OP
I'm still trying to work out this diagram in my head.....
Les Paul Wiring - Partial Jimmy Page Rig:
- Thread starter Inspector #20
- Start date
OP
This is somewhat understand:
This is how Seymour wired Randy Rhoads" white Concorde.
This one makes no sense to me at all:
Note the top diagram's use of capacitors compared to the bottom diagram....
This is how Seymour wired Randy Rhoads" white Concorde.
This one makes no sense to me at all:
Note the top diagram's use of capacitors compared to the bottom diagram....
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Keep in mind what happens in potting. The windings are prevented from moving or vibrating. That's it. The mere presence of wax doesn't affect tone. If a pickup is already wound tightly enough and the windings aren't vibrating much, you very likely won't tell much of a difference.
But, for a pickup that has started to get a little loose, the before and after is a little more obvious.
This can be one reason why the impressions of people can vary so much.
....and experiences. That's part of what forums do...they allow us to share experiences and learn.
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Maybe, I can help a little.
That last diagram is a typical coil split arrangement. It is not a phase reversal diagram. It's pretty much exactly how I wired the coil split for my LP Studio, except I chose to use the push/pull pots in the volume position rather than the tone position, for more immediate access. I also used 50's wiring instead of modern. The way a coil-split works is that one coil is simply short-circuited to ground.
The difference in the capacitor connection schemes you pointed out is because the top diagram depicts '50s wiring. The bottom one shows modern wiring.
The only meaningful difference between '50s and modern wiring is that in '50s wiring the tone circuit taps off the wiper (center lug) on the volume pot. This is the output of the pot. Modern wiring taps off the input of the volume pot, which is the connection directly from the pickup.
The tone circuit, itself, is a series circuit consisting of the pot resistance and the capacitor leading to ground. Electronically, it doesn't really matter if the resistance or the capacitor is first. The main distinguishing feature between the two tone schemes lies in where the tone circuit taps off the volume pot.
However, getting back to the original idea of doing a phase reversal, the top diagram is showing both a phase reversal and a series/parallel pickup setup. For a simple phase reversal you only need one push/pull pot. I've never tried doing the series switching.
As I suggested earlier (post #12), for a simple phase reversal, I'd ignore that top diagram. Instead, just wire one pickup to it's volume and tone like you'd normally do, without using any push/pull pot. It doesn't matter which pickup you choose. I tend to choose the bridge pickup. However, the second pickup should be wired to the push/pull pot as illustrated below:
Note the comment in this illustration. The hot lead from the switch (that black wire coming from the lower left switch terminal), will get connected to the input of the volume pot. From there, the volume and tone will be wired normally.
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OP
That's helpful, Smitty...thank you.
I ordered 2 standard TAOT/CTS pots 525k and 2 push/pull TAOT/CTS 540k pots, so I will be using both push/pulls on the tone controls.
Referring to the Randy Rhoads' Concorde diagram, it refers to phase split with one pot and series with the other.
Can you explain that precisely???
OP
Like capacitor drift???
I'll try...without getting too techno-babblish….
First, it's not "phase split". Wiring for splitting and phase reversal are two different things. The Concorde diagram is using one push/pull pot to switch one pickup out of phase with the other.
The series connection is doing something entirely different. In a normal setup, the pickups are connected in parallel with one another. In fact, in almost all wiring schemes, regardless of whether you have two or three pickups, they are wired in parallel. Pickup windings have a "start" and a "finish" (for simplicity I'm speaking in terms of a two-wire pickup). In a parallel connection, the starts are connected together and the finishes are connected together.
Now, of course, you are not physically soldering the two pickups together - this parallel connection occurs in the toggle switch when you select both pickups. The finishes are connected to ground, which is how they are joined.
What's happening with series switching is that the wiring of one pickup is switched to be in series with the other one. This means one pickup feeds INTO the other. That's what that second push/pull pot is doing. In a series setup, the finish of one pickup connects to the start of the second pickup. The finish of the second pickup goes to ground. This makes for more complex wiring.
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OP
Got it. That makes sense!!!!
It's not so much like capacitor drift as that is usually the result of breakdown of the dielectric in a capacitor.
Pickups become microphonic due to vibrations occurring with the pickup windings. Some very, very minor vibrations can actually add to the complexity and interest of the sound. However, at very high gain, or with excessive vibrations in the windings, feedback and squealing can occur.
Older instruments tend to be more susceptible.
OP
What benefit would be obtained???
I am vintage, and I hoard both amps and guitars 
OP
I'm sorry...yes...series wiring...
OP
So...parallel would reduce output volume but series would increase output???
I know that two 12 volt batteries, hooked in series, gives 24 volts.
Am I looking this with the correct lens???
I know that two 12 volt batteries, hooked in series, gives 24 volts.
Am I looking this with the correct lens???
I’ve never tried it so I have no first hand experience with it.
All I could tell you is what various sources on the inter webs say about it.
OP
Found this....yes...double output with highs attenuated.
Guitar Wiring: Series vs. Parallel Explained
An excellent article on the subject written originally by Dirk Wacker (Premier Guitar).
www.haloguitars.com
OP
OP
Stopped by my pal's car shop and pulled some wiring from an in-tank fuel pump. Polyurethane jacket.
I will use this to build my harness...braided conductor, will bend 180° without kinking and retains its shape when bent. Jacket appear impervious to heat. Conductor is same size as my archaic Gravitt cloth wiring.
I will use this to build my harness...braided conductor, will bend 180° without kinking and retains its shape when bent. Jacket appear impervious to heat. Conductor is same size as my archaic Gravitt cloth wiring.