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Tone switch

Hey this may be a dumb question, but is there a way you can wire a switch to make a guitar brighter? I built my backup with a humbucker, and it sounds a bit dark, also doesn't react with pedals as much as my other guitar that has a single coil. I don't have room for a pot, that is why I was thinking switch. Thanks for the help.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on August 8, 2023 at 7:31am

No controls, or Volume pot only?

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Permalink Reply by Wolfeather on August 8, 2023 at 8:25am

just one 500k pot

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 8, 2023 at 7:55am

A pot would give you total control, no room for a mini pot? Anyways, you can just attach the Capacitor & Switch between the signal coming from the pickup & the ground on the Output Jack lugs? Try 0.022uF & 0.047uF? Here’s a diagram, you can use a DPDT too, just use one side of the switch like the diagram?

Good luck :)

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Permalink Reply by Wolfeather on August 8, 2023 at 8:28am

oh nice, thanks for the help, what capacitor would provide the brighter sound? also is that cap jumping the two posts on the switch, or just straight from the middle post to the positive jack?

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 8, 2023 at 8:40am

0.022uF is brighter, with capacitors the larger the number, the more low end? The lug on the opposite end of ground has no connection?

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 8, 2023 at 10:55am

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Permalink Reply by Wolfeather on August 9, 2023 at 1:02am

Brian, would I be able to use just an on/off switch? Also are there special caps for guitar? I really appreciate the help.

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Permalink Reply by Carl Floyd on August 9, 2023 at 3:32am

I don't believe that adding a cap will help brighten the pickup. Capacitors bypass high frequencies. Using a 550K vol pot may help a bit, as will removing the vol pot completely. Have you tried lowering the bass side of the pickup & raising the treble side? Probably not an option, but, of course, moving the pickup closer to the bridge will brighten the sound. :)

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 9, 2023 at 7:16am

Do you have a pic of this on/off switch?

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 9, 2023 at 8:30am

They do have specialty tone caps for guitars, but I don’t think they’re worth 10-20 dollars for one capacitor? A capacitor with a 100/250v rating & tolerance rating of 5% or lower is really the best option. I use WIMA box capacitors 250v/5% & 715p Orange drop capacitors, but I use the 1% tolerance over the standard 10% tolerance that everyone uses, they last longer & the specs are tighter?

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Permalink Reply by BrianQ. on August 9, 2023 at 8:44am

Have you given thought to an external tone pot? You could throw a pot, capacitor & jacks in any kind of enclosure? I’ve had to do this for a couple of my customers who play Tom Delong volume only strats? I used a 1590a Hammond stompbox but you could use anything that’s enclosed like an empty tin?