HSS pickup combination wiring

[redspacecadet74]

I am thinking of installing two Iron Gear jailhouse rail neck and middle pickups in an HSS combination with a Bill Lawrence USA L500XL pickup in the bridge.

There's a similar post on TGP that gives a link to a wiring diagram for an HSS configuration with 1 volume and 1 tone and a 5-way switch that I was thinking of using:

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s311/sundaypunch_pics/hss.jpg

However, I've seen a far simpler wiring diagram for an HSS configuration on the Phostenix website here:

https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/7440801/Guitar Wiring/HSS-DualGangVol6.jpg

Before I buy all the components I wanted to ask the view of other people as to whether there is a significant benefit to the more complex wiring layout? I'm guessing it's all to do with trying to balance the output of the single coils with the relatively 'hot' output of the L500XL humbucker.

Thanks.

 

[B. Howard]

Depends on how you want it to sound...But I think your summation of the difference is correct.

 

[UnderTheGroove]

I recently wired up a Strat with the first, more complex wiring (from Suhr). It really did seem to give better results on the sound of the pickups. The wiring process didn't take very long to do, so I would recommend it.

 

[redspacecadet74]

Thanks for the replies. I've started buying the components for the Suhr wiring diagram. My issue now is whether to stick with the Iron Gear single coils to go with the l500xl or try something from Seymour Duncan or Dimarzio instead. Any suggestions?

 

[Lolaviola]

Can anyone provide a (easy to follow) layout or even a photo of the Suhr wiring?

 

[redspacecadet74]

I don't know about easy to follow, but there is a link to the Suhr wiring diagram in my original post. I've tried to find some photos of someone who has actually used this wiring, but no luck. If anyone has used this wiring and is able to post a photo it would be very helpful.

 

[Lolaviola]

I have seen a picture of the bottom of a Suhr pickguard. It looked like R2 and R3 are both grounded to the same point on the switch. But I could not be sure.

 

[redspacecadet74]

Well, I finally completed the wiring on my guitar using the Suhr HSS diagram with 1 volume and 1 tone and a 5-way switch (see below).

http://i155.photobucket.com/albums/s311/sundaypunch_pics/hss.jpg

It all works fine, except surprisingly there is a noticeable volume difference between the Irongear Jailhouse Rail pickups in the neck and middle and the Bill Lawrence USA L-500XL in the bridge. The L-500XL being quieter than the rails. If anything I was expecting the opposite.

I'm going to have another check of the wiring to make sure I haven't made any mistakes, but I'd be interested to hear if anyone has any thoughts on likely reasons or possible solutions?