Parts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck Dave Mustaine | — | Blackouts Active HumbuckerExample part |
| Bridge Dave Mustaine | — | Blackouts Active HumbuckerExample part |
| 3-way toggle | — | Switchcraft 3-Way ToggleExample part |
| Master volume 100K | 25k | EMG 25K PotExample part |
| Neck tone 100K | 25k | EMG 25K PotExample part |
| Bridge tone 100K | 25k | EMG 25K PotExample part |
| Neck .10 cap | 100nF | 0.1 µF Film CapacitorExample part |
| Bridge .10 cap | 100nF | 0.1 µF Film CapacitorExample part |
| Stereo output jack | — | Switchcraft #12BExample part |
| 9V battery clip | — | 9V Battery ClipExample part |
| Bridge ground | — | Bridge ground wireGeneric |
“Example part” means any part with the same value and lugs will do; the source does not name a brand. “Generic” stands in for an unspecified pickup: check your own pickup's lead colours before you solder.
Specific to this wiring
- Dave Mustaine active humbuckers drawn on the source sheet; catalog part seymour-duncan-blackout-humbucker is used as an active topology stand-in.
- Each pickup white also feeds its tone control while the toggle selects pickup hots as drawn.
Understand this wiring
- Seymour Duncan humbucker wire colors
See the pickup, recognise its two halves, and learn where each coloured wire goes.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.
| # | From | To | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 3-way toggle T4 | Master volume 100K casing | Wireblack |
| 2 | Neck Dave Mustaine gnd | Neck tone 100K casing | Wirebare |
| 3 | Bridge Dave Mustaine gnd | Bridge tone 100K casing | Wirebare |
| 4 | Master volume 100K lug1 | Master volume 100K casing | Wireground |
| 5 | Neck .10 cap b | Neck tone 100K casing | Wireground |
| 6 | Bridge .10 cap b | Bridge tone 100K casing | Wireground |
| 7 | Neck tone 100K casing | Master volume 100K casing | Wireground |
| 8 | Bridge tone 100K casing | Master volume 100K casing | Wireground |
| 9 | Stereo output jack sleeve | Master volume 100K casing | Wireblack |
| 10 | Bridge ground ground | Bridge tone 100K casing | Wireblack |
| 11 | Neck Dave Mustaine hot | 3-way toggle T1 | Wirewhite |
| 12 | Bridge Dave Mustaine hot | 3-way toggle T2 | Wirewhite |
| 13 | 3-way toggle T3 | Master volume 100K lug3 | Wireblack |
| 14 | Neck Dave Mustaine hot | Neck tone 100K lug3 | Wirewhite |
| 15 | Bridge Dave Mustaine hot | Bridge tone 100K lug3 | Wirewhite |
| 16 | Neck Dave Mustaine vplus | 9V battery clip vplus | Wirered |
| 17 | Bridge Dave Mustaine vplus | 9V battery clip vplus | Wirered |
| 18 | 9V battery clip vminus | Stereo output jack ring | Wireblack |
| 19 | Master volume 100K lug2 | Stereo output jack tip | Wireblack |
| 20 | Neck tone 100K lug2 | Neck .10 cap a | Wireblack |
| 21 | Bridge tone 100K lug2 | Bridge .10 cap a | Wireblack |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Always on (active) | Passive simulation is not applied to active pickups; wiring topology only. | No pickup reaches the output. |
Not simulated: this circuit is drawn for reference only.
- Active pickup gain and frequency response are not simulated.
- The catalog active buffer is approximated with seymour-duncan-blackout-humbucker terminals.
Before you solder
Ticks are kept in this browser only, as a reminder. They are not a check of your joints. New to soldering? Read the soldering cheat sheet.
Check before plugging in
Measure across the output jack with a multimeter on its resistance range. No exact readings are given where the source does not specify the pickups.