One humbucker with 3-way switch/

[888guitars]

Hi, looking for a diagram with proper 3 way switch to wire a humbucker to use either coil independently and also get the humbucker in series. Anyone know how?

[copperheadroads]

How many controls should be mentioned but
Wiring Diagram
shouldn't you be able to wire the 3 way like this

[rjb]

Hi, looking for a diagram with proper 3 way switch to wire a humbucker to use either coil independently and also get the humbucker in series. Anyone know how?

I don't know why you want to do that, but...
Get a SPDT ON-OFF-ON switch.
Connect the switch's COMMON terminal to the pickup's "center" (coil common) wire(s).
Connect one of the remaining switch terminals to one of the remaining pickup wires (sig+ or sig-/gnd).
Connect the last remaining switch terminal to the last remaining pickup wire.

Good luck,
-rb

[rjb]

How many controls should be mentioned but Wiring Diagram shouldn't you be able to wire the 3 way like this

Yup- the OP didn't mention color code, or whether the pickup is 2-wire, 3-wire, or 4-wire.

The diagram you reference is for serial/parallel wiring; the OP wants to shunt one coil or the other.

Also note, there is a slightly easier way to accomplish the same thing as the Seymour Duncan diagram shows:
Instead of the diagonal jumper shown, install a jumper across the "top" 2 terminals.
That way, you don't have to solder more than 1 wire on any terminal.

-rb

[David Schwab]

I don't know why you want to do that, but...
Get a SPDT ON-OFF-ON switch.
Connect the switch's COMMON terminal to the pickup's "center" (coil common) wire(s).
Connect one of the remaining switch terminals to one of the remaining pickup wires (sig+ or sig-/gnd).
Connect the last remaining switch terminal to the last remaining pickup wire.

Good luck,
-rb

This is the way to do it.

For some fun, use a cap between the series connection and the switch. Try something like .02µF to .047µF.

[BizzarGuitars]

If the each of the user's humbucker coils are wound to different specs, theoretically, wouldn't each of the three positions produce different sounds?
I put Individual Coil Select switches in my guitars, but then again, I am not using stock pickups (or stock guitars for that matter).
I wind each of my coils in a humbucker to different specs, so that theoretically, they should produce different sounds.
Here's a couple of pics I've found on line that helped me.




Individual coil selection is do-able with either on/off/on or on/on/on switches. The switches are wired differently, but still produce the required effect.

I put an Individual Coil Select switch on each Humbucker and a phase switch on the bridge pick up, resulting in 24 different coil selection combinations.
Here's a drawing of the wiring:


Currently, the difference in the coils is minimal, but in the future, I intend to make there more variation in the coils to, hopefully, produce more distinct sounds.

Ciao,

Garth

[BizzarGuitars]

Whoops!
Wrong wiring diagram.
should be this one:


Ciao,

Garth

[rjb]

The diagram you reference is for serial/parallel wiring; the OP wants to shunt one coil or the other.

However, I suggest you try the serial/parallel wiring- you might like it!
-rb

[rjb]

Clarification

The diagram you reference is for serial/parallel wiring; the OP wants to shunt one coil or the other.

Also note, there is a slightly easier way to accomplish the same thing as the Seymour Duncan diagram shows:
Instead of the diagonal jumper shown, install a jumper across the "top" 2 terminals.

The SD diagram shows a push-pull pot with integrated 2-position DPDT switch.

If you wire a 2-position DPDT switch per the SD diagram, or per my suggested mod, you get a choice of coils in series or coils in parallel.

If you wire a 3-position DPDT ON-ON-ON switch per the SD diagram, you get series, coil split, and parallel wiring.

You may find the series/split/parallel combination gives you a wider variation of timbres than your original plan.
Versus coil split, the parallel configuration has the advantage of being humbucking.

-rb

[David Schwab]

However, I suggest you try the serial/parallel wiring- you might like it!
-rb

I second that suggestion. And you don't lose the hum cancelation. Parallel sounds very similar to single coil in many cases.

[888guitars]

Ok so with the SD diagram. when it says humbucker in the middle position they are saying both coils are truly in series?

[rjb]

Ok so with the SD diagram. when it says humbucker in the middle position they are saying both coils are truly in series?

Oops, maybe something got lost in translation....

I know there are many SD diagrams; I was referring to the one copperheadroads provided.
That diagram shows a push-pull pot, with a 2-position DPDT switch; the positions are "up" and "down" - there is no middle position.
You have 2 columns of 3 terminals, but only 2 switch positions.
In one position, you get the coils in series; in the other, you get the coils in parallel.

But if you were to use a 3-position ON-ON-ON DPDT switch, and wired it exactly the same way, you would get coil split/shunt/whatever you want to call it in the middle position.

The standard configuration for humbuckers is with the coils in series.

I hope I answered your question.
-rb

[888guitars]

Yes thank you. I just have not found a tone I like with both coils in parallel.