Concord 1 - series connected pickups

i tried out a very easy mod on my Concord I guitar today. 
in the original wiring, a typical 3-way switch connects the pickups in parallel.


with a DPDT, 3 position, mini switch (on/off/on) you can have the pickups connected in series.

the switch i used has a normal sized bat handle too, so it looks like a normal switch, instead of a mini bat handle
here's a little sketch...

original wiring; common 3-way box type switch
blue is neck pickup, black is bridge pickup, whites are grounded on the volume pot

new switch and wiring

the sound is not all that much different, but it definitely boosts up the output level and seems to make for a fuller low end.

Those are definitely a guitar that needs a pup upgrade.

Much to shrill sounding, ear piercing.

Any switching to get more bottom end has to be a  good thing.

Try a Hondo Lead II copy, Tokai made, you'll use the Concord as firewood...

i don't find the pickups shrill at all. rather, a pretty common single coil sound - ceramic bar magnet and pole pieces, they measure about 4.7k on the meter, both pickups read about the same.

i think they suit the guitar well enough. the short scale length makes the strings nice and plucky. it's a twanger. this mod just adds a little extra grunt to the middle position

4.7, ceramic magnet, there's a candidate for a thin sounding pup.

Bet your amps bass control goes to 11....

My '81 Concord III pups measure in the same range 4.59 4.59 4.58
I don't play it too often 'cuz being a rhythm player I tend to smack the centre pup too much, however, I always thought the sound was OK.

Now, you got me thinking Damian...what do you recommend I look at?

Concord III pups are a completely different style of pup to the I's and II's.

Sure you don't mean Concord II??

There's plenty of pups out there, whatever takes your fancy...

 Tonerider Surfari, City Limits, good.

Westbone wrote:...Sure you don't mean Concord II??

You're right, Concord II with III pups! Confusing my Roman numerals.