Wiring humbuckers - what do I need?

[Robert]

I am about to wire a 2 humbucker guitar. What do I need? I have two 500k pots, wire, two humbuckers with pickup rings, knobs. What kind of switch do I need?

Sorry for the dumb questions - I am not a "Vooduhman" in modding!

 

[ShortBuSX]

With 2 humbuckers theres alot you could do!

What kinda guitar is it? Cause I seem to think 2 volume knobs and 2 tones combined with a healthy switch...by healthy I mean...have you seen the Jimmy Page mod? 32 tones!

There are tons of mods you could do with a set up like that.

BTW what kinda HBs are they??

 

[Robert]

It's an SX guitar. I haven't seen the Page mod, no. They are Squier humbuckers.

 

[ShortBuSX]

"Duncan Design"?

I'll be right back with wiring links

 

[ShortBuSX]

Guess this doesnt really require a switch, but you could use one instead of the push/pull pots...my point was you can do alot with 2 hbuckers *shrug*

http://www.deaf-eddie.net/drawings/jp-lp.jpg
http://www.deaf-eddie.net/pushpull/jp_setup.html

Lots of good stuff here:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics.shtml

 

[duhvoodooman]

Here's a standard wiring diagram for a 2-humbucker guitar with one volume control, one tone and a 3-way pickup toggle:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/schematics/2h_1v_1t_3w.html

500K pots are correct for humbuckers. Did you get linear or audio taper pots? I think humbuckers usually come either with linear for the volume and audio for the tone, or audio for both.

Note that you'll need a tone capacitor, if you don't already have one. The lower the rating, the brighter the tone. In general, 0.047uf caps are used with humbuckers, but this is really a matter of personal preference. If you like a brighter sound, you might want to go to 0.033 or 0.022. I'd recommend polyester film caps over a ceramics.

The "Page mod", BTW, requires 4 push/pull pots (i.e. 2 volume, 2 tone) and 4-conductor humbuckers. It's amazingly versatile, but quite complicated to do. My Epi Dot is wired quite similarly.

 

[WelcomeBack]

Robert,

I'm right in the middle myself. Bought an RSguitarworks pot kit with caps and a set of Dimarzio Virtual pafs for my Epi Les Paul.

Things to consider....
* To get your knobs off your old pots, put a wrap a shoelace under the knob and pull up gently....or you might have a champagne cork.
* Patience
* Make sure your pots fit in the holes BEFORE you solder.... I have to go buy a reamer
* Do as much soldering outside guitar on protective cardboard
* Shielded wire
...

I'm not finished yet but these are a few that I've learned.

Good Luck!
Paul

 

[Robert]

Thanks VDM, a nice diagram there. We'll see how I do!

 

[ShortBuSX]

Im still curious about the humbuckers...2 wires or 4 wires? Are they the "Duncan Design" humbuckers?

 

[Tim]

Hey Robert - I have been out of pocket for awhile (again), but now I am back.

I was given this schematic for my Custom Squire with 2 humbuckers. It is clean and crisp with plenty of range.

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/stockgibson.php

 

[tremoloman]

Yes those pickups are from a Jagmaster. You could wire them with the regular 3 way switch or add a coil-tap to split the humbuckers into single coils.

Stewart-MacDonald has lots of wiring directions here:
http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups.html