# Seymour Duncan series, split and parallel wiring

Canonical page: https://guitarwiring.app/wiring-guides/seymour-duncan/series-parallel

Two coils can work in a chain, side by side, or one at a time. See the difference before choosing a switch.

Applies to: The passive four-conductor humbucker and switch contact pattern in these Seymour Duncan sheets.

## What each setting connects

Series sends the signal through both coils in a chain. Parallel connects both coils across the same output and return. Split bypasses one coil. Series and parallel retain the hum-cancelling pair; split does not.

The source describes parallel as a lower-output, single-coil-like option. It still uses two coils. Exact volume and tone depend on the pickup, controls and amplifier.



## Wire the six terminals

Read the map from the solder-terminal side in the illustrated orientation. L and R mean left and right; 1 is upper, 2 middle, 3 lower. These are our reference labels, not stamped terminal numbers.



Terminal | Connection
--- | ---
L1 | No external wire
L2 | White; jumper to R1
L3 | Green and bare; ground
R1 | Jumper from L2
R2 | Red
R3 | Black; signal output

## Choose two sounds or three

A DPDT on/on push/pull gives series and parallel. A matching DPDT on/on/on adds split in the middle. An on/off/on cannot substitute for this contact pattern.

The source’s middle state connects left middle to lower and right middle to upper. Other switches can have the opposite centre pattern. Check continuity rather than assuming all six-tab switches behave alike.



## Where the output goes

Black goes to the pickup’s individual volume control when it has one, or to the selector when the circuit uses a master volume. Bare remains grounded. This is a modification block, not a complete guitar harness.



Sources: WD_Pushpull_minitoggle_3, WD_Minitoggle_3. https://www.seymourduncan.com/resources/pickup/wiring-diagrams

Independent explanation by Tinkercaster; not endorsed by Seymour Duncan.