Original wiring on my 75' Bluesbird.

DMo

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I seldom reach out for help to anyone, but this is one I can't do alone: I've changed the pickups in my 75 Bluesbird enough times that I just want to get it back in operation for some recording. I'm refitting it with DP 103s, which I've had in there before, and I really liked them.

My question is this: I have two sets of instructions to go by - the first is the only wiring diagram I can find for a 75 Bluesbird, with phase switch and master volume. The second is the set of instructions from DiMarzio showing how to wire 4- conductor pickups - 1 set for wiring series, and another for wiring parallel. Each makes use of a different set of colored wires. My guess is to prep them for series then do the job using the diagram, which I will attach.

Does anyone know whether it's supposed to be series or parallel in this guitar? Once I know that I should be able to use the diagram without problems. I've got all the gear coming from StewMac and plan to go with DiMarzio's series instructions. Their instructions for wiring in a phase switch are a little different than the Guild diagram.
 

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DMo

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Just an update on this wiring … I got it wired as per the diagram, but 2 problems emerged: 1. I'm not sure, but I think I wired the DP 103's Series instead of Parallel. Treble and middle position seem to have their own individual phase shift, and it's not like the original. 2. A lot of buzz and hum on the treble position.
I'm not giving up, but can anyone advise as to whether or not to unsolder and use the same pots or buy new ones? It's getting expensive.
 

GAD

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If you're wiring just the phase switch, then both pickups should have two wires twisted/soldered together. You only need the four wires if you're doing coil splits and the like.

Generally humbuckers are parallel wired. If you look at my site, choose a guitar with a phase switch and go from there because they're all pretty similar. Here's one from my S300AD:

Guild-S300AD-Wiring.png


The biggest variation I see in Guilds (and note that I have NOT seen it all) is coupled/uncoupled wiring where the lugs on the volume pots are reversed. This affects how the volume controls behave in the middle position.
 

DMo

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Thank you for the response, G. I'll give it a try - I'm really missing that sound - u know, the middle position, phase switch on. Back when I was using a Fostex 4-track to make tapes, I recorded with it, and it came out with that distinct Guild sound. So it sounds like I should have prepared the DiMarzio DP's for parallel wiring. I've got a set of HB-1s but I like the sound of the PAF better - more bite. I can go back and re-couple the PAF wires - I only used 2 and 2 are soldered and taped off - with DiMarzio, it's all about the color coding. I have a real set of Gibson PAF's which, theoretically, I could use with the shield going to ground, I suppose.
Anyway, I checked out your article on the S300AD, and it really brought me back to when I got the Bluesbird - - 1975, and my dad and I drove all over Boston to find one. Finally found a good one, the only one, at Rayburn Music - compared to the other ones I've played, this one is on a different level: beautiful ebony fretboard and a solid, thin neck, thinner than an LP I've ever played. Very heavy guitar ... playability - 5 stars.
Thanks for your very informative webpage and for answering my post.
 

GAD

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Thank you for the response, G. I'll give it a try - I'm really missing that sound - u know, the middle position, phase switch on. Back when I was using a Fostex 4-track to make tapes, I recorded with it, and it came out with that distinct Guild sound. So it sounds like I should have prepared the DiMarzio DP's for parallel wiring. I've got a set of HB-1s but I like the sound of the PAF better - more bite. I can go back and re-couple the PAF wires - I only used 2 and 2 are soldered and taped off - with DiMarzio, it's all about the color coding. I have a real set of Gibson PAF's which, theoretically, I could use with the shield going to ground, I suppose.
Anyway, I checked out your article on the S300AD, and it really brought me back to when I got the Bluesbird - - 1975, and my dad and I drove all over Boston to find one. Finally found a good one, the only one, at Rayburn Music - compared to the other ones I've played, this one is on a different level: beautiful ebony fretboard and a solid, thin neck, thinner than an LP I've ever played. Very heavy guitar ... playability - 5 stars.
Thanks for your very informative webpage and for answering my post.


Love stories like that!

I reviewed a '70s Bluesbird, but sadly that was before I was making wiring diagrams.

GAD
 

DMo

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Success - Thank you. It's ugly, but I don't have to look at the insides.

IMG_0638 (1).JPG
 
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