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View Full Version : Help with wiring pickups in-series + in-parallel



snakehips
14-10-2007, 08:55 PM
Hi there !

Been a while since I've been on here - but this site is the best place for advice I'm after - I know you guys can help !!!!

I want a pickup selector system for 2 magnetic pickups I want to put on an acoustic (but with electric strings).

Before I drill holes into the guitar (!) I'd like to mount the switches on something external first - a small plastic plate or something. I've no idea whether I'll keep the 2 pickup setup permanently, so don't want to ruin my acoustic with holes unless the pickups are staying. Perhaps I could fix the plate to the guitar permanent with weak glue or something.

I would like to have the option of chosing either pickup on its own but also choose between in-parallel and in-series, when both pickups are one.
I'm not sure how to go about wiring this up and what sort of switches to use.
Are there any pre-made systems out there that you just solder your pickups on to ? How about slider pickup selector switches like you get on Fender Jaguar/Jazzmaster ? (I could mount them on a plate and loosely attach to the guitar while I test them out to see if I like them).

Each pickup only has 2 wires - then they could go to the pickup selector section (in question / looking for advice on) then on to the volume+tone+output connector I have already.

Any help / advice on how I do this ???

Here is my guitar, a 1940's Kay dreadnought acoustic with a Dearmond pickup, connected to a box with vol+tone knobs, plus treble cut switch.

http://i51.photobucket.com/albums/f390/snakehips82/Colne20077.jpg


The same model my idol, Elmore James, played for his wicked slide guitar stuff.


I would plan to cut the wire between the two, have another pickup in the soundhole, each pickup cables go to the "thing" I'm after, then the output of that gets connected to the vol/tone thing.

Please help,

Many thanks.

snakehips
15-10-2007, 11:19 AM
Perhaps I have not posted this question in the best part of the forum - where would it be best to go ???

Stew
15-10-2007, 07:09 PM
Hi Rich I moved it here to luthier section. 6sh has been a bit quieter lately but hopefully someone will get back to you with an answer quite soon. :thumb: by the way it looks a cracker of acoustic can't wait to catch some more "Mud in yer ear"

snakehips
15-10-2007, 07:26 PM
Many thanks Stew !!

I'm hoping someone can help me suss out how to do some neat wiring.

I got the guitar on eBay for just over $600. When it arrived it had 4 rusted strings on it. When I took them off, the flippin' neck fell off !!!!!!!!

I sent it down to London to get fixed by the guy who does my Nationals. He gave it to his female business partner to do it. She did an amazing job. New bridge and fixed the bridge-plate underneath, fixed some cracks in the top, reset the neck, refretted it. She said the repairs cost a bit more than I might have expected. Shit, I thought - what £350-400 ? Nope, £ 695 !!! Plus another £30 for a case for it !!!!!!!! Free shipping back to Edinburgh !!!!

Its a beauty now though - and will be my main Elmore guitar for good now.

Thats a Dearmond Rhythm Chief Model 1000 pickup on it - made in the 1940's. They sell for around $400-600 on eBay ! The version with adustable polepieces sell on eBay for around $800-1200 !!!! For a pickup !!!!!!!

Stew
16-10-2007, 08:44 AM
Rich I pm'd one of the guys here who is a tech who lives Aberdeen direction and asked him to see if he can answer your query.

graeme312
01-12-2007, 01:08 PM
hi and sorry guys i havent been too well lately.
I will have a look and a think about the configuration
couple of questions
are you wanting to select different p/ups seperately? or blend in also? if so is there a vol/ tone on other pickup for sound hole?
i will be in touch soon
sorry for delay again
graeme

Jack
03-12-2007, 07:49 AM
If you still need an answer to your question, try this forum:

http://guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi

I hang out there sometimes... They are some of the most knowledgeable guys I've ever met when it comes to wiring and general guitar repairs/mods....

Stew
03-12-2007, 07:57 AM
If you still need an answer to your question, try this forum:

http://guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi

I hang out there sometimes... They are some of the most knowledgeable guys I've ever met when it comes to wiring and general guitar repairs/mods....
Jack thanks for that link it will help me too as I have a Joe Perry Gibson that cuts out if I select a different pickup so i'll see if someone there cna help me out.

Jack
04-12-2007, 11:03 PM
Jack thanks for that link it will help me too as I have a Joe Perry Gibson that cuts out if I select a different pickup so i'll see if someone there cna help me out.

You're most welcome! I'm very confident that they can help you...