4-way switch with P-90s

[jmiles]

I have a friend who has a Tele with two P-90s, standard Tele 3-way switch. Can he install the 4-way switch with P-90 pups, for the series/parallel option?

[metalicaster]

Yes, you can wire any two pickups in series if you have at least two wires coming out of each.
Keep in mind there may be phase difference issues - swap the wires round till it's loudest.


I would question whether it is necessary with p90s, they are pretty fat sounding already... unless this is rip your head off monster tone he's going for

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by metalicaster

Yes, you can wire any two pickups in series if you have at least two wires coming out of each.

May need three, if they have a cover (shield), which would be connected to the neutral coil lead to share the path to ground.

[jmiles]

He winds his own pups, and is very good at it. I just thought the idea of using a 4-way might not have occurred to him. So,,, if he winds one "North", and the other "South," does he get a monster humbucker in the 4th position?

[waparker4]

Originally Posted by jmiles

He winds his own pups, and is very good at it. I just thought the idea of using a 4-way might not have occurred to him. So,,, if he winds one "North", and the other "South," does he get a monster humbucker in the 4th position?

I believe so, but part of the sound of a humbucker comes from the coils being so close together... which doesn't happen in this case

[sjtalon]

Originally Posted by jmiles

He winds his own pups, and is very good at it. I just thought the idea of using a 4-way might not have occurred to him. So,,, if he winds one "North", and the other "South," does he get a monster humbucker in the 4th position?

Well not monster, but a fatter and more powerful (slightly higher output) sound. Very similar to a humbucker.

You need to have reverse polarity as well, or they will be out of phase actually. But that can be cured with how they are connected.

Same-same pickups can benefit from series though too. In other words one doesn't have to be RW/RP.

[jmiles]

"Same-same pickups can benefit from series though too. In other words one doesn't have to be RW/RP."

Oh! I know! I have a 4-way in my main Tele, and have put in a few for friends. Just wasn't sure it could be done with P-90s. You have to ground the pup cover separately on a Tele, and I wasn't sure if there'd be some sort of issue with a P-90.

Thanks guys!

[sjtalon]

I put a mini toggle in my Jazzmaster to get the pups in series and it sounds seller..........but they have plastic covers so it was a breeze


Happy pickin'

[RomanS]

I've got a Thinline Tele with a HB-sized P90 in the bridge position, and a VVG HCC (a HB-sized cross between a P90 and a Chalrie Christian pickup) in the neck spot - and while I really love the 4th position on all my Teles with "regular" (= lower output Tele or Strat) single coils, I don't find it useful at all with those P90ish pickups - it just sounds muddy and indistinct...

[Mreilander]

If he's using shielded 2 conductor for the lead wire, he will have no problem connecting them to a 4way. If he's using vintage steel braided wire, it might pose a problem... if the braid touches the wrong component, it will short out with no output.
The baseplates for the P90's should be connected to the shield (bare wire) of the shielded 2 conductor.

[donh]

P90s have a back plate which must be separated from signal minus ("three-wire") if you are planning on placing them in a series circuit or doing the safety-circuit mod.