alternative mustang wiring schematic

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 4:58 pm

I'm going to completely rewire my mustang, as it should've been long time ago, and last time I transported it something inside broke and now I get a lot of hum.

So I was thinking if it possible to wire it that way so I could have these options:
- bridge pickup
- neck pickup
- neck+bridge parallel
- neck+bridge out of phase parallel
- neck+bridge series
- neck+bridge out of phase series

Is this possible?

I've been finding such complex schematics (e.g. with out of phase series and parallel and all the standard options) but they also have some caps added for tone variety purpose, but I don't like that.

I'd really appreciate any tips on this topic.

Will · Post by **Will** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 6:32 pm

I believe it's possible with the stock switches. Basically, you'd have each switch wired center-off with PUP selection on either side. One switch would be on/off/phase; the other would be parallel/off/series. The trick would be allowing the pickup on the series switch to be activated without the other PUP on.

Give me until tonight and I'll see if I can work something out.

James · Post by **James** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 10:09 pm

This one is very useful. If I get another Mustang, or duo sonic or whatever, i'm doing this with it.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Fri Jun 05, 2009 11:28 pm

I'll have a stab at it... i'll get back to you with something, probably going to involve push/pull pots to keep the asthetics of the guitar and no additional routing.

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:31 am

I believe this will work:

Excuse the girl colors - only markers in the house.

Like stock, each switch controls one pickup. Now, one also controls phase and the other controls series/parallel. I chose to label the pickups 1 and 2 so you can choose which switch does what. The phase switch is the same basically as stock, but none of the switch lugs are connected directly to ground. Two lugs on the series/parallel switch are grounded, as is the negative lead from pickup 2 (all purple).

So, in this diagram:
Both in the center = OFF
Both to LEFT = both pickups in parallel, out of phase
Both to RIGHT = both pickups in series, in phase
RIGHT/LEFT = both pickups in series, out of phase
LEFT/RIGHT = both pickups in parallel, in phase

The pickup controlled by the phase switch can be turned "on" alone as stock: either side with the other switch in center. The pickup controlled by the series/parallel switch can ONLY be turned "on" alone in the "parallel" position with the other switch in center. I'd probably make the neck pickup "2" and have its switch control series/parallel since most players don't use that pickup on its own that often.

I haven't tested this real-world, but it all works on paper. Let me know if you have any problems - there's plenty of wiggle room in this scheme.

Haze · Post by **Haze** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:53 am

thats way more informed than mine, i have zero experience with those switches, but i came up with this

the hot pickups go to the phase reversal switch to each pot, from there its a normal mustang

i have no fucking idea.... literally...

if anyone wants to guess at what combinations go ahead. the switches are just pull pots that put the cooresponding pickup out of phase, so it SHOULD only be in effect if both pickups are on
fuck me...

Will · Post by **Will** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 3:50 am

You could keep the switches close to stock and use 1 push/pull for the series option. You'd still have to change the way the upper switches ground, though.

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Sat Jun 06, 2009 2:12 pm

Thanks guys!

Duo, I think I'll try your wiring soon. Yesterday I re-wired it with GM Arts wiring, the hum problem is gone, but I think I'm again getting paranoid about the noise - I still have some hum in hi-gain mode and I want it gone, I suspect the problem lies withing the shielding I've made some time ago.

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Thu Jun 11, 2009 8:32 am

Okay, I did it.

Looked at the Duo's schematic and made up my own with different switching, but essentially very similar. Will post pics and scheme tomorrow, not sure if it's worth of a demo.

My impressions so far:
- series in phase gives significantly more output, the sound is close to humbucker type sounds, but the character is the same as parallel/inphase. compared to parallel connection, series sounds more "fat" and the pick attack is much less pronounced.
- series out of phase gives much more useful sound than parallel out of phase, really liked how it sounds with fuzz.

While I was at it, I tried switch lowering mod - didn't like it, it seems harder to switch when the switches are low.

Also, not sure what did it, but noise level is significantly lower than when I had GM Arts wiring.

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 8:04 pm

I finally got to uploading this demo I've made long time ago, hope this helps someone.
Lost the schematic blueprint and cba to open the thing and take pics, but as I said I tried to come up with something and just made almost the same scheme as Will proposed.

[youtube][/youtube]

hotrodperlmutter · Post by **hotrodperlmutter** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 10:53 pm

that guitar is so nice looking. ace vid!

how you getting along with the toro?

robroe · Post by **robroe** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:05 pm

fuck yea califorina blue

blacktaxi · Post by **blacktaxi** » Fri Oct 09, 2009 11:29 pm

hotrodperlmutter wrote:that guitar is so nice looking. ace vid!

how you getting along with the toro?

Thanks!

The Toro's fine, I just need to do some exercises on my back muscles so I can sustain longer standing with that guitar

It's noticeably heavier than my mustang, so I just can't get used to it. Not taking it to rehearsals yet, because of this, haha.
Seriously - love it. I have no idea why I was never able to get any beautiful clean sound from a humbucker before, but it just seems to happen with this guitar.

I really like the dirty-clean tone these guys have here:
[youtube][/youtube]

Trying to sound like that with Toro's neck pickup, and I think I'm getting close, but I'm afraid my amp is too trebly for it.