I am a newbie to wiring my own guitars and your channel has saved my ass so many times. Thank you so much for your instruction. The only channel that seems to address the intricacies of all the different ways to wire a guitar.
That HSS wiring is the most elegant and simple solution I've ever tried. Just slap a .047 capacitor for your single coils and you're golden. You can also easily make the humbucker auto-split in position 2 and you got yourself the best config I've tried in years. Pro tip: use hotter single coils (such as Fender's Tex Mex) paired with a moderate output humbucker like a PAF.
Good tutorial on the relationship between Humbucker and single coil guitar pickups with 500K and 250K potentiometers or pots. Simple explanation on why single coil pickup needs resistor to step down 500k to 250k.
No kidding: I was looking for this and before I found it I figured it out myself. One hour later I find this video with the exact same solution. I have a Tele with a humbucker in the neck and went with a 1 MEG resistor from the bridge pickup connection to ground. This way, the circuit "sees" 500 k // 1 MEG = 330 k for bridge/bridge+neck and 500k for the neck only. A 750k resistor would give you 300k in total. This will make the SC a little brighter, but it won't muffle the HB in the middle position. Same for a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge and 500k pots: 1: bridge: HB - no resistor required, the humbucker "sees" 500k 2: bridge + mid: HB + SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright, but the humbucker still has enough brightness 3: mid: SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright 4: mid + neck: SC + SC - 1 MEG on each SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG // 1MEG = 250k instead of 500k, which is a perfect match for two SCs 5: neck: SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright If you really want to do this perfectly, you'll need a super switch and use different resistors for each position. You connect the output of the 3rd blade to the input of the pot and all presistors are connected to the ground on the other side. 1 - no resistor required 2 - 750k or 1MEG resistor required (the pickups see 300k or 330k in that case) 3 - 510k required (the pickup sees 250k in that case) 4 - 510k required (the pickups see 250k in that case) 5 - 510k required (the pickup sees 250k in that case) (use a single 510k resistor and connect positions 3-5, of course, use an additional resistor 330k or 470k and connect that from position 2 to 3/4/5, which will then connect to the 510k resistor) You could use the 4th blade to vary the cap value for the tone control in that case... Connect the pin from the tone control to the central pin of blade 4 and connect different caps in positions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to give each pickup combination its own tone control character). Connect the other end of the caps to the ground. 1 - 22 nF 2 - 33 nF 3 - 47 nF 4 - 47 nF 5 - 47 nF (use a single 47 nF cap and connect positions 3-5, of course)
Being as no one responded in the comments: The resistance is specific to each pickup; so having the bridge and neck pickups in parallel is no different that if they each had their own dedicated volume pot of differing resistance in the carbon tracks of the wipers. The only difference is that it’s a master volume (so imagine it as if you had a dual-gang volume pot in which one was 250k and the other 500, but sharing a common pot shaft). This is what the “resistor at the selector switch” mod emulates.
I bought a case of resistors on amazon so I've been looking up everything possible. I even use a low resistance resistor to connect my bridge and middle lug of the 5 way so my bottom tone controls the bridge pickup too but with a resistor instead of a jumper wire, its making the treble sound better at low volume
Great video, helps me with my telecaster build. Couple of questions my single coil (bridge) has a coil tap (high and low output). I'm considering two options either a push/pull for the tap or a 5 way switch with the Humbucker in the middle with high and low output in the "neck" or "bridge" positions. The problem being is I'm not sure where to put the 470k resistor(s?) in either of these options?
Hey, thanks for the vid it was very helpful with rewriting my telecaster (with a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck) as a beginner One problem I have now is the volume and tone pots always sound like they are on full, regardless of how I turn them. Are they just faulty pots or is my soldering just bad? I’ve checked mine against the diagram on your website multiple times and it looks the same.
Hi Six String, you seem pretty smart. I am about to follow your H-S-S resistor model using one tone knob and one volume knob (500k pots) in a Nashville style Tele. The center pickup is a Dimarzio dual sound 4 wire that runs through a mini switch before connecting to a standard 5 way Strat switch, configured in traditional Strat/Nashville Tele switching with a Gilmore or 7 setting mod actuated by the P/P volume pot. My concern is the interaction between the resistor and the humbucker in selector settings that combine the single coil with the humbucker. It's this comment from Fralin... "There are trade-offs to this solution. As soon as you click into position #2 (Neck and Bridge), the combined resistance will yield a very dark-sounding middle position."... that has got my mind all jammed up. So, like I said, you seem pretty smart, is this an issue? Should I use a separate tone knob for the humbucker?What's the solution? Imagine this wiring schematic with 500k pots, a dual sound in the middle with the three way toggle and a volume P/P instead of the toggle shown for the 7 way mod, i.imgur.com/p08MdAn.jpg. Your videos are great and I find them helpful. Any thoughts or ideas on this would be appreciated, Joe
That's what happens in pos 4 (n+m) the single coils see around 125k. Solder one resistor to the n or m depending which you use mostly, not both. HSS is always a compromise otherwise try SUHR HSS wiring
Great vid dude. My particular circumstance is slightly different. I have H H with a coil split. Is it possible to get just the singles when split to see 250k pots? Also is there a problem of things getting dark when you using bot pickups together? Cheers dean
Hy, I‘m planning to have two resistors engaged individually for each of the two splittable humbuckers (single volume pot), individually with on/off mini button switches. I want to have each full humbucker darker too at will, not just if splitted. Because I decided to mimic a 300K pot, I need to connect a 740K pot in parallel to the 500K volume pot, for each pup. Not sure yet though how to wire the extra resistors to work for both- full humbucker and in split mode… In middle position the two humbucker with both resistors on, will sound like they would each have the same pot (in my case 300K), and not darker. In singlecoil split mode, the same. I hope, it will work out… Maybe I gave you an idea for your plan😊
If using this on a les paul. Would you put the resistor to the toggle switch and ground to the switch as well or go from the lug with the pick up connected back to the pot?
Hi, great video. I’m using a 500k tone pot, and 250k volume in my Tele to brighten up the neck pickup a bit, but I would like the bridge pick to stay if using 250k pots. What value resistor do you think I need to use. Thanks
Hi, thanks for this video, I have just done my HSS Strat but I have a problem with my humbucker/middle tone control as it is just not working so I can't adjust the tone. I have checked the solder joints and so I was going to replace it but wondered if you had any other ideas to the reason why. Thanks
Is it possible to connect a push-pull potentiometer in such a way that when using a high gain pickup, there is a full signal in one position of the potentiometer and a slightly attenuated signal in the other position?
How about this? EVH Frankie guitar - 500K volume Pot with no selector, no tone control. I want to hookup the dummy neck pickup. Where does he resistor go? Volume pot will be a push/push to switch from humbucker to single coil. Without the selector switch, I am wondering how it will play out. Does the resistor go straight in-line or would it be neck P/U hot lead split to hot input and ground and ground wire to ground?
With the HSS setup, where neck and middle single-coils each get a resistor, what happens with a five-way switch position 4, when both neck and middle are selected? Do they not then each 'see' something like 166K? Also, is the resistor wattage important? It looks like you are using 3W. Are 1/4W and 1W too little?
I wonder too. That resistor looks like it's 470 Ohm and not 470K Ohm (since the multiplier ring looks black and not orange as shown on his diagram). I guess black is the new orange lol.
looked everywhere for the solution to the Tele SH wiring. 500k pot with a resistor between the single coil and switch. But if you're using a 3 way switch - what does each position give you?
I wish you had a diagram for an HSS with one volume one tone and the resistor! Apologies, it’s probably very simple but I don’t have the knowledge to adapt this
Great Video! With this setup for a HSS Strat would it be Ok to add a Treble Bleed too as you described in one of your other videos? I also hve Fender N3 pickups along with a fairly hot Humbucker (15k Hot Rod WIde) in my Strat. Do you think 500k pots for the N3's as well? Thanks
Thanks for the video! Would you be able to show how to wire 2 stack pots 250/500 for HS telecaster? I have seen somewhere that this way you have circuit for each pup and you can get the actual 100% of this pup combination
i have a dimarzio vv in the neck and a SD Custom Custom bridge. The neck has a high pitched spikeyness id like to suppress. I'm thinking a 1000pf cap to ground on the single coil hot lead?
Thank you for this, however I have a doubt about the HSS, if you put 470K resistors then the Bridge and Middle would see effectively ~242K, that's good, but what when you have Bridge+Middle so Position 4, then the two resistors will be in parallel with the pot, that gives you effective 160K , and that would make the sound darker, but in this "quack" position you would like to have it brighter, so how to resolve this problem ?
How does the technique you used for the HS Tele affect the guitars tone when it's in the middle position? Also, if I used a fender dual 500/250k pot could I wire the humbucker to the 500k volume and tone pots and wire the single coil to the 250k volume and tone pots? And if i did that how would that work exactly?
Hi, and thanks for these videos they're an amazing resource. I was wondering (as an electrical beginner) why the 470k resistor acts to reduce 500k to 250k? Also what effect does this mod have on the inbetween positions of a 5 way switch.... what do the pups see when the resistors act on HSS in positions 2 and 4? Thanks again.
Ideally you want a 500k but 470k is close enough. The pickups will see both, correctly. So when in positions 2 and 4, the single coil will see 250k (ish) and the hummer will see 500k. Thanks for watching, genuinely appreciated
Because the resistor works in parallel with another resistor (the volume pot) they do not double the resistance nor do they halve it, there is a formula which says if the two resistances or impedances in parallel are equal and of the same value, then the total or equivalent resistance, RT is equal to half the value of one resistor. That is equal to R/2. So basically you take R1 (500K Volume Pot) and times it by R2 (the 470K resistor) which gives you 235000K then you divide that by R1 + R2 which gives you a Resistance Total of 242K This is not entirely accurate though as this assumes the volume pot is exactly 250k, which with CTS pots is almost never true, they are usually slightly less, more around 220k - 240k, they are known for durability but not accuracy. So if you are using CTS pots it is actually better to go for a higher resistor to compensate for this. 560k is more suitable and a very common value resistor and easy to find and this will get you closer to 250k and prevent you single coil from sounding muddy. If it is too bright you can always tame it with your tone pot, too dark and you're stuck in the mud.
@@SixStringSupplies hi i have a question how does this wiring affects the in between pickups? like neck and middle, middle and bridge? and also coil split?
On your 5 way switch diagrams you have the neck with one tone control and the middle & bridge on the other tone control, for both configurations, hsh and hss. Is it ok to jump at the switch the neck & middle to a tone control and have the other tone just for the bridge on the hss. Simlar for the hsh, except one for the single coil? Thanks
So if I've got a Tele with 2 single coils but the neck is too dark, will adding a resistor to the bridge hot terminal on switch and ground darken the bridge so it matches better? Will the first example HS Tele work the same if the neck is a single not a humbucker? thanks
Would this mod worsen the volume difference between the HB and SC? I think learned somewhere using lesser value pots also lessen the output. Is there anyway to make SC's sound duller but retain the volume?
Some people keep the humbucker lower in the pickguard and the single coils up a little more to balance the output. I don't the resistor mod would make that difference more noticable, I mean it might seem that way if you are used to brighter single coils and then you darken them, but the output in decibels shouldn't change.
Is it possible on an SH Tele with a phase reverse switch on the bridge? A resistor on both leads at the selector switch? Im wired exactly like a Baja with a push pull and no cap to ground like there is on the Fender S1.
This is very logic and follows ohm's law regarding parallel resistors. But when an intermediate position is used, both output of humbucker and single coil are connected together, so my understanding is that both see then a 250k volume pot as the humbucker is connected to the single coil output, which adds the 470k resistor in parallel with the volume pot. Am I wrong or right here? I'm currently trying to create a pcb to use on a PRS SE Custom 24, with two splitting CTS pots, one used for volume the other one for tone control, both switches used for spitting humbuckers, neck and bridge. PCB will offer the choice (via dipswitches) of screws or slugs for splitted pickup, will offer also the choice of the CTS position (down H, up S, or the way around, depending of my tastes of the sound) and will connect a parallel resistor for each splitted pickup too. But I plan to use 1k resistors, so when one only pickup is splitted and both pickups are used, the volume resistor drops down from 500k to less, but not as much as 250k. Only when both pickups are splitted and used, both add their own 1k resistor in parallel with the volume pot, then acheiving 250k. Is this a good strategy in this case?
So just to make sure I understood this correctly, when using 500k pots, I just need to have the 470k resistor connected to the same switch lead as the wire from the single coil, and then to ground, in order for that single coil pickup to see 250k when selected. Is that right?
What can I do if I have a tele with 2 x 250k v and t pots, but I want to increase the output when the neck pickup is activated so there is no volume drop.
Why does he do the HSS different in his video dedicated to HSS wiring? He has a 22 and 47 cap in the HSS video but in this vid he just uses the one 22. Is it because he has a super switch and coil splitting in the HSS video?
As I understand, it will help to keep my volume level the same between louder humbucker (at the bridge position) and quieter single-coil (at the neck position)??? If that's correct, I got one more question: The humbucker will sound quieter like a single-coil after all, or single-coil will sound louder? Thanks
I'm ignorant of wiring but very interested. As to the purpose of this mod. My interpretation is this: in a telecaster the neck pup is always in my experience quieter than bridge.Does this resistor addition "weaken" the bridge pup so that the two are "balanced"? Or in other words EQUALLY WEAK?? Which is preferred because then volume knobs of guitar and amp apply equally, do NOT need to be adjusted when switching between the 2 pups. Is that what is achieved here?
👋🏼 Hello! I have a question please: wich value of a resistor do I need to turn 500K pots into 300K ? edit: have found it out: with a 740K resistor in parallel🙂 Thank you very much for this video!👍🏼👏🏼
The diagram on the website shows the resistors joining to the tone pot and the video shows the resistors joining in the volume pot. Where should I trust? 💭
Hi, since this method has no auto-split for bridge humbucker in it, is it possible to change the regular 500k pot with 500k push pull pot for split coil switch?
If I have not misunderstood the HSH option, the 3 potentiometers are 500 k. In the position of the middle pickup (single coil) the 470k resistance makes the volume potentiometer go to 250k, but the tone potentiometer is still 500k, is that so? . Could you put a second 470k resistor from the middle pickup pin on the selector to the middle pickup tone potentiometer, to solve it? .... By the way, I have assembled the electronic SSH of this video and the SSH of the other video (with superswitch) and the electronic with the superswitch sounds much better to me, I don't know if there is any explanation for this
Hi! Does it matter if you solder the resistors (HSS mod 2x resistors) ground side on the top of Tone pot, instead of on the top of the Vol pot? Just to mention that my Vol is 500K and my 2 tone pots are 250K. Thanks Cheers!
I have an hss American Strat that has the dual stacked volume pots to keep from doing this but the bridge pickup is so much louder than the other 2. I’ve tried adjusting the pickup height with no success. It’s so bad it’s almost unusable. Is there a way to solder in a resistor or something to reduce the humbuckers volume? Thanks in advance. Btw I love the videos. I’ve used them so many times wiring up all my guitars.
I have a HSS American Special Stratocaster. It has two Texas specials, Neck and Middle and a fender Atomic Humbucker, Bridge. The wiring fender uses for the pots are all 250k, I want the humbucker to see 500k, Can I use a resistor to mod it?
Hi mate, I am a new bee and working on a project. I just want to mount a sound hole single coil pickup on my acoustic guitar with volume ctrl. So I bought a clip on pick up but when you play fingure style too much body noise as all little touches makes noise. So I removed the pick up and added on to sound hole cover, soulder the pickup hot to volume lug 1, ground to back of the pot. Hot from lug 2 to output jack hot. Ground from out put jack to back of pot and lug 3 grounded from back of the pot. But I am getting hum and whistling noise.... Please help if you can it looks so simple but I feel like a nightmare
Also I haven't installed all this in guitar it's still on test bench. As I don't want to install and spoil the guitar......I am testing by plugging cable in to jack and touching with screwdriver that it works or not. Signal is stomg and getting lot of out put but humm and noisy
Hi Ed, great video!! On the HSS harness could you get away with using just 1 resistor or you definitely need to install 2? Thank you for the clarification! And keep on rocking!!! Did I say I love the intro theme for your videos?
Hi mate, thanks a lot! You can use none, one, or two :) whatever you prefer. Using it just means that pickup would see a different pot resistance value, so you can mix and match. and thanks! Yeah pretty chuffed with the intro riff. That's me recording into an iphone :)
Hi there, I noticed @12:14 that the diagram that you are showing shows that the resistors are connected to the tone pots, but you are actually connecting it to the volume pots. I'm confused
You probably have a good idea what a massive service your doing for wiring newbies like me. One question: I'm doing a 'super Tele' with hb neck and 2 scoils middle and bridge. Would I basically reverse the order of the super strat you show here? If you have this on your site, I'll gladly chip in for it!
How can you balance the volume between de neck and bridge positon? I have a problem now because de neck is so much loader than my bridge PU. Both are singlecoins. The bridge has larger poles p90 style. any thoughts?
Hi - thanks for sharing this video - perfect timing, really! 🎸 I've been thinking about similar options.. However, I have a question/request, if I may... I have a Tradition SP-1 guitar, with 3 Single Coil sized Humbuckers, which are also splitable using ON/ON switches with 3 pins. From memory I believe the stock pots are 500K and the usual capacitor - but wouldn't it be "better" that the different settings would see the proper capacitors? I've seen those stacked/concentric pots, 250K/500K, and was wondering if those would do the trick? Would it be possible to wire the guitar up with such pots, so that the humbucker setting gets 500K and the split gets 250K? Or is that completely overkill? Or even necessary? The guitar has 1 vol and 1 tone + the 3 ON/ON switches which have 3 pins. Thanks! Cheers.
Hi mate - I've got a video on concentric pots in the pipeline, but you can actually wire a push pull pot to use 2 different capacitor values (Example 0.022uF when in the down position and 0.047uF when pulled up) which could work for your setup. From a personal POV, the difference in pot values makes a fairly noticable difference, capacitor values is harder to detect (to my ears anyway) Thanks for watching
So I just did the HS. First of all thank you for the great video tutorial. my neck sounds fantastic but the moment I solder the 500K resistor the pickup dies. IT kills the signal. I unsolder the resistor and pick up comes back again
Great Vid, thanks! On the HSS Strat Wiring link there is alternate wiring picture (without using a superswitch). In the pic there are two 470k resistors, also in the description above pic you talk about 470k. But in the text in the picture you write "250K resistors ensure single coil see 250k". What is now right? 2x 470k or 2x 250k? Thanks again!
Hello, great video. I have an HSS Strat with exactly the same wiring as yours with only 250k volume / 250k 1st tone & 500k 2nd tone push-pull pot. Would you install 2 resistors there too? Greetings from Germany to UK
Thanks, another great and very useful vid! So for a Tele with neck HB, does the resistor not only send 250k (or so) for the bridge pup, to the vol pot, but also to the tone pot? Is that how it works? Pity you didn't do this last week before I placed my order I would have ordered a couple of resistors too ;)
Sorry for the stupid questions. 1. Does having the resistor in parallel with the input signal at the switch affect the value it "sees" for tone pots, or only volume pot? 2. If it only affects what it "sees" for volume, then For HSS since we have a 250k Ohm tone pot 1, would it be better to wire both Neck and Middle to that and have the Bridge alone on tone pot 2 (500k Ohm)? Edit: thanks for the great videos by the way!
your soldering technique is some of the best I've seen!
I am a newbie to wiring my own guitars and your channel has saved my ass so many times. Thank you so much for your instruction. The only channel that seems to address the intricacies of all the different ways to wire a guitar.
That HSS wiring is the most elegant and simple solution I've ever tried. Just slap a .047 capacitor for your single coils and you're golden. You can also easily make the humbucker auto-split in position 2 and you got yourself the best config I've tried in years. Pro tip: use hotter single coils (such as Fender's Tex Mex) paired with a moderate output humbucker like a PAF.
thank you so much i’ve been trying to find a good video for SH Tele for a while and haven’t found anything good until now! thanks again
Good tutorial on the relationship between Humbucker and single coil guitar pickups with 500K and 250K potentiometers or pots. Simple explanation on why single coil pickup needs resistor to step down 500k to 250k.
No kidding: I was looking for this and before I found it I figured it out myself. One hour later I find this video with the exact same solution.
I have a Tele with a humbucker in the neck and went with a 1 MEG resistor from the bridge pickup connection to ground.
This way, the circuit "sees" 500 k // 1 MEG = 330 k for bridge/bridge+neck and 500k for the neck only.
A 750k resistor would give you 300k in total.
This will make the SC a little brighter, but it won't muffle the HB in the middle position.
Same for a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge and 500k pots:
1: bridge: HB - no resistor required, the humbucker "sees" 500k
2: bridge + mid: HB + SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright, but the humbucker still has enough brightness
3: mid: SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright
4: mid + neck: SC + SC - 1 MEG on each SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG // 1MEG = 250k instead of 500k, which is a perfect match for two SCs
5: neck: SC - 1 MEG on the SC to ground gives you 500k // 1MEG = 330k instead of 500k, the SC may be slightly bright
If you really want to do this perfectly, you'll need a super switch and use different resistors for each position.
You connect the output of the 3rd blade to the input of the pot and all presistors are connected to the ground on the other side.
1 - no resistor required
2 - 750k or 1MEG resistor required (the pickups see 300k or 330k in that case)
3 - 510k required (the pickup sees 250k in that case)
4 - 510k required (the pickups see 250k in that case)
5 - 510k required (the pickup sees 250k in that case)
(use a single 510k resistor and connect positions 3-5, of course, use an additional resistor 330k or 470k and connect that from position 2 to 3/4/5, which will then connect to the 510k resistor)
You could use the 4th blade to vary the cap value for the tone control in that case...
Connect the pin from the tone control to the central pin of blade 4 and connect different caps in positions 1, 2, 3, 4 and 5 to give each pickup combination its own tone control character). Connect the other end of the caps to the ground.
1 - 22 nF
2 - 33 nF
3 - 47 nF
4 - 47 nF
5 - 47 nF
(use a single 47 nF cap and connect positions 3-5, of course)
I keep this bookmarked. You are an amazing resource my friend. Thank you!
Thank you! I didn't know quite how to search this to find an answer. Thanks!
This is top notch instruction! Instant subscriber here!
This video is pure gold man
What would be the difference if you were using one tone pot and one volume pot only? Thanks in advance for the amazing video.
thanks for this so much! If you have a second to explain - how does the resistor affect the bridge + neck middle position sound?
Being as no one responded in the comments: The resistance is specific to each pickup; so having the bridge and neck pickups in parallel is no different that if they each had their own dedicated volume pot of differing resistance in the carbon tracks of the wipers. The only difference is that it’s a master volume (so imagine it as if you had a dual-gang volume pot in which one was 250k and the other 500, but sharing a common pot shaft). This is what the “resistor at the selector switch” mod emulates.
Thanks! In case we have both 500K tone pots (HSS) , additional resistors aren't required. Correct?
great video man thanks for sharing. do you have any video showing the wiring of an HSS configuration with only 1 tone and 1 volume pot?
Thanks for the video. Excellent explaination. I can use this in future projects. Great soldering skills, by the way. Cheers.
Cheers John
Thank you for uploading these diagrams! You saved my guitar project, it worked perfectly. XD
I bought a case of resistors on amazon so I've been looking up everything possible. I even use a low resistance resistor to connect my bridge and middle lug of the 5 way so my bottom tone controls the bridge pickup too but with a resistor instead of a jumper wire, its making the treble sound better at low volume
Really helpful, thank you!
Could you make a wiring schematic for an HS strat setup? only volume, no tone.
This was very helpful, thank you!
What is the spec on the 470k resistor! Type, % tolerance and wattage?
Thank you so much~
This is exactly what I want.
One more wiring.
HH telecasater with coil split, please.
(One push-pull)
Keep safe.
Ah that’s a good one! Give me 2-3 weeks or so
@@SixStringSupplies I surely wait that.
Thanks again.
Great video, helps me with my telecaster build. Couple of questions my single coil (bridge) has a coil tap (high and low output). I'm considering two options either a push/pull for the tap or a 5 way switch with the Humbucker in the middle with high and low output in the "neck" or "bridge" positions. The problem being is I'm not sure where to put the 470k resistor(s?) in either of these options?
Hey, thanks for the vid it was very helpful with rewriting my telecaster (with a humbucker in the bridge and a single coil in the neck) as a beginner One problem I have now is the volume and tone pots always sound like they are on full, regardless of how I turn them. Are they just faulty pots or is my soldering just bad? I’ve checked mine against the diagram on your website multiple times and it looks the same.
You have valuable information to share, and I appreciate it. Invest in a pin on microphone, there are parts here that you can't hear
Hi Six String, you seem pretty smart.
I am about to follow your H-S-S resistor model using one tone knob and one volume knob (500k pots) in a Nashville style Tele. The center pickup is a Dimarzio dual sound 4 wire that runs through a mini switch before connecting to a standard 5 way Strat switch, configured in traditional Strat/Nashville Tele switching with a Gilmore or 7 setting mod actuated by the P/P volume pot. My concern is the interaction between the resistor and the humbucker in selector settings that combine the single coil with the humbucker. It's this comment from Fralin... "There are trade-offs to this solution. As soon as you click into position #2 (Neck and Bridge), the combined resistance will yield a very dark-sounding middle position."... that has got my mind all jammed up.
So, like I said, you seem pretty smart, is this an issue? Should I use a separate tone knob for the humbucker?What's the solution?
Imagine this wiring schematic with 500k pots, a dual sound in the middle with the three way toggle and a volume P/P instead of the toggle shown for the 7 way mod, i.imgur.com/p08MdAn.jpg.
Your videos are great and I find them helpful.
Any thoughts or ideas on this would be appreciated,
Joe
That's what happens in pos 4 (n+m) the single coils see around 125k. Solder one resistor to the n or m depending which you use mostly, not both. HSS is always a compromise otherwise try SUHR HSS wiring
Will it work with p90 and strat singles ? Values ?
Great vid dude. My particular circumstance is slightly different. I have H H with a coil split. Is it possible to get just the singles when split to see 250k pots? Also is there a problem of things getting dark when you using bot pickups together? Cheers dean
Hy, I‘m planning to have two resistors engaged individually for each of the two splittable humbuckers (single volume pot), individually with on/off mini button switches.
I want to have each full humbucker darker too at will, not just if splitted.
Because I decided to mimic a 300K pot, I need to connect a 740K pot in parallel to the 500K volume pot, for each pup.
Not sure yet though how to wire the extra resistors to work for both- full humbucker and in split mode…
In middle position the two humbucker with both resistors on, will sound like they would each have the same pot (in my case 300K), and not darker.
In singlecoil split mode, the same.
I hope, it will work out…
Maybe I gave you an idea for your plan😊
I loved thanks.❤
Hello! Thanks for the great video! how the HSS wiring will change if I would like to use for all three pickups a 280K pots?
If using this on a les paul. Would you put the resistor to the toggle switch and ground to the switch as well or go from the lug with the pick up connected back to the pot?
May I know the wattage of the solder you are using? Thank you for your information. 🙏🏼
Useful video. Why do you prefer a resistance soldering iron to a transformer one?
GReat video..thanks for share...very interesting...one question please,,,In the hss wiring with 470k resistor can i use a traditional treble bleed ?
Yes you can
Can I assume this works with a 3 way toggle on a lp Junior single in the neck and humbucker in the bridge?
So lets say I have HSS Strat.
What about 4th position ? I assume I would got very dark sound in this position due to 2 resistors working.
Am I wrong ?
Hi, great video. I’m using a 500k tone pot, and 250k volume in my Tele to brighten up the neck pickup a bit, but I would like the bridge pick to stay if using 250k pots. What value resistor do you think I need to use. Thanks
What kind of wire is the Yellow wire??? Where can i buy the Yellow?
Hi, thanks for this video, I have just done my HSS Strat but I have a problem with my humbucker/middle tone control as it is just not working so I can't adjust the tone. I have checked the solder joints and so I was going to replace it but wondered if you had any other ideas to the reason why. Thanks
Is it possible to connect a push-pull potentiometer in such a way that when using a high gain pickup, there is a full signal in one position of the potentiometer and a slightly attenuated signal in the other position?
How about this? EVH Frankie guitar - 500K volume Pot with no selector, no tone control. I want to hookup the dummy neck pickup. Where does he resistor go? Volume pot will be a push/push to switch from humbucker to single coil. Without the selector switch, I am wondering how it will play out. Does the resistor go straight in-line or would it be neck P/U hot lead split to hot input and ground and ground wire to ground?
With the HSS setup, where neck and middle single-coils each get a resistor, what happens with a five-way switch position 4, when both neck and middle are selected? Do they not then each 'see' something like 166K? Also, is the resistor wattage important? It looks like you are using 3W. Are 1/4W and 1W too little?
I wonder too. That resistor looks like it's 470 Ohm and not 470K Ohm (since the multiplier ring looks black and not orange as shown on his diagram). I guess black is the new orange lol.
looked everywhere for the solution to the Tele SH wiring. 500k pot with a resistor between the single coil and switch. But if you're using a 3 way switch - what does each position give you?
What about an HSS with only two pots? Just one volume and one tone? I can’t find a single diagram or video.
I wish you had a diagram for an HSS with one volume one tone and the resistor! Apologies, it’s probably very simple but I don’t have the knowledge to adapt this
Great Video! With this setup for a HSS Strat would it be Ok to add a Treble Bleed too as you described in one of your other videos? I also hve Fender N3 pickups along with a fairly hot Humbucker (15k Hot Rod WIde) in my Strat. Do you think 500k pots for the N3's as well? Thanks
Thanks for the video! Would you be able to show how to wire 2 stack pots 250/500 for HS telecaster? I have seen somewhere that this way you have circuit for each pup and you can get the actual 100% of this pup combination
Hi, can i add a treble bleed on these kinds of circuits?
Is there a way to put the resistor or any direction is fine !
i have a dimarzio vv in the neck and a SD Custom Custom bridge. The neck has a high pitched spikeyness id like to suppress. I'm thinking a 1000pf cap to ground on the single coil hot lead?
Thank you for this, however I have a doubt about the HSS, if you put 470K resistors then the Bridge and Middle would see effectively ~242K, that's good, but what when you have Bridge+Middle so Position 4, then the two resistors will be in parallel with the pot, that gives you effective 160K , and that would make the sound darker, but in this "quack" position you would like to have it brighter, so how to resolve this problem ?
Question....could you just run from your hot wire on the single coil to the 500k resistor then to the switch?
i have telecaster HSS what should i do for tone pot 500 or 200 and should add resistor to it
How does the technique you used for the HS Tele affect the guitars tone when it's in the middle position?
Also, if I used a fender dual 500/250k pot could I wire the humbucker to the 500k volume and tone pots and wire the single coil to the 250k volume and tone pots? And if i did that how would that work exactly?
For a wiring with master tone master volume I assume connecting all 3 pickups to the same tone pot? Nothing else changes?
Hi, and thanks for these videos they're an amazing resource. I was wondering (as an electrical beginner) why the 470k resistor acts to reduce 500k to 250k? Also what effect does this mod have on the inbetween positions of a 5 way switch.... what do the pups see when the resistors act on HSS in positions 2 and 4? Thanks again.
Ideally you want a 500k but 470k is close enough. The pickups will see both, correctly. So when in positions 2 and 4, the single coil will see 250k (ish) and the hummer will see 500k. Thanks for watching, genuinely appreciated
Because the resistor works in parallel with another resistor (the volume pot) they do not double the resistance nor do they halve it, there is a formula which says if the two resistances or impedances in parallel are equal and of the same value, then the total or equivalent resistance, RT is equal to half the value of one resistor. That is equal to R/2.
So basically you take R1 (500K Volume Pot) and times it by R2 (the 470K resistor) which gives you 235000K then you divide that by R1 + R2 which gives you a Resistance Total of 242K
This is not entirely accurate though as this assumes the volume pot is exactly 250k, which with CTS pots is almost never true, they are usually slightly less, more around 220k - 240k, they are known for durability but not accuracy. So if you are using CTS pots it is actually better to go for a higher resistor to compensate for this. 560k is more suitable and a very common value resistor and easy to find and this will get you closer to 250k and prevent you single coil from sounding muddy. If it is too bright you can always tame it with your tone pot, too dark and you're stuck in the mud.
@@SixStringSupplies hi i have a question how does this wiring affects the in between pickups? like neck and middle, middle and bridge? and also coil split?
On your 5 way switch diagrams you have the neck with one tone control and the middle & bridge on the other tone control, for both configurations, hsh and hss. Is it ok to jump at the switch the neck & middle to a tone control and have the other tone just for the bridge on the hss. Simlar for the hsh, except one for the single coil? Thanks
hi i have a question how does this wiring affects the in between pickups? like neck and middle, middle and bridge? and also coil split?
So if I've got a Tele with 2 single coils but the neck is too dark, will adding a resistor to the bridge hot terminal on switch and ground darken the bridge so it matches better? Will the first example HS Tele work the same if the neck is a single not a humbucker? thanks
how does this affect the in between position?
Would this mod worsen the volume difference between the HB and SC? I think learned somewhere using lesser value pots also lessen the output. Is there anyway to make SC's sound duller but retain the volume?
Some people keep the humbucker lower in the pickguard and the single coils up a little more to balance the output. I don't the resistor mod would make that difference more noticable, I mean it might seem that way if you are used to brighter single coils and then you darken them, but the output in decibels shouldn't change.
Could you offer any advice on how to apply this when wiring in an HS Guitar with a Les Paul style switch? Thanks!
exactly the same - solder the resistor to the switch lug with the pickup
Mojotone for the same purpose uses only one resistor 470k attached to the tone pot so both singles see it. So which one is correct.?
Great video. I see resistors online for sale that are 470k ohm with 1% or 5% tolerance. Does it matter which one I buy for my HS tele?
Either is fine, pots are usually 20% tolerance so it’s not an exact science anyway.
Is it possible on an SH Tele with a phase reverse switch on the bridge? A resistor on both leads at the selector switch? Im wired exactly like a Baja with a push pull and no cap to ground like there is on the Fender S1.
This is very logic and follows ohm's law regarding parallel resistors.
But when an intermediate position is used, both output of humbucker and single coil are connected together, so my understanding is that both see then a 250k volume pot as the humbucker is connected to the single coil output, which adds the 470k resistor in parallel with the volume pot. Am I wrong or right here?
I'm currently trying to create a pcb to use on a PRS SE Custom 24, with two splitting CTS pots, one used for volume the other one for tone control, both switches used for spitting humbuckers, neck and bridge.
PCB will offer the choice (via dipswitches) of screws or slugs for splitted pickup, will offer also the choice of the CTS position (down H, up S, or the way around, depending of my tastes of the sound) and will connect a parallel resistor for each splitted pickup too. But I plan to use 1k resistors, so when one only pickup is splitted and both pickups are used, the volume resistor drops down from 500k to less, but not as much as 250k. Only when both pickups are splitted and used, both add their own 1k resistor in parallel with the volume pot, then acheiving 250k.
Is this a good strategy in this case?
That's useful. What do you think of Fender dual 500K/250K Pot? Does it make sense to use it instead of a resistor for balancing H-S-H?
So just to make sure I understood this correctly, when using 500k pots, I just need to have the 470k resistor connected to the same switch lead as the wire from the single coil, and then to ground, in order for that single coil pickup to see 250k when selected. Is that right?
What can I do if I have a tele with 2 x 250k v and t pots, but I want to increase the output when the neck pickup is activated so there is no volume drop.
Raise the neck pickup.
Why does he do the HSS different in his video dedicated to HSS wiring? He has a 22 and 47 cap in the HSS video but in this vid he just uses the one 22. Is it because he has a super switch and coil splitting in the HSS video?
As I understand, it will help to keep my volume level the same between louder humbucker (at the bridge position) and quieter single-coil (at the neck position)???
If that's correct, I got one more question: The humbucker will sound quieter like a single-coil after all, or single-coil will sound louder? Thanks
I'm ignorant of wiring but very interested. As to the purpose of this mod. My interpretation is this: in a telecaster the neck pup is always in my experience quieter than bridge.Does this resistor addition "weaken" the bridge pup so that the two are "balanced"? Or in other words EQUALLY WEAK?? Which is preferred because then volume knobs of guitar and amp apply equally, do NOT need to be adjusted when switching between the 2 pups. Is that what is achieved here?
👋🏼 Hello! I have a question please: wich value of a resistor do I need to turn 500K pots into 300K ?
edit: have found it out: with a 740K resistor in parallel🙂
Thank you very much for this video!👍🏼👏🏼
The diagram on the website shows the resistors joining to the tone pot and the video shows the resistors joining in the volume pot. Where should I trust? 💭
Hi, since this method has no auto-split for bridge humbucker in it, is it possible to change the regular 500k pot with 500k push pull pot for split coil switch?
If I have not misunderstood the HSH option, the 3 potentiometers are 500 k. In the position of the middle pickup (single coil) the 470k resistance makes the volume potentiometer go to 250k, but the tone potentiometer is still 500k, is that so? . Could you put a second 470k resistor from the middle pickup pin on the selector to the middle pickup tone potentiometer, to solve it? .... By the way, I have assembled the electronic SSH of this video and the SSH of the other video (with superswitch) and the electronic with the superswitch sounds much better to me, I don't know if there is any explanation for this
Hi! Does it matter if you solder the resistors (HSS mod 2x resistors) ground side on the top of Tone pot, instead of on the top of the Vol pot?
Just to mention that my Vol is 500K and my 2 tone pots are 250K.
Thanks Cheers!
Do these guidelines apply when the single coil is a P90? I have a Filtertron and a p90 installed but don't sound 100%.
I have an hss American Strat that has the dual stacked volume pots to keep from doing this but the bridge pickup is so much louder than the other 2. I’ve tried adjusting the pickup height with no success. It’s so bad it’s almost unusable. Is there a way to solder in a resistor or something to reduce the humbuckers volume? Thanks in advance. Btw I love the videos. I’ve used them so many times wiring up all my guitars.
I have a HSS American Special Stratocaster. It has two Texas specials, Neck and Middle and a fender Atomic Humbucker, Bridge. The wiring fender uses for the pots are all 250k, I want the humbucker to see 500k, Can I use a resistor to mod it?
Hi mate, I am a new bee and working on a project. I just want to mount a sound hole single coil pickup on my acoustic guitar with volume ctrl. So I bought a clip on pick up but when you play fingure style too much body noise as all little touches makes noise. So I removed the pick up and added on to sound hole cover, soulder the pickup hot to volume lug 1, ground to back of the pot. Hot from lug 2 to output jack hot. Ground from out put jack to back of pot and lug 3 grounded from back of the pot. But I am getting hum and whistling noise....
Please help if you can it looks so simple but I feel like a nightmare
Also I haven't installed all this in guitar it's still on test bench. As I don't want to install and spoil the guitar......I am testing by plugging cable in to jack and touching with screwdriver that it works or not. Signal is stomg and getting lot of out put but humm and noisy
Hi Ed, great video!!
On the HSS harness could you get away with using just 1 resistor or you definitely need to install 2? Thank you for the clarification! And keep on rocking!!!
Did I say I love the intro theme for your videos?
Hi mate, thanks a lot! You can use none, one, or two :) whatever you prefer. Using it just means that pickup would see a different pot resistance value, so you can mix and match.
and thanks! Yeah pretty chuffed with the intro riff. That's me recording into an iphone :)
@@SixStringSuppliesI Put 300k Resistor i dont have 470k resistor at the moment.
What does the Pickup sees with a 300k resistor?
Thanks for your Reply
@@legatoflipax269with a 500 pot the formula is: 500x300/(500+300) = 187.5
Hi there, I noticed @12:14 that the diagram that you are showing shows that the resistors are connected to the tone pots, but you are actually connecting it to the volume pots. I'm confused
they go to ground - ground is ground. Either pot casing, depending on which is easier for you
@@SixStringSupplies ahhh, got it, thank you sir!
You probably have a good idea what a massive service your doing for wiring newbies like me. One question: I'm doing a 'super Tele' with hb neck and 2 scoils middle and bridge. Would I basically reverse the order of the super strat you show here? If you have this on your site, I'll gladly chip in for it!
How can you balance the volume between de neck and bridge positon? I have a problem now because de neck is so much loader than my bridge PU. Both are singlecoins. The bridge has larger poles p90 style. any thoughts?
I want to put a hot rail on my sss strat in the bridge.I was thinking to put 500k pot.Which pot should i change?tone or volume.
Hi - thanks for sharing this video - perfect timing, really! 🎸
I've been thinking about similar options..
However, I have a question/request, if I may...
I have a Tradition SP-1 guitar, with 3 Single Coil sized Humbuckers, which are also splitable using ON/ON switches with 3 pins.
From memory I believe the stock pots are 500K and the usual capacitor - but wouldn't it be "better" that the different settings would see the proper capacitors?
I've seen those stacked/concentric pots, 250K/500K, and was wondering if those would do the trick?
Would it be possible to wire the guitar up with such pots, so that the humbucker setting gets 500K and the split gets 250K? Or is that completely overkill? Or even necessary?
The guitar has 1 vol and 1 tone + the 3 ON/ON switches which have 3 pins.
Thanks!
Cheers.
Hi mate - I've got a video on concentric pots in the pipeline, but you can actually wire a push pull pot to use 2 different capacitor values (Example 0.022uF when in the down position and 0.047uF when pulled up) which could work for your setup.
From a personal POV, the difference in pot values makes a fairly noticable difference, capacitor values is harder to detect (to my ears anyway)
Thanks for watching
So I just did the HS. First of all thank you for the great video tutorial. my neck sounds fantastic but the moment I solder the 500K resistor the pickup dies. IT kills the signal. I unsolder the resistor and pick up comes back again
Lol check your resistor value, got a meter?
@@Ottophil I did and it works.. I just gave up on it.
Great Vid, thanks! On the HSS Strat Wiring link there is alternate wiring picture (without using a superswitch). In the pic there are two 470k resistors, also in the description above pic you talk about 470k. But in the text in the picture you write "250K resistors ensure single coil see 250k". What is now right? 2x 470k or 2x 250k? Thanks again!
Thanks for spotting the error in the diagram. Now corrected - 470k is correct
Isn't SH with the single coil bridge and HS with the humbucker bridge, normally?
So the purpose of the 470k resistor is to use resistor association to reduce the resistance to around 250k in the single pickups?
yes - but the downside is in the middle position of a Telecaster for example, the resistance would be circa 135k
@@SixStringSupplies
Doesn't a normal telecaster use 250 for volume and 250 for tone? Which in effect makes the pickup see 125K
What if i am using 250 k pots With the hs tele?
Can you use 250k pot, but add a 250k resistor in series from the Humbucker? Does that mess up the pot taper? Great video! Many thanks!
Every time i try this, the front pickup doesn't work, and i did follow the directions for the single coil in the neck??
Sir can i get diagram for HSH 1 vol and 1 tone?
How many watts does a 470k resistor use?
Hello, great video. I have an HSS Strat with exactly the same wiring as yours with only 250k volume / 250k 1st tone & 500k 2nd tone push-pull pot. Would you install 2 resistors there too? Greetings from Germany to UK
Hi no, I would only add resistors if using 500k pots.
How many watts have the resistors? Do watts matter? awesome video
1/4 watt in this example, but it doesn’t matter all. Just get 470k
Would love to see this same mod, but for a Strat with one volume, one tone, and auto-splitting of the humbucker in position 2.
Thanks, another great and very useful vid! So for a Tele with neck HB, does the resistor not only send 250k (or so) for the bridge pup, to the vol pot, but also to the tone pot? Is that how it works? Pity you didn't do this last week before I placed my order I would have ordered a couple of resistors too ;)
Sorry for the stupid questions.
1. Does having the resistor in parallel with the input signal at the switch affect the value it "sees" for tone pots, or only volume pot?
2. If it only affects what it "sees" for volume, then For HSS since we have a 250k Ohm tone pot 1, would it be better to wire both Neck and Middle to that and have the Bridge alone on tone pot 2 (500k Ohm)?
Edit: thanks for the great videos by the way!