Gibson Products News-Lifestyle Lessons Downloads Community 24/7 Support
REPAIR TIPS


Editor's Note: This feature is reprinted with the exclusive permission of Stewart McDonald's Guitar Shop Supply, a respected, professional source of luthier tools, supplies, and expertise. Please click here for a glossary of terms or here to visit Stewart McDonald's Guitar Shop Supply..

 

A "coil cut" is an easy way to get a very useful sound. It has the drawback of being non-humbucking, of course. As I mentioned in my last installment, a coil cut can be accomplished by applying a ground to the "series link." Try these switching arrangements:

(Here are jumps to three useful tables. Each thumbnail graphic below can be clicked to pop up the full graphic):

Click here to display graphic showing major pickup manufacturer's wiring color codes:
 
This one shows basic coil cut Humbucker wiring schematics:
 
This diagram shows 5-way wiring diagram for Stew-Mac Lever-action Pickup Switches (catalog item #3192):
 

All pickup ground connections go to the volume pot casing. I hope these diagrams spark your interest in coil cuts.

 

Baldwin Pianos