2 HB harness w 3 knobs? 3 way AND blend pot?

[WahmBoomAh]

Hi ..I`m having a custom build done and would like a 2 HB 3 knob setup (master vol,master tone through a blend pot with a normal 3 way switch.)
It would be a 3 knob way to get all the colors of the 2 pickup volumes .
On an archtop with low output pickups .. looking for clarity and dynamics .
Will I smother the signal with all this stuff ?
I could do a traditional 4 knob setup but I`d lose the master volume and have 1 more knob on the top to fight with the bigsby for real estate.
I should decide asap .
thanks

[Jef Bardsley]

Not a problem, just don't connect the blend pot to ground.

You can do this because you have a switch to play either pickup completely solo, and a master volume to turn things down all the way.

[WahmBoomAh]

Originally Posted by Jef Bardsley

Not a problem, just don't connect the blend pot to ground.

You can do this because you have a switch to play either pickup completely solo, and a master volume to turn things down all the way.

thanks .
In your opinion ... Would the signal with this 3 knob setup be as clear as it would with a normal 4 knob setup ...given both would use the 3 way selector?

[walterw]

the way to do it would be with a multi-pole 3-way toggle (like a 3 or even 4PDT), such that the blend is disconnected when the toggle is switched away from the middle; that, plus the "ungrounded blend" that jef refers to, might be pretty cool!

you could use a very low-rated blend, like even a 25k, since you're just using it to adjust over a short range of balance between the two pickups, and being ungrounded there's no tone loss. make sure the blend is the "M/N" type, where the middle is 100% on both sides.

here's the diagram, from one "line6man", a wiring diagram treasurehouse over on TB.

[WahmBoomAh]

Originally Posted by walterw

the way to do it would be with a multi-pole 3-way toggle (like a 3 or even 4PDT), such that the blend is disconnected when the toggle is switched away from the middle; that, plus the "ungrounded blend" that jef refers to, might be pretty cool!

you could use a very low-rated blend, like even a 25k, since you're just using it to adjust over a short range of balance between the two pickups, and being ungrounded there's no tone loss. make sure the blend is the "M/N" type, where the middle is 100% on both sides.

here's the diagram, from one "line6man", a wiring diagram treasurehouse over on TB.

fantastic ... Mr Wright to the rescue once again !!
I`ll get this to the builder right away .
thanks !!!!!

[WahmBoomAh]

I`m getting word that there`s no reliable 3 way switch in a Gibson style 1/4" format with the extra features needed .... only mini switches.
I just sent word to go 4 knobs like a LP ,,,thanks for the help guys

[walterw]

there's plenty of multi-way toggles with a big fat handle like a gibson, but they do indeed still stick out of little plastic boxes with little terminals, same as regular mini-toggles.

i'm sure they'd be fine, but i'd rather have the real-deal open-frame switchcraft too.