Pickup Switching Reference

Pickup SwitchingReference

Many four-conductor humbuckers can be wired for different operating modes using a DPDT switch. This page shows the switch wiring used by Boscoe Music preamps and diagrams for the most common switch types.

These diagrams are intended for G&L or Music Man-style humbuckers, but they can also be used with many other four-conductor pickups once the correct wire colors are identified.

Pickup Modes

Parallel

Parallel wiring is the classic Music Man StingRay and Sabre configuration.

Both coils operate together while remaining hum-canceling. Compared to series wiring, parallel operation has lower resistance and inductance, producing a cleaner, brighter tone with tighter bass and more high-frequency detail.

For the MMSR77 and MMSA78, parallel wiring is recommended for the closest reproduction of the original 1970s sound.

Series

Series wiring connects one coil into the other, increasing the pickup's output, resistance, and inductance.

The resulting tone is typically louder, thicker, and darker than parallel operation while still remaining hum-canceling.

Single Coil

Single-coil mode disables one coil and operates the pickup as a true single coil.

This produces the brightest sound of the three modes but eliminates the hum-canceling effect of the humbucker, so some 50/60 Hz hum is normal.

DPDT Switch Types

Two different internal versions of ON / ON / ON DPDT switches are commonly sold.

Although they appear identical externally, the center position is wired differently.

The diagram shows the internal connections for each switch type.

If you're unsure which switch you have, use a multimeter in continuity mode to determine which terminals connect together in each switch position.

Wiring Diagrams

The diagram shows how to wire the most common pickup mode selector switches using Boscoe Music's wire color convention.

DPDT ON / ON

Provides:

• Parallel

• Series

DPDT ON / ON / ON (Type 1 & 2)

Provides:

• Parallel

• Single Coil

• Series

Because ON / ON / ON switches are manufactured with two different internal contact arrangements, be sure to identify the switch type before wiring.

Wire Color Convention

The diagrams on this page use the reference wire colors shown above.

Different pickup manufacturers use different wire colors, so these colors represent coil functions, not a universal manufacturer standard.

Before wiring any pickup, refer to the Pickup Wiring page for the correct wire colors for your specific pickup.

Compatibility

These switching diagrams work with any four-conductor humbucker once the pickup's wire colors have been mapped to the convention above.  Please see the Pickup Wiring Reference for more information.

Current Boscoe wiring references include:

• Sterling by Music Man H-1

• Nordstrand MM4.2 / MM5.2

• Seymour Duncan SMB-4A / SMB-5A

• G&L L-Series MFD