Wiring diagram for 3 P-Rails

entee · February 2015

As part of the 2015 challenge I want to install 3 P-Rails in place of the Wilkinson HBs I have now, in the SG copy from Harley Benton.

Does anyone have a wiring diagram or advice about wiring the three of them up, and being able to split them all individually, to get the 3 different combinations for each P-rail? Should give 27 different ones? I am guessing at keeping the 3 volumes, and having a rotary 5-way switch for pickup selection, and 3 mini switches to handle the tapping?

Anyone?

TTony · February 2015

3 P-Rails is just plain greedy. Or mad.

Personally, I'd use the triple-shot mounting rings and keep the other controls as-is. It's the simplest option for the wiring since all the splitting controls are on the p'up rings themselves.

entee · February 2015

Yeah I had thought about that - I do like the idea of the switches though

would look as mad as it played then lol

axisus · February 2015

You can get the special surrounds with two tiny switches on each. That would be the easiest route. I tried them but the switches were too small to see what setting they were on, and too fiddly to change quickly.

I have to say that 27 options sounds like a nightmare to me! I can't believe that you will get distinct variation. I have 2 Prails in aguitar but only 3 switching options - P90, both SCs, Humbucker. I love it like that.

TTony · February 2015

A wise man once told me that you should work out what combinations you'd want to achieve first, and then how to achieve them (ie the switching) second. But ...

3 mini-toggles will easily give you the main P90/HB/SC option for each p'up (though you'd lose the HB series/parallel option that the triple-shots also give you).

A push/push on a vol/tone could include/exclude the middle p'up (I believe that's a frequently used option).

Then the standard 3-way p'up selector gives you the usual options, but with the push/push adding in (or taking out) the middle p'up.

entee · February 2015

That sounds like what I would like @TTony - I'll have to try to work out what that means on a diagram. Electrics are not my strong point lol I have looked at SD wiring diagram for 2 P-rails, but they don't show a 3 one - probabaly cos no one is 'mad' enough....yet

TTony · February 2015

It's not too difficult to achieve @entee - just logic really to work out the signal flow through the switches, and being able to hold the right end of a hot stick (clue; coldy-holdy)

Depending on how you use vol & tone controls, I'm guessing that you'll either end up with 3v & 1t (with 1v only being useful when the middle p'up is switched in), or keep 2v & 2t and have to control the volume of the middle p'up together with either the bridge or neck p'up ...

entee · February 2015

I don't tend to use tone controls tbh. The SG has 3v and 1t at present, and I am happy to lose the tone if necessary. Studying SDs wiring diagram for 2 P-rails should help get my head around the wiring, then 'just add in a third' to the mix...

TTony · February 2015

If it's got 3v now, it'd be quite easy to change the middle p'up vol to a push/push (or push/pull, but I prefer push/push!), and then just push the knob to bring the middle p'up into the sound if/when you want it.

Then you've got each p'up wired to a mini-toggle to give you the 3 main options, then the output from each mini-toggle goes to the appropriate vol control just as if it's a normal p'up hot wire. Not a lot of change really, as long as you've got the space in the control cavity for the 3 mini-togs.

entee · February 2015

That's excellent @TTony! ; That actually makes sense, thank you. I am definitely learning

The strip down will start tomorrow, then I'll know what space I have to play with, and where I can fit switches etc.

WezV · February 2015

I quite like series/split/parallel switches for each pickup - although i usually only use this on single pickup guitars to give more options

Essentially it gives, full power/half power/quarter power for each p-up

In reality the series/split sounds can sound too similar on evenly matched coils... but on a something like a p-rail you should see a lot more variation between settings. essentially you will loose the single rail sound (imo the weakest) and gain the parallel humbucker sound. worth having a play to see which is more useful to you

The weak point of 3 pickup gibsons is the toggle switch options, need to be able to get all 3 pickups individually or any combination of them. push/pull or neck adder volume control will do this (i.e. wire up the toggle for 2 pickups only, then have the switch or volume to add in the 3rd pickup) volume controls for each pickup will mean every option is still available

steamabacus · February 2015

Have you considered ditching the three-way toggle and replacing with three more mini-switches for on/off for each pickup for more of a Brian May Red Special vibe? Could sound good with (effectively) three P90s.

entee · February 2015

Good point @steamabacus - wow there's going to be a lot of wires in that tiny cavity! I need to start sketching I think, so it becomes clearer in my mind what I need to do

steamabacus · February 2015

A pen and paper are your friend when it comes to guitar wiring.

And ......... it's just occurred to me that you could, rather than a simple on/off toggle for each pickup, use a three-way mini toggle for in-phase/off/out-of-phase and get even more permutations! You'd probably need a spread-sheet to keep track of them, though.

entee · February 2015

steamabacus said:

A pen and paper are your friend when it comes to guitar wiring.

And ......... it's just occurred to me that you could, rather than a simple on/off toggle for each pickup, use a three-way mini toggle for in-phase/off/out-of-phase and get even more permutations! You'd probably need a spread-sheet to keep track of them, though.

My friend, I am already in deep with this, and not sure even how to wire a p'ups in or out of phase! Let alone, have another type of switch for even more permutations.....now if you wanted to write out said spreadsheet, pen/paper, that would be different

TTony · February 2015

There is - of course - the 6-way toggle switch - freeway (made in England too!)

[edit]

You really want to take a look ... here

entee · February 2015

anything to make this rewire easier!

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Wiring diagram for 3 P-Rails

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