Simple Strat wiring scheme 1 Vol 1 Tone question

[jay4321]

I've wired up Strats more than a few times, but just going off of diagrams - I don't really know what it all means. With that out of the way:

I'm working on a new Strat in a 1 volume + 1 tone config. Volume universal of course, but I want the tone knob to affect the bridge pickup only. I'm vaguely aware that my wiring with regard to the tone pot and maybe switch should change, but I don't know how.

 

This is what I'm working off of.

 

[drewfx]

Just take the wire between the volume and tone pots and instead connect it from the tone pot to where the bridge PU wire connects to the switch.

 

[line6man]

Keep in mind that the tone control will apply to the middle pickup when the middle and bridge are used together.

All you have to do is wire the tone pot to the bridge pickup's hot lead.

 

[jay4321]

So it should look like this instead? Add the blue wire and don't make the other connection?

 

[line6man]

So it should look like this instead? Add the blue wire and don't make the other connection?

Yep.

 

[jay4321]

Thanks - need to clarify something real quick though -

Keep in mind that the tone control will apply to the middle pickup when the middle and bridge are used together.

Do you mean that the tone control will only affect the middle pickup (and not the bridge) when bridge & middle pickups are in use? Or that the tone control will work on both pickups?

That's more academic, I don't use the middle positions all that much. Though if the tone could work on both the middle and bridge that would be just as well. Would that still apply to the middle if it's neck + mid? The world is full of magical mysteries.

 

[line6man]

Thanks - need to clarify something real quick though -

Keep in mind that the tone control will apply to the middle pickup when the middle and bridge are used together.

Do you mean that the tone control will only affect the middle pickup (and not the bridge) when bridge & middle pickups are in use? Or that the tone control will work on both pickups?

That's more academic, I don't use the middle positions all that much. Though if the tone could work on both the middle and bridge that would be just as well.

It will apply to both the middle and bridge pickup, because a tone control operates parallel to the signal path.
The only way to get the tone on just the bridge if other pickups are also on is to add a series resistance between the bridge pickup and the output, at the expense of some output/treble.

You don't have to worry about it though, since you don't care about the middle positions.

 

[jay4321]

Yeah they way you gave it sounds like what I want, thanks again.