Jem-Like wiring from two Humbuckers?

Well, almost . . .

January 2003 I bought an RG 520 QSTB, NOS and I love it, BUT . . .

I wasn't happy with the V7 and V8 pups, as those that read the "Just wanted to share how happy I am" topic already know.

So in went a PAF PRO and a bridge Evo . . . happy.
Kaboom went the PAF PRO, so in went a neck Evo . . . happier!

Problem was, didn't like the sound of the neck Evo in parallel, so the quest to rewire was on.

Hmm, I’m very used to the wiring of my 550, with the H-S-H combination, is there a way to wire so I can get at least similar sounds from only two humbuckers?
Well of course there is, that’s the point of the five-way switch that comes with the 520, isn’t it? But in the third position, the two buckers together . . . waste of a position for me since I never use it.

Hmm, can I make THAT position a single coil by itself, instead of position 4 as with the "special" five-way wiring for RG’s?

Not with this switch, nope . . . couldn’t figure it out . . .

SUPER SWITCH!!!

Four-pole, 24 lug switch . . . PERFECT!

Now to figure out the wiring . . . an hour and a half with the switch, a multi-tester and a scratch pad later and I have it.

1. Bridge pup, series
2. Bridge side coils on both pups, parallel
3. Bridge side coil on neck pup only.
4. Neck side coils on both pups, parallel
5. Neck pup, series

I originally had both pups with the North coils towards the neck, this gave me . . .

1. Same
2. Neck pup, neck coil - bridge pup, bridge coil
3. Neck pup, neck coil
4. Inside coils both pups
5. Same

I HATED positions two and four this way, so I simply inverted the neck pup in the cavity and that gave me the first listing. Nice.

Okay, not EXACTLY the same tones as a Jem or RG with H-S-H, but damned close and I don’t have to think about where I’m putting the switch for the proper tones, I just think as if I have three pups, like on my 550.

Anyone that’s interested in the wiring just email me, you have to love the technology available to us today.

Two pups, five different sounds, and that’s only five of MANY MORE available.

Does anyone know of a program that you can sort of test out different wirings? Just something that will show what’s on/off and the phase of the coils in any given scheme?

Anyway, back to ruining my tendons and carpal tunnel.

Mic

um....mic, what the hell was the point of this thread?!?!?!




rich

After reviewing it, absolutely none.

Don't sit down at your computer when you've had no sleep for a LONG time, you do strange things.

Mic