Making the MMB-4 active???

[Arzi]

Yes I did. Tried to switch them too but no luck. Seemed to switch to rear coil when doing that. When the two are joined it gets the humbucking mode.

[WeirdBits]

It sounds like both coils are working, depending on how they are connected, but not working as/when expected. When you can, please post a photo of your toggle switch wiring so we can try to work out what's happening.

[Arzi]

Hi

I got it sorted out. For some reason I was fixed on the wire colors until I got out my Ohm meter and checked whitch ones were a pair. Found that red and black + green and white were pairs, switched the locations and everything worked!

Tomorrow I get to put on the strings. Home strech...

[wokkaboy]

well done Arzi, coil tapping and correct wire colours can take a bit to work out

[WeirdBits]

Glad you got it sorted out, I wish they'd all stick to a standard colour layout and pairing scheme.

I'd still suggest trying one of the pups with the toggle switch wired as series/single/parallel and see which option you like best. The pickups were already wired as series so it may be that configuration will produce the better sound.

[Arzi]

Hi Scott

I might try that. As soon as I get it playing. I've got two pups in stead of one and the preamp so it might give me more growl - espesially with the neck pup. Will tell after I've tried it. Huge thanks to you for helping me out with this.

[Swanny]

Good job on figuring it out with a meter!
I have a set of Guitar Fetish pickups to put in my kit when it arrives, I should check the wiring diagrams it came with against the multimeter... just to be sure!

[Crusader]

Oh great sage's of the forum,
Sorry to resurrect this thread, but I also wish to do a similar setup.
But, I would like to use a 5 way switch so with 2 x 2 coil pickups what would be the most popular selections

1. both coils neck
2. both coils Bridge
3. one coil from each
4. the other coils from each
5. ?????

etc.

Also, could I just replace the Balance pot for the 5 way, I have emailed Artec I have not yet received a reply.

any advice would be gratefully accepted.

Cheers
Crusader.

[Fretworn]

I wonder whether having the coils in series/parallel might be a better option than splitting to single coils. I would think you would want to have each humbucker separately and together. If wanted to have the coils split you would probably just want the outer coils, don't worry about trying to get the inner coils as well.

[WeirdBits]

Neil, is this for an MMB-4 kit? It will depend on the pickups you're using and how they are wired (series or parallel coils, 2 or 4 wire etc), and your overall goal.

Keeping the balance pot will give you a lot more flexibility, but there are ways to wire it so it has no effect in certain positions. Depending on the pickup wiring you will probably need a switch with individual (not shared) lugs, so either a Tele 4-way or Oak Grigsby 2/4 pole 5-way. But again, it comes down to what you want it to do... if you can explain that then we can work out the best way to achieve it.