Burns Sonic wiring question

[mgeek]

Hi All

I'm working on a Burns Sonic rebuild- no parts, so I'm working from the ground up.

I'm not too fussed about originality, as I don't see the point in ploughing lots of cash into what will never be an all original guitar, so I'm looking for modern equivilents of the electrical parts. The pickups are easy- set of Adesons, and the little slider switch seems easy enough.

Not having too much luck with the pickup selector though. I've had and rewired Sonics before, so remember what the big arrow switch looked like- and the fact it had six connections on the underside - totally different to those used on Les Pauls etc.

Is that type of switch called a 3DPDT? on/off/on? Like this...If not, what am I looking for?

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/On-Off-On-Pos ... 2c6588948a

[ErikMAMS]

What type of switch you need is depending on what exactly you want the switching to do?
I have some info/pics of the original Sonic wiring somewhere - but I don't think I've ever studied it in detail (or at least I can't remember).

Anyway you wouldn't want the type of switch you linked to on ebay. It's a heavy duty mains switch - which need too much force to work for smooth pickup switching.

Some info on different switch types and their names here:
http://www.1728.org/guitar.htm

Erik

[mgeek]

Have you ever tried to change the pickups on a crusty old sonic?

Burns did use some wildly hefty switches back in the day!

Should be able to see one here... I haven't got a complete one to hand at the moment, but I do seem to remember them being capable of handling 240v etc, and I have the circuit coming...

http://www.flickr.com/photos/simonm1965 ... otostream/

That said- the site you linked to looks like it's gonna provide the answer to my q- after a bit of head scratching, so thanks!

[ErikMAMS]

Hi Will

Looking at your linked pics I see what you mean about the switch - and your are probably right, sorry. Haven't payed much attention to that details.

I went through my archives, but couldn't find the pics/schem I seem to remember from some years back - instead I found other bits which I don't recall having archived including a non original/redrawn "Sonic 62" wiring schem.

I don't know if the redrawn schem is correct, but from a quick look at it, the slider switch is a simple volume boost/drop set by a fixed resistor (lead/rythm).
The toggle switch is a 3 postion - giving A) N+B in parallel, B) N+B in series and C) Bridge pickup only, with the C) being the center position.
This wiring setup requires only 3 single poles (the pics shows only 3 poles used also) so a standard Gibson LP type toggle would work as a modern equivelent (with smoother switching).

I wonder if the circuit you have on the way shows the same switching scheme?

Erik

[MartinT]

Hi
Nice to come across a forum for Burns enthusiasts!

I have a Vibra Artist Delux which was abused by the previous owner so although the three volume controls work the three switches are missing. I am at long last now looking to restore it. Any advice on suitable equivalents and the intended wiring would be most welcome, were they simply on-off for each pick up?

Also am I on the look out for a tremelo / tailstock as the original unit has been removed an replaced with a nasty non-Burns tail piece.

Cheers
Martin