Double neck wiring question

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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Wonks »

A two- or three-position neck selector switch would stop the bleed issue. Has it got one and you don’t like using it or if not, is there somewhere you could fit one?
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Sam Spoons »

I'm now very curious :) what exactly is the doubleneck (photo maybe)? Just to prove it I've tested a mic cable with 2 x TS to XLR adapters both ends and there is significant crosstalk when plugging unconnected jacks into a guitar and my Headrush fx unit. There must be a way to make it work, can you program the fx unit to roll off the volume on the inactive input as it pans between the two?

Wonks, a two way selector might work if it shorted the inactive output to earth but I don;t think it would solve this particular problem if it left it floating in the normal way as the crosstalk is being induced in the cable?
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Wonks »

The signal has to reach the cable for crosstalk to occur. Floating should be good enough, though grounding would be better. But for your standard easy-to-flick guitar 3-position Switchcraft-style switch, grounding wouldn’t be possible.

That size of DPDT switch that could do the grounding tend to be rather clunky and stiff.
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Sam Spoons »

But the signal causing the problem is from the live side of the guitar? But yes, I get your point about switches capable of grounding the pickups.
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Wonks »

Switchcraft do a DPST+DPST pickup selector switch which could be used to ground the signal of the non-selected side. But in the mid-position you wouldn’t get any signal. They aren’t that easy to find either and are naturally bulkier than a standard switch. They used to do a lot more switch variations (including ones with changeover contacts) but have cut right back fairly recently.

Because the acoustic and electric halves were previously fully isolated, with separate jack outputs, there wasn’t any need for a neck selector switch. But now there’s a common TRS jack output and crosstalk from the TRS cable, a selector switch would be very useful.

With no magnetic signal flowing down the T or S cable connection, there won’t be any magnetic signal crosstalk to the piezo side. If left floating, the piezo signal might impinge on the magnetic side, but probably something a very low threshold noise gate could take care of. But when selecting the piezo neck, you wouldn’t get any magnetic pickup interference on the piezo signal.

And vice-versa.

But knowing what the guitar is would help in working out whether there’s anywhere a switch could go.

A 2-position mini-toggle switch could probably fit somewhere, but they are never quite as easy to use as a standard pickup selector.

I suppose that a push/pull or push/push volume or tone pot could be used for the neck selection, which would allow the grounding of the unused output.
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Sam Spoons »

I think the OP prefers to do his neck selection from the pedal on his fx unit so any suggestions for on guitar switching are probably moot but I'm sure something could be done.
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Re: Double neck wiring question

Post by Wonks »

Well, I think it’s probably a choice between
a) adding some buffers and a battery into the guitar (you can get DIY buffers kits for under £20/$25 each which would be cheaper than a Fishman kit) but you need to find or make the space for them and a battery, or
b) adding a selector switch, or
c) going back to twin outputs and cables.

The last option is the easiest and cheapest solution.

But someone may think of something else.

Does anyone make a stereo guitar transmitter?
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