Two Humbucker Wiring Diagrams

Wiring diagrams for two humbuckers and a 3-way switch with fewer than four knobs: one volume and one tone, two volumes and one tone, or one volume and two tones. For two volumes and two tones, see our Les Paul wiring diagram.
  • 2 humbuckers
  • 3-way switch
  • 500K pots

Two humbuckers, 1 volume, 1 tone

Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.

Two humbuckers, 1 volume, 1 toneNeck pickupBridge pickupNeckBridgeCommon3-wayswitch123Volume500K B123Tone500K ACapOutputjackTipSleeveBridge ground: bridge studShared ground: one connection, usually the back of the volume pot
  • Hot (signal)
  • Ground
  • Tone capacitor, typically 0.022–0.047 µF

Pots are shown from the back, with the lugs on top and numbered 1 to 3. Volume and tone are 500K, B for volume and A for tone. Wires in your guitar may not match the red and black used here, so follow what each wire does. The order of the lugs varies between switch makers, so check yours with a multimeter before soldering.

Left-handed guitar? The circuit is the same: only the positions of the parts change.

Wiring diagram for two humbuckers and a 3-way switchOpen the diagram as an image

What each switch position does

PositionPickups onTone control connected
1: BridgeBridgeTone
2: Bridge + neckBridge and neckTone
3: NeckNeckTone

Two humbuckers, 2 volumes, 1 tone

Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.

Two humbuckers, 2 volumes, 1 toneNeck pickupBridge pickupNeckBridgeCommon3-wayswitch123VolumeNeck500K B123VolumeBridge500K B123Tone500K ACapOutputjackTipSleeveBridge ground: bridge studShared ground: one connection, usually the back of the volume pot
  • Hot (signal)
  • Ground
  • Tone capacitor, typically 0.022–0.047 µF

Pots are shown from the back, with the lugs on top and numbered 1 to 3. All three pots are 500K, B for the volumes and A for the tone. With the switch in the middle, turning one volume to zero silences the whole guitar. That is normal for this circuit. Wires in your guitar may not match the red and black used here, so follow what each wire does. The order of the lugs varies between switch makers, so check yours with a multimeter before soldering.

Left-handed guitar? The circuit is the same: only the positions of the parts change.

Wiring diagram for two humbuckers and a 3-way switchOpen the diagram as an image

What each switch position does

PositionPickups onTone control connected
1: BridgeBridgeTone
2: Bridge + neckBridge and neckTone
3: NeckNeckTone

Two humbuckers, 1 volume, 2 tones

Swipe sideways to see the whole diagram.

Two humbuckers, 1 volume, 2 tonesNeck pickupBridge pickupNeckBridgeCommon3-wayswitch123ToneNeck500K A123ToneBridge500K A123Volume500K BCapCapOutputjackTipSleeveBridge ground: bridge studShared ground: one connection, usually the back of the volume pot
  • Hot (signal)
  • Ground
  • Tone capacitor, typically 0.022–0.047 µF

Pots are shown from the back, with the lugs on top and numbered 1 to 3. All three pots are 500K, B for the volume and A for the tones. Each tone works on its own pickup. Wires in your guitar may not match the red and black used here, so follow what each wire does. The order of the lugs varies between switch makers, so check yours with a multimeter before soldering.

Left-handed guitar? The circuit is the same: only the positions of the parts change.

Wiring diagram for two humbuckers and a 3-way switchOpen the diagram as an image

What each switch position does

PositionPickups onTone control connected
1: BridgeBridgeBridge tone
2: Bridge + neckBridge and neckNeck tone and Bridge tone
3: NeckNeckNeck tone

Parts for this wiring

Need help?

No sound or a loud hum? See our wiring and electronics answers, or read how to wire a guitar. Spotted a mistake in this diagram? Please tell us. See all wiring diagrams.