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Topic: pickup wiring...what am I doing wrong? |
Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 4:56 pm |
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Howdy all
Any help will be greatly appreciated. I've got a MSA classic that has a GeorgeL E66 along with the stock single coil. I'm trying to wire it to a 3 way
on-on-on switch.
When wired as in the diagram below I get the E66 in one position and both pickups in the other two positions. All three positions have good tone and consistant volume.
When I put the bare wire from the E66 with the red wire to the jack. I get the same results as above
If I put the black and bare wires from the E66 a the jack ground and the red at the switch, I get The MSA at one end postion, the E66 in the other end position and a thin, very trebly tone with both pickups in the middle (I assume this is out of phase, but the volume is much lower, not just a little like on a strat)
Help me Mr. Wizard!
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:07 pm
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| Are trying to have the toggle wired to have both on in the center position and each pickup on in the up and down position or off in the center position? |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:25 pm
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Guess I left that out, Thanks for asking.
I'm trying to get the msa in one pos. Both (without the low volume)on the center and the E66 on the 3rd position. |
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b0b
From:
Cloverdale, CA, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:31 pm
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Is there a wire in the center of the "braided" wire from the MSA pickup? If so, is its insulation sleeve red?
_________________
-𝕓𝕆𝕓- (admin) - Robert P. Lee - Recordings - Breathe - D6th - Video |
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David Higginbotham
From:
Lake Charles, Louisiana, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:43 pm
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bOb has a good question which will make a difference. If memory serves me correctly is should be just a braided ground?
If the toggle is a 3-way "on" toggle then it should have both "on" in the center position. You can put your bare and black wires together on the E-66 and the briaded on the MSA pickup and run them to your ground on your jack. Then keep your positive from the jack to the center prongs on the toggle and each positives from the pickups on the top and bottom prongs respectively. This should complete your circuit to each pickup in the up and down positions and the center should complete the circuit to both pickups at the same time. It will keep a constant ground to both pickups this way as well. I've been wrong before though! 
If there is a red wire inside the braided then that will of course change the the direction.
Jon's diagram is exact depending upon the type of toggle you have...
Last edited by David Higginbotham on 1 Aug 2009 7:00 pm; edited 1 time in total |
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Jon Light (deceased)
From:
Saugerties, NY
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 6:52 pm
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It's been a while since i wired multiple pickups but here's what I think---
Alternately, I think you can tie all the grounds together as a common bus to the jack with only the hot leads going thru the switch.
I've never been clear on that. |
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Bob Tuttle
From:
Republic, MO 65738
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 9:03 pm
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| Ross, according to your diagram, you need to reverse the wires coming from the E-66 pickup. The black wire and the shield should go to the ground side of the jack. |
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Dave Beaty
From:
Mesa, Arizona, USA
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Posted 1 Aug 2009 9:56 pm Pickup polarity
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Ross, Bob hits on an important point. If one of your pickups is connected out-of-phase (pickup wires reversed on one with respect to the other), you will have a problem at some frequencies when you have both pickups switched on at the same time. Some frequencies will be out-of-phase and cancel each other, some will add in-phase and reinforce each other and others will add or subtract in varying degrees. Usually this will make the output sound "thin" at various frequences. The 'best' way to be sure you are correct is to find a friend with a dual channel oscilloscope which will show the problem immediately. Barring that, if your sound sounds thin, just reverse the wires on one pickup and you should hear the difference immediately.
That should do it, best of luck. |
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John Fabian
From:
Mesquite, Texas USA * R.I.P.
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Posted 2 Aug 2009 3:50 am
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| Quote: |
| Alternately, I think you can tie all the grounds together as a common bus to the jack with only the hot leads going thru the switch. |
This is the typical wiring for double neck guitars.
The thin sound and lower output in the both pickups on position is due to the fact that in that switch position you now have both pickups in parallel. This is a standard characteristic in the both necks "on" position.
George L's pickups are designed to use the red as hot (to the switch) and BOTH the black and bare wire (drain) to ground. |
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Ross Shafer
From:
Petaluma, California
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Posted 2 Aug 2009 10:54 am
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Thanks all.
Bob: to answer your question...tne braided wire has a white wire inside it. These are the only two leads coming from the MSA pickup. |
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