Tag: Warman

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Wiring a pickup selector switch using a 3 way on-on-on mini toggle switch.

Warman DPDT 3 position on-on-on mini toggle guitar switch
Wiring a pickup selector switch diagram

Wiring up a 3 way mini toggle switch to act as pickup selector switch is really easy. It gives the option of bridge pickup, neck on its own or, in the mid position, both together. All it takes is wiring some jumper wires side to side across the switch lugs of the switch. Then connect the hot wire from the neck pickup to one end of the switch. Next connect the hot wire from the bridge to other end of the switch. Lastly wire a hot out wire from the centre connections to the connector for the tip of the jack socket. That’s it, job done. Easy guide to Wiring a pickup selector switch.

Just make sure you use a 3 position Double Pole Double Throw ( DPDT ) on-on-on type toggle switch.

Only a small 6mm hole is needed to mount the switch through. You can usually find room to squeeze one in somewhere. These switches are also used as series, parallel, coil cut switches. This is explained here.

Warman DPDT 3 position on-on-on mini toggle guitar switch
Warman DPDT 3 position on-on-on mini toggle guitar switch

These types of switches were used often on vintage Japanese guitars from the 1980s

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How to wire a push /pull pot for coil tapping a humbucker.

push pull potentiometer wired for coil splitting
How to wire a push / pull switch potentiometer to coil tap a humbucker

How to Make Your Humbucker Go Solo—Literally

Ever wish your humbucker could sometimes just be a single coil, like Clark Kent turning into Superman? Well, grab your soldering iron and a push–pull pot, because you’re about to unleash your pickup’s inner hero.

Step 1: Wiring the Humdinger (Humbucker, that is)
When everything’s in its classic, rock ’n’ roll setup (push the pot in), your humbucker is doing the two-coil tango—series style. Here’s the star-studded cast:

  • Black wire: coil 1 negative → grounded (back of the pot)
  • White wire: coil 1 positive
  • Red wire: coil 2 negative
  • Green wire: coil 2 positive → to the input of your volume pot
    Roll call: black → white → red → green. Two coils, one glorious roaring tone.

Step 2: Pull the Pot—Activate Single Coil Mode
Pull that knob up like you’re summoning a magic spell, and boom—coil 1 is muted (grounded out). This leaves only coil 2 (red to green) to do its solo thing. Quieter, brighter—like switching from a blockbuster action scene to an acoustic ballad.

Step 3: Return to Duo—Push the Pot Down
Push it back down, and the full humbucker harmony is restored. Two coils singing in series once more.

Why This Works (But Without the Nerd Speak)

Think of your humbucker as two siblings stacked in line. With everything pushed in, both are holding hands (wired in series)—strong and loud. Pull the pot, and you tell the first sibling to go hide (grounded). Only the second sibling plays—subtler and shinier.

Little Side Note for Accuracy (Because Tech Matters)

Fair warning: guitar lore loves to mix up ’coil tap’ and ’coil split’. Here’s the skinny:

  • Coil split (what you’re doing here) kills one coil of a humbucker, turning it into a single coil.
  • Coil tap (a different beast) involves using a partial winding of a coil to change its voice—mostly in single coils, and not what we’re doing.

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Warman Humbucker wire colours

Warman pickups wire colours explained

Warman Humbucker Wire Colours Explained

Warman pickups wire colours explained
Warman pickups wire colours explained

If you’ve just unwrapped your shiny new Warman humbucker and you’re staring at a handful of coloured wires thinking “what on earth do I do now?” — don’t panic. Grab your soldering iron, make yourself a brew, and let’s walk through it.

The Warman Humbucker Colour Code

  • Bare wire – This is the shield/earth. It always goes to ground. The usual spot is the back of a potentiometer (pot for short). Think of it as the pickup’s safety belt.

  • Black wire – Negative / start of the South coil.

  • White wire – Positive / finish / hot output of the South coil.

  • Red wire – Negative / finish of the North coil.

  • Green wire – Positive / start / hot output of the North coil.

Standard Humbucker Wiring (Series)

To wire the pickup in standard Warman humbucker mode (both coils in series):

  1. Solder black + bare wires to ground (back of a pot is perfect).

  2. The red and white wires are already soldered together. Leave them joined — they’re the “bridge” between coil 1 and coil 2. Tuck them safely away with insulation tape.  or heat-shrink so they don’t short out.

  3. The green wire is your hot output. Connect to either your pickup selector switch or straight to the input lug of the volume pot.  This depends on your guitar’s wiring style.

That’s It!

And there you have it — the Warman wiring colour code in all its glory. Nothing scary, no rocket science, just a bit of solder, some common sense, and the smug satisfaction of upgrading your guitar.

Now plug in, turn up, and give those coils the workout they deserve.