switching possibilities, what can be done???

[Ki swordsman]

ok.. Evo2 in the bridge, single coil that can coil split(like a virtual vintage) in the neck..

i have a 5 way switch but could get something different..even pushpulls etc

what can i do? lol

i was thinking 1st position=all neck,2nd=neck split,3rd=neck split+bridge split,4th=??,5th=full bridge

or something similar, would something like that be possible without having to use pushpulls or anything?
(also, in that situation what would actually happen on that 4th position? maybe i'd just get a 4 way switch if i can)

any other fun/cool/crazy options??

[buddroyce]

There are many possibilities, you're only limited by the switch itself. What you have is essentially two humbuckers and if you wanted you could just go with a stock 5-way wiring found on most Ibanez's with 2-hums and a 5-way switch. If I recall you end up getting the following combinations:

1. Neck 2. Neck in Parallel 3. Both pickups(full) 4. both inner coils and 5. bridge. All modes hum-cancelling.

[Ki swordsman]

cool, i dn't think i'd use the neck in parallel, dimarzio advises against it for virtual vintages
but i'd like to get the split single on it's own so that could maybe replace that position?

any whacky options or other sounds i can make?

PS: what's the difference between parallel and series in sound??

[Chud]

1 - Neck humbucker
2 - Neck single coil (split)
3 - Both Neck and Bridge Humbucker
4 - Bridge singlecoil (split)
5 - Bridge humbucker

That's probably what i'd go for

[Ki swordsman]

would this be possible?

1.neck
2.neck split
3.neck split with bridge split
4.full neck with full bridge
5.bridge

[buddroyce]

It would be possible but you would definitely need a mega switch for that.

On top of that I'd wire in some other electronics to get more tone variations. I personally use a custom mid cut in all my guitars to give me more tonal options. (The standard tone circuit just doesn't cut it for me as I lose all my treble)

[Ki swordsman]

hmm well the combinations i REALLY need are neck,neck split,bridge
if i could get the 'full bridge+full neck' in there it could be cool too..

could i get away with those on a standard 5 way?

[frankfalbo]

Standard 5-ways are somewhat useless in a 2 pickup guitar, because there's always overlap, with no other pins to automate many changes like you're saying. The best solution is the 4-pole 5-way switch found in some Ibanez guitars. Then you could do whatever you want. The only thing you haven't mentioned (possibly for position 4) is to wire the neck and bridge in series. I would suggest that you do that as single coils. (one coil neck, one coil bridge) that would approximate a fatter, double humbucker or double P-90 middle position sound.

[JESTER700]

A personal fave, if you're taking possibilities, is bridge split + middle in series. Some "strat cluck", but hotter. Makes up for the weak coils of typical split buckers, to a degree. Kind of a "Ty Tabor heavy strat" vibe.

[Ki swordsman]

cool,
this 5 way has 8 tabs all up(that mean 4 pole?), it's ibanez, i just assumed it might be 'standard' :P

i really need a way to learn about guitar switching and what each tab actually does ie. how to create all these sounds. any good newbie tutorials around? or even beginners books on switching,pups etc?

it sux cos it's basically like you get all these questions in your head and there's not really a definitive place to find answers so i just have to ask and hope

[frankfalbo]

That's a standard "double pole" pole switch.

Jester-that's how I get my Ty Tabor sound too. Ki swordsman won't have a middle pickup, though.

[lyconxero]

The best way to go is to get yourself a Dimarzio multi-pole switch and then the possibilities are pretty much endless for those 5 positions.

[Ki swordsman]

thanks, i've decided on my positions now i think...

/ Virtual Vintage in series (neck)
/ VV coil split (coil closest to strings only)
| Evo2 full + VV full
\ Evo2 split + VV split
\ Evo2 in series (bridge)

so what type of switch do i need to get away with this?

[JESTER700]

Originally Posted by frankfalbo

Jester-that's how I get my Ty Tabor sound too. Ki swordsman won't have a middle pickup, though.

er...oops.

OK, plan B: send guitar to Frank to have him rout for middle pickup, THEN...

[Ki swordsman]

haha the body is already routed for a middle pup, i'm going to fill it in