Wiring Jaguar pickups in series

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:16 am

I plan on replacing the neck pickup of my Jag with a matching Quarter Pounder to partner the one currently in the bridge position. I was wondering what the possible advantages/disadvantages to wiring them up in series would be as opposed to the current setup (parallel?). Would they no longer be hum-cancelling? Would they be louder? And would it be possible to actually wire it so that I can keep the existing set up but flick to series wiring using the rhythm circuit with its own volume and tone controls? And if this is possible, would somebody be able to draw up at least a rough guide as to how to do it?

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 9:41 am

Or any ideas worth implementing that might improve the sound of the guitar, really. Like replacing tone caps or using lower-rated pots, for instance.

Fran · Post by **Fran** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:17 pm

I think you would just loose the hum-cancelling.
Not familiar on how you wire stuff up with lots of options but if you can find a diagram of a Westone Thunder they have all that kind of stuff on them. You may need to change the switch though to one with more options.

taylornutt · Post by **taylornutt** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 12:32 pm

One advantage is more output. I have a Baja tele which has both series and Parallel, both in an out of phase. Parallel is glassy while series is strong and ballsy. Great option. I even like the out of phase in series more because it's more pronounced and noticeable sound. I love the parallel sound on the Jag, so if you can get both that will be cool.

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aen · Post by **aen** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 2:51 pm

My first Fender Tele was a standard which I put a 4-way on. I really only used the Series position, for maximum balls. Essentially makes your pickups into a weird humbucker. Well, I also used the bridge pickup into computers and stuff....

Thats actually a pretty bangin idea for a Jag. I might try that, too. The jag is a little clangy these days...

Mages · Post by **Mages** » Sat Mar 26, 2011 6:53 pm

nah, you wouldn't loose hum-cancelling. humbuckers are in series. but yes it is more output and fatter sounding. could be really awesome sounding with the strangle switch. I'm sure if you really wanted to you could wire it to be switchable between parallel/series but this is a fair deal more tricky than just wiring them in series. if you don't normally use the middle position much, I don't see how you'd be loosing anything by just wiring it in series.

....and since people are sharing their series wiring stories....I currently have this strat (currently seen in my avatar) that I wired the neck and bridge pickups with a 4-way tele switch like aen describes above and then used one of the tone knobs as a blend knob for the middle pickup. so you can blend the middle pickup in series with any position. this gives you any of the following options:

Code: Select all

bridge
bridge+neck in parallel
neck
neck+bridge in series

bridge+middle in series
bridge+neck in parallel + middle in series
neck+middle in series
neck+bridge+middle in series

and the middle pickup can be blended in any amount. strats are awesome for fucking around with the wiring like this. I was going to do a project thread about it but never got around to it.

Earth · Post by **Earth** » Sun Mar 27, 2011 10:07 pm

I drew a diagram a while back that allows you to switch between series/parallel, you may find it useful.

Actually, here's two versions. Series/Parallel/Bass Cut and Series/Parallel/Phasing. The rhythm circuit operates as normal in both.

Using your guitar in series will give you more output/guts, double actually, and will remain hum canceling.

link
link

honeyiscool · Post by **honeyiscool** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 10:36 pm

QPs in series? That's going to be extreme output and you'll lose a lot of brightness.

I think the easiest way to get series is to use a 4-way Tele switch, that way you get N/B/NB Parallel/NB Series. I guess you'd need a new pickguard cut for it.

The problem with using toggle switches and such for series is that usually, you end up with one setting where putting it in series will kill the output, and that can be kind of scary to figure out in a hurry.

ekwatts · Post by **ekwatts** » Wed Mar 30, 2011 11:00 pm

honeyiscool wrote:QPs in series? That's going to be extreme output and you'll lose a lot of brightness.

I think the easiest way to get series is to use a 4-way Tele switch, that way you get N/B/NB Parallel/NB Series. I guess you'd need a new pickguard cut for it.

The problem with using toggle switches and such for series is that usually, you end up with one setting where putting it in series will kill the output, and that can be kind of scary to figure out in a hurry.

This is a good point. With my limited knowledge of electronics the total output of a Jag with two QP's would be something like 20k or something.