Sabre question - coil splitting

[todd4ta]

Here is a picture of my '79 Sabre pickup.

A previous owner detached the yellow wire and made an extension to the preamp. So I have the yellow, black & white wires to the preamp. The green wire is still soldered on the pickup. It looks like he was trying to do some type of coil splitting, there was a push/pull pot on the volume. It didn't seem to me like anything was different, at least it didn't seem to be going series/parallel. Both pickups were done the same way.

My question is: Is it possible to wire the Sabre pickups so I can have a series/parallel switch? Is there anything I can do by having that yellow wire available in the control cavity?? I was planning to solder it back up as original, but thought I would ask before I did.

 

[todd4ta]

Gav? (should be checking in soon)

Jon??

 

[bdgotoh]

It looks like they were trying to get single coil, you can't get series with that green wire in stock config. It's pretty easy to get series/parallel with a Sabre pickup, just put 4 wires on there!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

On the shematics, the "slide switch" model Sabre has a neck PUP with 3 lead-outs coloured black, blue and green. This would be the PUP with the Jazz Bass style pole pieces??? The bridge PUP has two lead-outs, black and white.

On the "toggle switch" Sabre, both PUPs have two lead-outs coloured black and white.

Todd, yours being a 1979 toggle switch, there wont be a probs inserting 2 toggle switches (1 for each PUP) to change each PUP individually to either series or parallel.

That would give:

Bridge and neck both parallel

Bridge and neck both series

Bridge series and neck parallel

Bridge parallel and neck series

It would be hard to find a 1 double DPDT switch to work both PUPs at the same time. I suppose one could be found but that would restrict you to both Pups being either series or parallel at the same time.

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

Actually, with the correct two switches, you could select the centre position where either one or both PUPs can be split for single coil operation.

 

[bdgotoh]

It would be hard to find a 1 double DPDT switch to work both PUPs at the same time. I suppose one could be found but that would restrict you to both Pups being either series or parallel at the same time.

Those aren't that hard to find actually, G&L uses them on their L-2000 but they do have the limitation you mentioned.

You bring up a great point, if you were careful about which coil you choose for single coil you could have a hum-cancelling pair of single coils when both switches are in the middle position. Might sound a bit like the new HH Rays!

 

[Rod Trussbroken]

>>>Might sound a bit like the new HH Rays!

Exactly what I thought after I posted.

Also, if the phase and bright switches weren't considered necessary, there'd be no need for drilling more holes in the plate.

 

[todd4ta]

>>>Also, if the phase and bright switches weren't considered necessary, there'd be no need for drilling more holes in the plate.

Gav and Brad, you two are very wise!!