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I would like to add a bit of beef to the bridge pup of my Legacy. It is fitted with 3 SSL-1's. I gather that some sort of series mod with either the middle or neck pup might do the job. My guitar is currently wired as in the attatched schematic, thanks to a couple of forum members.

Any suggestions or schematics as to how I can achieve this? I don't require a humbucker sound, just a beefier bridge sound to the 1 I have. Unfortunately, funds won't allow any major purchases at this time, so I'll have to mod what I've got. Cheers.

Add a push/pull pot switch like this:You'll lose some of the jangly/chimey characteristic of the singles, but it can still be a nice sound.

Edit: Oh yeah, and when you pull the switch, the 5-way must be in the middle position. (Straight up.)

Thanks for that Artie. That's twice your schematics have come to my aid! You probably recognise the 1st schematic. Does this add the bridge in series with the middle? I presume I could substitute the middle with the neck pup? Is that a dpdt switch, or is that what you get on the bottom of a push/pull pot? Thanks again.

Although I suppose the push/pull pot would also be a dpdt switch? Doh!!


Originally Posted by stevie_beesThanks for that Artie. That's twice your schematics have come to my aid! You probably recognise the 1st schematic. Does this add the bridge in series with the middle? I presume I could substitute the middle with the neck pup? Is that a dpdt switch, or is that what you get on the bottom of a push/pull pot? Thanks again.

You're welcome. And yes, that does add the bridge in series with the middle. And yes, you can substitute any two pups.

Basically, whatever pup you want to have first, in the series line, gets its ground connected to that switch, with its hot left alone. Whichever pup you want to come second, is the opposite. Its hot gets connected to that switch, and its ground, left alone.Originally Posted by stevie_beesAlthough I suppose the push/pull pot would also be a dpdt switch? Doh!!

Thats correct. The switch on the bottom of a push/pull is DPDT. The difference is, it can only have two handle positions, whereas, a stand-alone DPDT switch comes in a variety of switching options. For a simple series mod, however, the push/pull is sufficient.

Also, I should add, you need your selector switch, (3-way, 5-way, etc.), to select the first pup in the line, for this to work. For example, with the schematic I've shown, you'ld have series when in the middle pup position, and when in the neck/middle notch position. (Giving you all three pups - albeit, with the middle and bridge in series.)

Cheers Artie, looks like I'd be adding a couple of interesting options in that setup. Thanks again, I'll let you know how it goes.


Originally Posted by ArtieTooAdd a push/pull pot switch like this:You'll lose some of the jangly/chimey characteristic of the singles, but it can still be a nice sound.

Edit: Oh yeah, and when you pull the switch, the 5-way must be in the middle position. (Straight up.)

What about the blender pot that I have heard about? Going to master volume and master tone controls, then the third control is a blender. Does that achieve the same effect as this series wiring scheme?
So that would depend on the wiring, whether the blender adds neck and bridge together in series or parallel? neck and bridge together in series is the key to thicker sound, rather than N B parallel? OR am I getting things confused?

They're two different things, really. There's several different ways you could combine them. One thing, would be to use the blender pot on the pup that wasn't part of the quot;seriesquot; switch. The other way, would be to not use the series switch at the same time as the blender pot.

I'd have to draw that up to see how it would, or wouldn't, work.

I have tried neither the blender nor the series wiring. But, from what I have heard of the two schemes. I lean towards the series switch approach.
Having said that, can the switch be a push/pull type on the tone control knob?


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadI have tried neither the blender nor the series wiring. But, from what I have heard of the two schemes. I lean towards the series switch approach.
Having said that, can the switch be a push/pull type on the tone control knob?

Yes, to the last question. The drawing above assumes a push/pull pot.

For what its worth, I've only tried the series thing with one set of pups - my tapped QP's. The thing is, they offer two modes: tapped, and full-on. In the tapped mode, the series connection is usable, but not great. It just makes the two sound like a humbucker. That could be useful in some situations.

In the quot;full-onquot; mode, you lose too much high-end, and I overload the input to my effects unit. This might be different with a quot;realquot; amp. So much so, that now that I've tried it, I'm going to eliminate the series switch from my wiring. As soon as I get my new C5 from Lew, I'll use that PP for splitting chores.

So, its kinda one of those things you just have to try for yourself, and see how you like it. I like the quot;tappedquot; mode, but not enough to keep it.

I'm hoping the more vintage spec of the ssl-1's won't give me the same problem as Artie's. Am I right in thinking that blend mod is more for bringing in another pup in parallel, rather than series?


Originally Posted by stevie_beesI'm hoping the more vintage spec of the ssl-1's won't give me the same problem as Artie's. Am I right in thinking that blend mod is more for bringing in another pup in parallel, rather than series?

Exactly. With SSL-1's, the series mod is an interesting sound. Its only with the high-output of the QP's that it isn't as useful.

And yes, also, on the blend pot. (Although, dialing in a bit of series, could be an interesting mod.)

Artie, you need to come up with a schematic that allows all the different series/parallel mods, without losing the original look of the guitar!!!!! No pressure!

I guess it must be the same for you guys, but when you realise the possibilities opened up by just a simple rewire, it becomes addictive and you need to try them all! This place is fast becoming The Betty Ford clinic for recovering guitar modders.

I'm looking forward to trying the series mod, as I'm hoping it'll give me something approximating Brian May's primary lead sound, as he usually uses bridge/middle in series.


Originally Posted by stevie_beesArtie, you need to come up with a schematic that allows all the different series/parallel mods, without losing the original look of the guitar!!!!! No pressure!

I've got a couple things in the works.

Stay tuna-ed.

Heres another option to throw a wrench in everything

from : localhost/haven't tried it yet but as soon as I get some funds to buy a new Strat I'm gonna have it wired up like that.


Originally Posted by stevie_beesThis place is fast becoming The Betty Ford clinic for recovering guitar modders.

Do we have to recover from this?


Originally Posted by gripweedHeres another option to throw a wrench in everything

from : localhost/haven't tried it yet but as soon as I get some funds to buy a new Strat I'm gonna have it wired up like that.

That looks pretty sweet, but confusing at the same time. I'd like to give it a shot, but I think there'd be a major learning curve. Not to mention, it neglects Middle and Neck in Series although it covers a TON of bases.

Maybe I will try it sometime


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadDo we have to recover from this?

As long as we look out for each other, then we're safe!!

Bumping this, looking to get maybe Curly or Lew's opinion on the 6 position switch thing for strat.

Its only a minor thing, but note that on the 6-way switch, there's a slight misprint for the Notch Two position.

#3 and #4 would both be middle and bridge together.
He shows #3 as being middle, by itself.