Wiring Diagram for 3 P90s.

[Randall Curtis Bowman]

Hi all. Looking for a wiring diagram for 3 P90s. I'd prefer not to use a Strat switch as they're

going into a carved top. Any suggestions on a source for the diagram? I've looked at Seymour

Duncan's site, but don't think any will work. I'd like to have the same choices as you do on

a Strat; just don't want to have the blade switch. Thanks for any ideas.

[Rob Mercure]

Assuming that you don't want to add any of the P/Us in series and you want to select only one P/U or all three then the options get easier.  If you want the Strat "5-way" type where you can combine two wired electrically adjacent (physical placement really isn't important for switching matters) this is still somewhat easy.  But if you want to select any one, any combination of two, or all three then you either settle for 1): a Strat style wafer switch, 2) a rotary switch with two decks, or 3) two separate switches if you want high quality instrument grade swiches.  So, what options do you want and are you willing to settle for a single tone control like a Strat has or something more intricate.  Remember when all the Japanese ans such guitars hit the USA during the '60s with as up to as many as 5 switches?  These had a row of pushbuttons to make the selection.   The real issue is that the more complicated you make the options the harder they are to select "on the fly" - such as while performing - and if you decide to simplify the performing set up then why not use several switches as you won't have to be changing them on a dark stage in quick sequence.

So, what would be your ideal set-up? And what would be an "acceptable" option?

 

Rob

[Pierre-Antoine Roiron]

You can use a 3 way LesPaul type switch. Look for the diagrams of a Gibson LesPaul with 3 humbuckers. If it's not versatile enough, then a rotary switch is the only way to avoid multiple dpdt switches or strat-style switches.

[Thomas James]

Using three knobs and a three way switch. Master Vol - Master Tone (Bridge Neck) - Blend Vol For middle PU. That would give you many choices, and is intuitive when playing. I do these on Strats. Also, the Gibson ES-5 comes to mind.

[Randall Curtis Bowman]

Here's what I came up with last December. I took the easy way out and just did a single tone and volume with a strat switch. Works well, but next time I'll ad the blend. Thanks for the suggestions.

[John]

I've mounted a Strat style 5 way flat on the underside of an archtop pickguard or use a rotary switch Stew mac sells them.

[David Baas]

Another way to approach this is with no switch at all. It seems limiting, but as a player of the Gibson ES-5, I can tell you it's not, unless you wish to change tones in the middle of a song.

The ES-5 has one independent volume control for each pickup and a master tone control. It is a very elegant system. You can get any combination of pickups, including neck + bridge and all three together. Your ability to blend pickup tones is also unsupassed.

Also, Gibson, wisely I think, had their bridge pickup magnetically out of phase with the other two. Using the tone control with some out of phase combinations can render some interesting, useful sounds.

I'm pretty sure one can find an ES-5 (not the Switchmaster) wiring diagram on the web. It you can't PM me and I'll see what I can find around my shop. I wired my hollowbody guitar this way years ago and I still love it.

[Randall Curtis Bowman]

Good to know. I've always lusted after an ES-5 but never had the cash. That sound like a good solution for future work. Thanks much.

[Randall Curtis Bowman]

I can't seem to find any diagram on the web, nor in any of my texts. EMG has a diagram using two passive humbuckers, but no switch. http://www.emgpickups.com/content/wiringdiagrams/35_40_45HZ_0230-00.... I wonder if this could be used, only adding the third pickup. I'm wiring up three HZs but don't want the wiring too complicated for actual stage use. Thanks for any suggestions or links.

[David Baas]

I will see if I can locate the diagram I used.

 

[Paul Verticchio]

http://www2.gibson.com/Support/Schematics.aspx

The ES 5 [sans switch is on this page].  It's the first "ES5" listed.