Sensor Circuits and Switching for Stringed Instruments: Humbucking Pairs, Triples, Quads and Beyond

by Donald L. Baker

Overview

This book presents new methods of circuit design for guitar electronics, based directly upon U.S. Non-Provisional Patent Applications. By systematic construction of unique series-parallel circuit topologies, the author shows how many series-parallel circuits are possible, including non-matched single-coil pickups, humbucking pickups, and humbucking combinations of matched single-coil pickups. This allows designers to avoid unnecessary and confusing duplicate circuits in pickup switching systems. It shows how electromechanical switches cannot produce the maximum number of tones for more than 2 or 3 pickups. Thus the author discloses an efficient micro-controller and cross-point switch architecture to replace mechanical switches, and allow access to the maximum number of tones.

The discussion continues, developing humbucking circuits for odd numbers of matched single-coil pickups, extendable to any odd or even number, greater than 1, using a simplified switching system with very simple rules. It abandons some tones in favor of producing all-humbucking and unique tones, no matter what the switching choice. The author discloses both mechanical and digital switching versions. Then, based on using humbucking basis vectors, the author discloses variable-gain circuits that duplicate all possible switched humbucking tone circuits, and produces all the continuous tone gradations in between. The presentation includes analog and digitally controlled systems. The object of all the disclosures: give the guitarist or pianist a system which allows going from bright to warm tones and back, without ever needing to know which pickups are used in what combination.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9783030231231
Publisher:	Springer International Publishing
Publication date:	03/15/2020
Edition description:	1st ed. 2020
Pages:	231
Product dimensions:	6.10(w) x 9.25(h) x (d)

About the Author

Dr. Baker, raised in a military family and currently retired, has lived has lived in 12 U.S. states from Hawaii to Massachusetts and Illinois to Florida, has degrees in E.E., Ocean Engr, Agronomy and Soil Science from M.I.T., Cambridge, U.Mass., Amherst, and Colorado St. U., Ft. Collins, with transcript courses from U. of Ark., Fayetteville and U. of New Orleans. He has been an Electronics Engineer and Scientist, has authored papers appearing or noted on aquarien.com, academia.com and ResearchGate.net, and is the author, owner and site manager of aquarien.com, android-originals.com, theandroidsaxe.com and TulsaSoundGuitars.com. He also has a long-time interest in the art of photography, having taken courses inthe M.I.T. Photo Lab of Minor White, past editor of Aperture. He currently relaxes by turning wood pens with homemade lathe tools, and has recently bought a rowing machine.

Table of Contents

Chapter 1. Introduction and Short Previews of Coming Chapters.- Chapter 2. Series-Parallel Circuit Topologies of Single Sensors.- Chapter 3. Series-Parallel Circuit Topologies of Humbucking Pickups.- Chapter 4. Series-Parallel Circuit Topologies of Matched Single-Coil Pickups.- Chapter 5. The Limits of Mechanical Switches.- Chapter 6. An Efficient uC-controlled Cross-Point Pickup Switching System.- Chapter 7. The Tonal Advantages of Pickups with Reversible Magnets.- Chapter 8. Common Connection Point Humbucking Circuits with Odd and Even Numbers of Matched Single-Coil Pickups.- Chapter 9. A Common-Point Connection Experiment With Two Mini-Humbuckers.- Chapter 10. Switching Systems for Common-Point Connection Pickup Circuits.- Chapter 11. Humbucking Basis Vectors – Tones Without Switching.