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View Full Version : Wrapping my head around custom wiring idea


John Beef
03-15-2007, 11:01 AM
Hi! I've searched for this and couldn't find what I was looking for. Basically, I've been playing my CU22 for about three months, but can't get into the rotary switch. It's not bad, and I could keep it if my idea isn't possible.

I use three positions exclusively, positions 10, 9 and 6. 10 and 6 are no problem, it's getting position 9 active using only a three way selector that I'd like to do. I don't want to have to push or pull any knobs, as both a player and singer there is enough to balance while dealing with pedals and whatnot.

Looking at the switches that are available, a mini-toggle (on/on/on) instead of a Gibby/McCarty type switch seems like the only way to go. It doesn't seem like it would be possible to split both the humbuckers and switch to both pickups at the same time with a Gibby three pickup 3 way switch. Most mini-toggles are DPDT, seems like a 3PDT would be necessary at the bare minimum. Or Maybe a DP3T, do they make those in mini-toggle form? Anyone have ideas for this?

Will both humbuckers together give me anywhere near the same twang and quack as position 9? That isn't offered with the rotary so I can't try it out.

Also, this is a slightly different topic, if I lower the pickups slightly, and raise the polepieces, will that help with the volume drop in position 9 since pos 9 uses the adjustable coils?

Bruce O'Donnell
03-15-2007, 04:32 PM
Can't get there without either a mega-switch or another toggle. Pos 9 requires two actions - tapping the pickups and selecting the coils. What you need is a 3-way megaswitch toggle - don't know that one exists.

pianoman
03-15-2007, 05:04 PM
I'm quite sure you can do it with a 3-way blade. I can draw up a schematic for that, if you want.

John Beef
03-16-2007, 10:39 AM
Yeah, I figured a blade might be the only way. If my alternatives are either to use the rotary OR hack up this beautiful guitar to put a blade switch in, I choose the rotary.

Thanks for the responses!

John Beef
03-19-2007, 05:17 PM
Just a quick update, a fellow named Nelson emailed me after seeing this post (he couldn't log in to respond) and directed me to the DiMarzio EP1111 switch. It's used in Ibanez Petrucci models for exactly what I'm looking for, except for the inside coils instead of outside (simple wiring issue to switch to the outside coils). 4 pole three way switch, $30 at MF. Thanks again, Nelson!

http://www.dimarzio.com/media/diagrams/D.pdf

Now, if there was only a way to switch between the outside coils in parallel or in series using a push pull pot, just in case I wanted to use that tone sometime. Probably not possible to wire up.