Seymour Duncan wiring

Two humbuckers with a three-way blade, two push/pull split volumes and a push/pull phase tone

Two humbuckers · Three-way blade · Two push/pull volumes (split) · Push/pull master tone (phase)

Neck and bridge Seymour Duncan humbuckers, each with its own 500k push/pull volume before a three-way blade, and a 500k master tone with a .047 µF capacitor. Each volume's push/pull splits that pickup. The tone's push/pull reverses the neck pickup's black and green leads before the neck volume.

Two humbuckers with a three-way blade, two push/pull split volumes and a push/pull phase toneTwo humbuckers with a three-way blade, two push/pull split volumes and a push/pull phase tone: Two humbuckers · Three-way blade · Two push/pull volumes (split) · Push/pull master tone (phase). Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck PickupNeck PickupBridge PickupBridge Pickup3-Way Blade SwitchNeck Volume 500k push/pull split · 500k500kBridge Volume 500k push/pull split · 500k500kMaster Tone 500k push/pull phase · 500k500k.047 cap · 47nF47nFOutput JackBridge groundblackgreenwhiteredbareblackgreenwhiteredbareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3sw1sw2sw3sw4sw5sw6lug1lug2lug3sw1sw2sw3sw4sw5sw6lug1lug2lug3sw1sw2sw3sw4sw5sw6abtipsleeveground

Viewed from the back of the controls, as you solder them. Open the interactive diagram to zoom, move components and try the switches.

Parts and values

In the drawingValuePart
Neck PickupSource: Seymour Duncan Neck Pickup—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
Bridge PickupSource: Seymour Duncan Bridge Pickup—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
3-Way Blade SwitchSource: 3 Way Blade—CRL 3-Way BladeExample part
Neck Volume 500k push/pull splitSource: Neck Volume 500k push/pull500k500k Push-Pull DPDTExample part
Bridge Volume 500k push/pull splitSource: Bridge Volume 500k push/pull500k500k Push-Pull DPDTExample part
Master Tone 500k push/pull phaseSource: Master Tone 500k push/pull Phase Switch500k500k Push-Pull DPDTExample part
.047 capSource: .047 cap (drawn green)47nFOrange Drop .047µFExample part
Output Jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
Bridge groundSource: Bridge ground wire—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

  • The source titles the volumes as push/pull coil split and the tone as push/pull phase.
  • The neck black and green go through the tone's push/pull with an X cross-wire; the hot out feeds the neck volume's input lug.
  • Each pickup's red and white leads are soldered together onto its own volume's push/pull middle lug.
  • The master tone takes its signal from the blade output after the switch.
  • Solder = location for ground (earth) connections.
  • The blade tags are not labelled in the source, so they are mapped by what each does.

Connections

In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.

#FromToHow
1Neck bareMaster tone casingShield or groundbare
2Neck greenMaster tone phase middle rightWiregreen
3Master tone phase bottom leftMaster tone casingTo a pot casingblack
4Neck volume push/pull nearest potNeck volume casingTo a pot casingblack
5Neck volume right lugNeck volume casingLug bent onto the casing.To a pot casing
6Bridge greenBridge volume casingTo a pot casinggreen
7Bridge bareBridge volume casingShield or groundbare
8Bridge volume push/pull nearest potBridge volume casingTo a pot casingblack
9Bridge volume right lugBridge volume casingLug bent onto the casing.To a pot casing
10.047 capMaster tone casingTo a pot casingblack
11Neck volume casingBridge volume casingTo a pot casingblack
12Bridge volume casingMaster tone casingTo a pot casingblack
13Bridge ground wireBridge volume casingWireblack
14Bridge volume casingJack sleeveTo a pot casingblack
15Neck volume middle lugBlade neck commonWireblack
16Bridge volume middle lugBlade bridge commonWireblack
17Blade lugBlade lugWireblack
18Blade lugBlade lugWireblack
19Blade lugBlade lugWireblack
20Blade outputJack tipWireblack
21Blade outputMaster tone left lugWireblack
22Neck whiteNeck volume push/pull middleWirewhite
23Neck redNeck volume push/pull middleWirered
24Neck blackMaster tone phase middle leftWireblack
25Bridge redBridge volume push/pull middleWirered
26Bridge whiteBridge volume push/pull middleWirewhite
27Bridge blackBridge volume left lug (input)Wireblack
28Master tone phase top leftNeck volume left lug (input)Wireblack
29Master tone phase top leftMaster tone phase bottom rightOne leg of the X.Wireblack
30Master tone phase top rightMaster tone phase bottom leftThe other leg of the X.Wireblack
31Master tone middle lug.047 capWireblack

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Neck, all knobs down—Neck Pickup (both coils).
Both, all knobs down—Neck Pickup (both coils) and Bridge Pickup (both coils) in parallel.
Bridge, all knobs down—Bridge Pickup (both coils).
Neck, neck splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil).
Both, neck splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil) and Bridge Pickup (both coils) in parallel.
Bridge, neck splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Bridge Pickup (both coils).
Neck, bridge splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (both coils).
Both, bridge splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (both coils) and Bridge Pickup (split to one coil) in parallel.
Bridge, bridge splitPulling a volume splits that pickup.Bridge Pickup (split to one coil).
Neck, phase pulled—Neck Pickup (both coils).
Both, phase pulledNeck reversed against the bridge.Neck Pickup (both coils) and Bridge Pickup (both coils) in parallel.
Bridge, phase pulled—Bridge Pickup (both coils).
Neck, both volumes pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil).
Both, both volumes pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil) and Bridge Pickup (split to one coil) in parallel.
Bridge, both volumes pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Bridge Pickup (split to one coil).
Neck, neck split and phase pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil).
Both, neck split and phase pulledNeck reversed against the bridge.Neck Pickup (split to one coil) and Bridge Pickup (both coils) in parallel.
Bridge, neck split and phase pulled—Bridge Pickup (both coils).
Neck, bridge split and phase pulled—Neck Pickup (both coils).
Both, bridge split and phase pulledNeck reversed against the bridge.Neck Pickup (both coils) and Bridge Pickup (split to one coil) in parallel.
Bridge, bridge split and phase pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Bridge Pickup (split to one coil).
Neck, all pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Neck Pickup (split to one coil).
Both, all pulledNeck reversed against the bridge.Neck Pickup (split to one coil) and Bridge Pickup (split to one coil) in parallel.
Bridge, all pulledPulling a volume splits that pickup.Bridge Pickup (split to one coil).

Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.

  • Hum cancelling and phase describe the generic pickup models, not a measurement of any specific Seymour Duncan model.
  • Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings are given.

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

  • In each blade position the jack reads the selected pickup, or both in parallel in the middle.
  • Pulling a volume splits that pickup; pulling the tone in the middle position puts the pickups out of phase.

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.