SD Vintage Rails Pickup with super 5-way switch

jackocaster

Active member
Messages
30
I have two problems.  Hopefully, someone can help me out. 

First, I am installing the cool/vintage/hot rails set-up in my Strat.  I got the wiring diagram for the super 5-way switch from seymourduncan.com.  The problem is that the old style vintage rail only has red and white wires and the diagram calls for the four wire pick-up.  How can I make this work?

The second problem is that I bought the vintage rails used from eBay and it did nto come with the rubber spacers.  What can I use in their place?  I know I can probably find springs.  Is there an advantage to having the rubber instead of the springs?  Any thoughts?

Thank you for your help. 
 

ibob74

Senior member
Messages
262
Sounds like your rails are the older 2-conductor type. If that is the case, there is no way to access the humbucker coils separately, aside from taking apart the pickup and modifying it, a delicate but doable process. Unfortunately, without the factory 4-conductor leads, coil taps (if that is what you had planned for the Super Switch), are not possible.
Maybe you could put the pups back up on eBay and obtain 4-conductor ones.
 

WMHOLP

Senior member
Messages
173
As I recall, the Vintage Rails are not side-by-side coils, they are staggered.  You can't use a Vintage Rail as a humbucker and split it for single-coil, thus the 2-conductor wiring for that one.

I used to have a similar setup in my swamp ash Strat with a Hot Rail in the bridge, and a Vintage Rail middle.  I didn't care much for the Hot Rail when split.  I had a little better luck with the SD Li'l Demon for the bridge.  In the end, I ditched all the SD's, and went with a full set of Fralin Vintage Hot single coils.  Each to his own.  I personally just didn't care for the Hot Rail at all.
 

jackocaster

Active member
Messages
30
OK thanks for the repies.
The wiring with the super switch gives a split neck+split mid in the "2" position, and a split mid+split bridge in the "4" postion.
I noticed that the new vintage has four leads. Does that mean I would get 1/2 a mid with the other split coil?
That doesn't sound too good. I think I will install the normal 5 way until I think of something else.

Any thoughts on the rubber spacer/spring problem?
 

ibob74

Senior member
Messages
262
Surgical tubing or springs... never really noticed a difference. I find the tubing easier to install, it will usually fit snuggly holding the pickup screws in place.

Yeah, the vintage rail is staggered - 3 low strings on a coil, 3 hi strings an a coil.
 

ibob74

Senior member
Messages
262
Allparts;

http://www.allparts.com/store/screws-pickup-screws-springs-gs-0330-000,Product.asp
 

ibob74

Senior member
Messages
262
Here's an idea;

Use a push/pull volume control, the ones Warmoth has are DPDT
Wire the Red/White wires from the bridge/neck pups to each pole.
Wire a set of poles to ground.
Wire the 5-way normally.

In the "up" position, both bridge and neck are split whenever selected, in the "down" every thing's normal.





 
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