"Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

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Jedi Clampett
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Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:55 am

"Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Jedi Clampett »

I use a combination of voodoo and mojo in the elect of my instruments which I call voodo-djo. I am not really interested in using a vol and tone controls since I can do that on my amp or with a vol pedal. As far as I know, I am the only one using "voodo-djo"
What I am interested in, if your guitar and bass elect go beyond the simple fender and gibson traditional circuits, what do you do? (doyou-do is very similar to voodo-djo)
I am experimenting with 1 pickup switching, using a blend circuit for coil cutting (not truly blending, but similar effect), on board effects, black ice circuit. Circuits are kept simple for musicians at the music store to make three strums and bass (pun) their purchase off of that. None of what I do is new, but also is not available commercially. So, enough about me, I wonder what interesting elect that you do and why? If your elect instrument circuits run traditional, why?
Looking fwd to your work and to any fancy marketing names to help explain to the public.
Jedi Clampett
Posts: 164
Joined: Thu Nov 21, 2013 12:55 am

Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Jedi Clampett »

not just interested in what you do, but why you do it. Before I start, I plan as best I can and as I build I constantly adjust the plan do to things that develop during building. So, planning extends beyond just adapting some circuit to my use, but I have a stated goal and the circuits just serve that goal.
So, if you use 2 humbuckers or 3 single coils or fancy circuitry or simple circuitry, it is interesting to me not just what you do, but why you do it? and how successful it is in meeting your goals?
Rodger Knox
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Rodger Knox »

To me, there's two types of rigs, very basic and very complex. The very basic are simple to operate, but don't have as many tonal options. The very complex have more tonal options, but may be tricky to dial in the desired tone. I prefer simple for playing in a gig type setting, but complex is better for a recording type setting.
A man hears what he wants to hear, and disreguards the rest. Paul Simon
Jedi Clampett
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Jedi Clampett »

Rodger Knox wrote:To me, there's two types of rigs, very basic and very complex. The very basic are simple to operate, but don't have as many tonal options. The very complex have more tonal options, but may be tricky to dial in the desired tone. I prefer simple for playing in a gig type setting, but complex is better for a recording type setting.
so do you just do the conventional vol/tone control? and do you use both when playing?
Most people turn them to 10 and never use them, so Rodger votes for simple.
Jedi Clampett
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Jedi Clampett »

Just wondering if you guys keep your wiring diagrams secret? We all know where to find wiring diagrams, but not what each other uses? and why?
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Dave Weir
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Dave Weir »

The first guitar I built had 43 switching options. It had a push pull volume which put the pick ups out of phase, a four way selector which was
bridge, bridge neck parallel, bridge neck series, neck
It had two three-position four pole mini switches that gave me either coil or both coils from each humbucker.
Some positions were completely useless, like one coil from each pickup, out of phase and hum doubling.
I spent hours trying every position, trying to remember what sounded like what, and when I would use each sound.
I spent many more hours trying to design controls that only had the 5 most useful settings.
I have built 18 guitars since then. Each one has a neck pickup only, wired directly to the output jack. I guess I got it out of my system.
David King
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by David King »

The only tricky thing I do is inside coils, series and outside coils on a 3 way switch. In inside coils are A2s and the outside are A5 mags. Not much of a sonic difference actually but it's there to mess with if I want.
Charles Faulstich
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Re: "Voodo djo" in elect guitar and bass circuitry

Post by Charles Faulstich »

I made one with three P90s (Fralins), three on/off switches, three series/parallel switches, and two push-pull phase switches on master volume and tone controls. I was thinking better to have and not need, than to need and not have. While this may be true, it is way too many choices for live playing. I end up using any of the three alone, or the standard neck/bridge combination. The Fralins do sound great! I have always included a tone control, but find I rarely use it. I guess the tone control is more for aesthetics than function.
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