Texas07R8
Senior Member
- Joined
- Jul 15, 2008
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Hey guys,
I just got a Graph Tech Ghost Acousti-Phonic Preamp kit and have a Resomax bridge coming any day now.
The guitar it's going in is a custom build I'm close to finishing now. It's patterned after my 59 DC LP Jr. I've got two P90s like a Special in it and the control cavity is the same as a LP Std.
I'm still undecided on how I want to complete the system. I have some ideas on what I want but don't know if it's the most practical or best methods.
Ideally, I'd like control over both P90 volumes, I don't mind a master tone for the magnetic pickups. I want some form of volume control for the piezo pickups.
I found that Stewmac has a 6-way toggle switch that caught my eye. I was thinking that I could setup the guitar up with the following setups:
6-way switch positions:
1- Neck P90 no Piezo
2- Neck P90 and Piezo
3- both P90s no Piezo
4- both P90s and Piezo
5- bridge P90 no Piezo
6- bridge P90 and Piezo
I like this setup allows me a lot of tonal control, I still have the ability to swap my magnetic pickups from front P90, both P90s and the bridge P90 like a regular Gibson. The exception is having a common master tone control.
The other option I considered was a center detent blend control pot. This would let me blend the magnetic pickups and the piezo in a way that the blend acts like a master volume for both mags and piezo. If I went with this design I'd probably want a standard 3 way switch to toggle my magnetics separately then whatever the magnetic signal was from the 3 way switch that would go into the blend control and there I could dial in more or less Piezo or Magnetic pickups.
I read that if you use a 3 way toggle for switching between magnetics, piezo or both, the standard Gibson 3 way toggle won't work to mix piezo and magnetics. I think the Graph Tech 3 way mini toggle for piezo and magnetic switching is a SPDT type switch, does anyone know if that's the case? I don't know that I need this for my setup but I'd like to be clear in my head what type of switch I need if I wanted to toggle between mags and piezo.
Also, I've read that I can use a 250k or 500k std. pot for piezo volume control. OK, which is better? Seems like the 250k may be a better pot for the piezo volume. Also, I'm assuming you want a linear pot rather than an audio taper?
Going back to my first choice, the StewMac 6way toggle setup, I want separate volume controls for each P90 and a master tone control. Then a 3rd pot for piezo volume control and the 4th position in the control cavity would be for the 6-way switch. Does anyone (Jonesy maybe?) have a wiring diagram that will do what I need for this setup.
Also, any ideas on using a blend pot instead of the 6way toggle. Again, I want separate volume controls for each P90, a third pot for blending piezo and mag volumes and in the forth pot for master magnetic tone. Then I need to fit in a mini 3 way toggle to switch my magnetic pickups before the signal gets to the blend pot/master volume.
thanks for any tips or suggestions. BTW_ I'm using a stereo jack out, it's a smart system than senses a mono or stereo plug and if it's mono it will blend piezo and magnetic signals together. If it senses stereo the piezo and magnetic signals are discrete and will go to two amps.
I just got a Graph Tech Ghost Acousti-Phonic Preamp kit and have a Resomax bridge coming any day now.
The guitar it's going in is a custom build I'm close to finishing now. It's patterned after my 59 DC LP Jr. I've got two P90s like a Special in it and the control cavity is the same as a LP Std.
I'm still undecided on how I want to complete the system. I have some ideas on what I want but don't know if it's the most practical or best methods.
Ideally, I'd like control over both P90 volumes, I don't mind a master tone for the magnetic pickups. I want some form of volume control for the piezo pickups.
I found that Stewmac has a 6-way toggle switch that caught my eye. I was thinking that I could setup the guitar up with the following setups:
6-way switch positions:
1- Neck P90 no Piezo
2- Neck P90 and Piezo
3- both P90s no Piezo
4- both P90s and Piezo
5- bridge P90 no Piezo
6- bridge P90 and Piezo
I like this setup allows me a lot of tonal control, I still have the ability to swap my magnetic pickups from front P90, both P90s and the bridge P90 like a regular Gibson. The exception is having a common master tone control.
The other option I considered was a center detent blend control pot. This would let me blend the magnetic pickups and the piezo in a way that the blend acts like a master volume for both mags and piezo. If I went with this design I'd probably want a standard 3 way switch to toggle my magnetics separately then whatever the magnetic signal was from the 3 way switch that would go into the blend control and there I could dial in more or less Piezo or Magnetic pickups.
I read that if you use a 3 way toggle for switching between magnetics, piezo or both, the standard Gibson 3 way toggle won't work to mix piezo and magnetics. I think the Graph Tech 3 way mini toggle for piezo and magnetic switching is a SPDT type switch, does anyone know if that's the case? I don't know that I need this for my setup but I'd like to be clear in my head what type of switch I need if I wanted to toggle between mags and piezo.
Also, I've read that I can use a 250k or 500k std. pot for piezo volume control. OK, which is better? Seems like the 250k may be a better pot for the piezo volume. Also, I'm assuming you want a linear pot rather than an audio taper?
Going back to my first choice, the StewMac 6way toggle setup, I want separate volume controls for each P90 and a master tone control. Then a 3rd pot for piezo volume control and the 4th position in the control cavity would be for the 6-way switch. Does anyone (Jonesy maybe?) have a wiring diagram that will do what I need for this setup.
Also, any ideas on using a blend pot instead of the 6way toggle. Again, I want separate volume controls for each P90, a third pot for blending piezo and mag volumes and in the forth pot for master magnetic tone. Then I need to fit in a mini 3 way toggle to switch my magnetic pickups before the signal gets to the blend pot/master volume.
thanks for any tips or suggestions. BTW_ I'm using a stereo jack out, it's a smart system than senses a mono or stereo plug and if it's mono it will blend piezo and magnetic signals together. If it senses stereo the piezo and magnetic signals are discrete and will go to two amps.