiple Coil Tap Switch Question

[Dr Iley]

So I've wound a pickup for a custom lap steel console guitar I'm building and I tapped the coil multiple times. The first tap is at 5.67k, the second is at 7.88k and the end is at 10.11k.

I know I can use a rotary switch for the selector, but I was wondering if I can use SPDT on off on switch for it.

I know that energy follows the least path of resistance, and used a breadboard to test the switch. The wiring looks like this:

0--- 7.88k
0--- 10.11k ----------Output
0--- 5.67k


So with the switch in the middle, the output is obviously a 10.11k. But when you throw the switch up, the resistance gets cut since it leaves the coil at an earlier path of lower resistance. Then the same happens when you throw it down, the lower resistance is what is sent out.

Now only measuring resistance, this seems to work out. However, I know that pickups have more involved such as inductance which I have no tools to measure. So my question is do you think this setup would work, or would there be signal bleed from the higher outputs?

[Mike Sulzer]

So I've wound a pickup for a custom lap steel console guitar I'm building and I tapped the coil multiple times. The first tap is at 5.67k, the second is at 7.88k and the end is at 10.11k.

I know I can use a rotary switch for the selector, but I was wondering if I can use SPDT on off on switch for it.

I know that energy follows the least path of resistance, and used a breadboard to test the switch. The wiring looks like this:

0--- 7.88k
0--- 10.11k ----------Output
0--- 5.67k


So with the switch in the middle, the output is obviously a 10.11k. But when you throw the switch up, the resistance gets cut since it leaves the coil at an earlier path of lower resistance. Then the same happens when you throw it down, the lower resistance is what is sent out.

Now only measuring resistance, this seems to work out. However, I know that pickups have more involved such as inductance which I have no tools to measure. So my question is do you think this setup would work, or would there be signal bleed from the higher outputs?

If I understand right, you are using the switch to short out turns. That could cut the output more than you expect and alter the tone by damping the resonance. You might want to try this out before you commit to it.

[big_teee]

If I understand right, you are using the switch to short out turns. That could cut the output more than you expect and alter the tone by damping the resonance. You might want to try this out before you commit to it.

If you grounded that end and fed the start non-tapped end I think would work good.
when in 5.67k pos 5.67k and the 10.11k would be grounded.
then when in 7.88 you would short the 7.88 and 10.11 to ground.
then just ground the 1011k in the middle.
I have done some similar circuits.
Terry

[Dr Iley]

If you grounded that end and fed the start non-tapped end I think would work good.
when in 5.67k pos 5.67k and the 10.11k would be grounded.
then when in 7.88 you would short the 7.88 and 10.11 to ground.
then just ground the 1011k in the middle.
I have done some similar circuits.
Terry

So you're saying in addition to grounding the start of the coil, I ground the end of the coil as well? Then I run the taps out and the unused coils (if any) will be grounded?

So if I run a DPDT On Off On, it should look like this?

7.88k------- 0 0 ------Ground
10.1k------- 0---0
5.67k------- 0 0 ------Ground


Or do some of you still think this will affect tone and resonance, in which case I should just use a 3 position 1 pole rotary switch?

[big_teee]

No!
I was talking about if you fed the output to the start, then do all the grounding on the switch end.
Heck, try it both ways.
Sorry for the confusion.
Terry

[copperheadroads]

his might help
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t3941/
Go down there's a sketch that Spence drawn

[Dr Iley]

his might help
http://music-electronics-forum.com/t3941/
Go down there's a sketch that Spence drawn

I saw that today, but since there is only 1 tap, it really isn't helpful in the same way. I realized that I can do the same thing with a rotary switch, but I was trying to minimize the cavity size if I could find a way to do it with toggle switches instead.