I've built probably something like 10 kits but never taken the time to try and understand the wiring diagram. By that stage, I'm usually just keen to get it hooked up and making noise. But this time I think I need to understand this diagram so I can understand the implications of my upgrade choices and what more I might need to do.
I'm building an AGM-3F which has 3 humbuckers, 3 volume pots, 1 tone pot and a 3 way switch. Wiring diagram is attached. I originally ordered the AG-1F which is a 2 humbucker model and upgraded the pups to toneriders. However, there was an issue with stock and I was offered the AGM-3F as a free upgrade. I didn't bother with upgrading the third pickup - figured I'd just not use the middle for now and get around to an upgrade later on if I felt like it was needed and when I had a better idea of what I might want.
However, if I'm reading this wiring diagram correctly (which there's a really good chance I'm not), the master tone and jack hot wire come off the middle pickup which leads me to believe that the middle pickup is in play in all three switch positions - 1) Neck/Middle, 2) Middle Only, 3) Middle/Bridge. So, if that's the case, with that wiring the only way I can take the middle (ie muddy standard kit model) pickup out of play is to turn the middle volume down to zero which means I can then only have neck or bridge and not both.
If that is the case, I see a few options but I'm not really sure how I'd achieve some of these:
1) Upgrade the middle pickup as I have the other two (presumably another bridge pickup but preferably something different).
2) Replace the centre volume pot with another tone pot and wire it up as a 2 humbucker, 2 volume, 2 tone, 3 way switch and just use the middle pickup as filler but not actually wire it up. This is not as stupid as it sounds since I was only after a dual humbucker in the first place.
3) Same as option 2 but use the middle cavity as a battery holder and drop in some active pickups.
4) Same as option 2 but put some stupid bright led light in the middle cavity that shines in everyone's eyes when I play.
Anyway, I've digressed a bit. My main query is the bit about what pickups are used in each switch position in the attached diagram. If any of the plethora of experts here can help me out, would be much appreciated.
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