Andrews PBG-1

[WeirdBits]

If you want a hum cancelling split coil pair when in the middle position then you need the bridge slug, neck screw combo like in this diagram. It's a little more work to wire, but probably worth it in the long run. Just make sure you have the slug on the bridge, as it's furthest from the saddles.

The specific coil layouts can vary between manufacturer so I find it's useful to connect the pup coils together (using clip leads) in different combo's direct to a headphone amp in a nice EMF rich environment, like lots of fluoro lights. You soon hear the difference when you have a north/south pair.

[AndrewA]

Yeah Weirdy, I'll probably end up doing that, but have both pickups on one switch still. Lots of time to experiment while the finish dries.

[AndrewA]

Not much has changed visually, but everyone enjoys picture updates.

The neck has one good top coat on after having to sand back, the body has its first top coat.

[wazkelly]

Yeah Weirdy, I'll probably end up doing that, but have both pickups on one switch still. Lots of time to experiment while the finish dries.

Hi mate, this wiring diagram is exactly what I used in my EX-1 with 1 vol & 1 tone, 2 x 500k push/pulls, and did the screw/slug bit as described and it has so many useful sounds with no buzzing or weird out of phase stuff happening. I know it would seem easier to just use one push/pull to spilt both but reckon in the middle PUP selector switch setting you may end up with issues. Probably best to spend the extra bucks for a 2nd push/pull as you won't regret it.

[wazkelly]

Not much has changed visually, but everyone enjoys picture updates.

The neck has one good top coat on after having to sand back, the body has its first top coat.

Loving that headstock.....looks great.

[AndrewA]

Hi Waz, in that circuit diagram, the volume switch has 3 empty tags. I plan on using those instead of putting in a second switch. It's the same essential circuit without the H+S or S+H options, so there shouldn't be any issues (as long as I get polarity the right way around). My Pacifica is wired HSH with splits and when I first played it I found it was out of phase with the switch in 2nd position, but found I liked the tone (sharp, like an extra mature cheddar). Mistakes aren't always bad, sometimes they are just an adventure into something different.

[wazkelly]

No probs......had my EX-1 out of the case earlier today playing it up against the Tele I am trying to intonate and really love all the combinations as when in the middle PUP selector position you get the usually 2 humbucker together sound, then when splitting the neck and keeping bridge humbucker gives a nice out of phase sound, then did the opposite and split the bridge and dropped neck back to humbucker and it was slightly brighter, and finally split both which did not sound quite as good as the other 2 combinations which you only get from being able to individually split each PUP independent of each other. With all the dramas I am having with the Tele it really only has one sound that I cannot replicate on the Explorer, that being the really bright bridge PUP sound that is so distinctive and gives that chicken pickin country twang. Mind you split bridge PUP sounds more Strat than Tele which is still cool.

I reckon the wiring was not too hard and probably less fiddly than trying to hook them all up together on the one without making a right proper mess of things.

Your axe and your time but for a handful of bucks and maybe 15 extra minutes effort it gives you a few more really nice and useful tonal options.

[AndrewA]

Hmm, you have given me something to think about. I don't mind putting in the extra switch, but didn't think I'd need it for 2 positions I wouldn't use. Have you got any sound samples of your EX-1?

[wazkelly]

No sound samples yet as I have been too busy trying to finish off various builds.

Might be able to bang out some rough ones towards the end of the week and then try and work out how to use Soundcloud to upload them on this forum.

[AndrewA]

Thanks Waz. When the pickups get here I might try them out on my log guitar so I can play with different setups before installing them in the PBG-1.