push/pull knob for standard JP6

[MusicManJP6]

Phazer gave me the idea to have a push/pull knob installed in my JP. After talking to a friend he has scared me a bit concerning my idea. He said all the pickups are grounded on a circuit board and the stock middle position is a split that is out of phase. He said it would make the install very difficult for the tech (not me!!).

Anyone have any thoughts about installing a push/pull knob? I would want it to be all humbucking when pushed (middle position uses both humbuckers), and all single coil when pulled (coil splits or 'taps') - Much like the PRS McCarty switching system...

Anyone have any thoughts? Good idea? Bad idea? Thanks...

 

[petruccirocks02]

I don't think its a bad idea at all if you have a good tech. Any good tech should be able to do that job no problem. You'll get alot more versatility too. I love that my BFR JP has the push/pull pot. It makes the guitar even better.

-Phil

 

[TNT]

Correct me if I'm wrong, but those pickups are not designed for that function (not in performance or connection).

Not to say it can't be done, but that's not the intention, if it were, there would be "other" pickups manufactured to enhance the "tonal" application, as well as the wiring.

 

[MusicManJP6]

As Phil stated, the BFR's have the push/pull knob, so I'm not really sure what you mean, TNT.

And yes, I am taking it to a very good tech. He is meticulous and patient - two very good attributes for a tech to have that is going to work on my JP with a Mystic Dream finish! I told him I was worried about the finish during the install and he assured me that he would cover it when at all possible to protect it. He reminds me of a sloth, so I know he will take his time and do it right (and slow)...

He's installing a D-Sonic pickup as well. I'll have the stock SS for sale shortly thereafter...

 

[Phazer]

On saturday I'll let you know IF it's possible and how well il works
Just hang on there!

 

[Pittman75]

Man, that would be cool. Not to many hot-rod their MM's. But as you can probably tell, there's no need to! And btw, I may be interested in that SS pickup

 

[petruccirocks02]

As Phil stated, the BFR's have the push/pull knob, so I'm not really sure what you mean, TNT.

And yes, I am taking it to a very good tech. He is meticulous and patient - two very good attributes for a tech to have that is going to work on my JP with a Mystic Dream finish! I told him I was worried about the finish during the install and he assured me that he would cover it when at all possible to protect it. He reminds me of a sloth, so I know he will take his time and do it right (and slow)...

He's installing a D-Sonic pickup as well. I'll have the stock SS for sale shortly thereafter...

Adam, my tech's the same way. He treats my guitars like gold, and does superb work. Its always good to have a great tech, especially one who never charges ya for the work . Good luck with it and let me know how it sounds with the push/pull when ya get it back.

By the way, I think you'll dig having both humbuckers on in full. Especially when blended with the piezo, the sound is unbelievable. When I first got my BFR I forgot about the push/pull and I was jamming the one day, and messing with the tone knob and I pulled it up and flipped. I immediately plugged into one of the Mesa 5:25 Express amps on the clean channel and combined both humbuckers in full with the piezo, and man what a sound! One of the best clean tones I've ever heard, If not the best.


-Phil

 

[Phazer]

I WANT TO BE THE FIRST TO HAVE PUSH/PULL ON A STANDARD JP6!!!!
MusicManJP6, I declare war!!!
LoOooL

 

[MusicManJP6]

Haha, my tech said he could do it this week, so......... I'll probably take it to him tomorrow! I'm not sure why I never thought of installing a push/pull until I saw your thread!

It may be ME telling YOU how good it sounds.

 

[Phazer]

Haha, my tech said he could do it this week, so......... I'll probably take it to him tomorrow! I'm not sure why I never thought of installing a push/pull until I saw your thread!

It may be ME telling YOU how good it sounds.

NOOOO!!!
THAT WOULD GET ME GASSING EVEN MORE!
I would be gassing on something that I was already gassing on xD

Anyway, I'll still be the first to have it installed on a LE2006

I think we might start a fashon soon: everybody will have push/pulls in their standard jp's thanks to us that can't keep our gas to our selves

 

[petruccirocks02]

I think its the BFR JP model that started this whole thing .

-Phil

 

[Phazer]

but I though that the BFR push pull didn't split the PU's, but just activated both HBs in center position

 

[petruccirocks02]

but I though that the BFR push pull didn't split the PU's, but just activated both HBs in center position

Exactly. You're doing the opposite of that right?

-Phil

 

[Phazer]

I'm having it done so that I can split the d-sonic in bridge position, split the custom in neck position, and since the center position is already split, I'll have done so that by pulling up the pot the PUs both activate completely

 

[Larry]

Thinking of doing this to my Axis when it comes endless tone possibilities...

 

[MusicManJP6]

I was going to do the opposite. Pushed will be all humbucker tones (both HBs in middle position instead of split), and Pulled will be all coil split tones. This is how my PRS CE22's push/pull knob worked and I really liked it. It had the McCarty switching system... Very versatile!

 

[petruccirocks02]

I was going to do the opposite. Pushed will be all humbucker tones (both HBs in middle position instead of split), and Pulled will be all coil split tones. This is how my PRS CE22's push/pull knob worked and I really liked it. It had the McCarty switching system... Very versatile!

Either way you do it I'm sure you'll like it. Tonal variety. Mmm Mmm.

-Phil

 

[TNT]

As Phil stated, the BFR's have the push/pull knob, so I'm not really sure what you mean, TNT, And yes, I am taking it to a very good tech...

Yeah, I hear ya mm! I just proceed a little cautiously these days, having learned it's just not that simple sometimes.

I went through a couple of those "everything looks like it's workable" with p/p mod's; great reputable tech, the whole bit, etc. . . and even to this day neither one came out like it was supposed to - tonal wise or operation wise.

I think you're taking the best approach though!!

 

[MusicManJP6]

Oh, I see.

Well, it's going in tomorrow unless something comes up and I can't take a lunch break for some reason...

 

[beej]

Splitting the pickups isn't rocket science, though it is a bit more of a pain on the Petrucci due to the way it's wired up.

The upside to splitting is you get single coil like sounds in the neck and bridge. The downside is that a split humbucker rarely sounds like a best-of-breed single coil, and it's noisy like a true single coil.

The thing to watch out for is that when you split it you'll be grounding one coil of each humbucker. So if you ground the wrong coil, in the center switch position (where you get one coil from each bucker) you may get no output at all. So something to watch out for.

I've done it on most of my humbucker guitars at some point- some sound good (Morse), some don't sound as great. The Axis pickups are ok but not great when split.