{"id":278512,"date":"2026-07-23T09:33:51","date_gmt":"2026-07-23T07:33:51","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/biafax.it\/it\/?p=278512"},"modified":"2026-07-23T09:33:51","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T07:33:51","slug":"push-pull-pot-cablaggio","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/biafax.it\/en\/push-pull-potentiometer-what-it-is-and-how-to-wire-it\/","title":{"rendered":"Push\/pull pot: what it is and how to wire it"},"content":{"rendered":"
\"Push\/pull<\/figure>\n

Push\/pull pot: what it is and how to wire it<\/h1>\nI still remember the first time I got my hands on a guitar with a push\/pull pot<\/strong>. It was a Les Paul Custom that a friend had modified, and honestly, I didn't understand what that potentiometer was that pulled up and down. It looked like something from a spaceship. Then, when he explained that by pulling it up the humbuckers “split” and became single coils, a whole new world opened up for me.\n

Until then, to change the sound, I had to settle for the pickup selector and standard tone and volume controls. The idea of having an extra option, hidden in a control that was already there, seemed brilliant to me. And, above all, it immediately seemed like an upgrade within reach for someone who, like me, learned to solder in the garage.<\/p>\n

you don't need to be a professional luthier to modify your guitar<\/a> with such a component. All you need is a little patience, the right soldering iron, and the desire to understand how it works. Here I explain everything, from “what it is” to “how to do it”, hoping that you can avoid the mistakes I made when I started experimenting.<\/p>\n

What is a Push\/Pull Pot? The brain behind the switch<\/h2>\n\n \n\n\n\n\n
\"es339<\/a>\"st<\/a><\/div>\n\n\n\n\n\n \n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

Let's start with the basics. A potentiometer, or “pot” for short, is that electronic component that allows you to adjust the volume or tone of your guitar. In practice, it's a variable resistor.<\/p>\n

By turning the knob, you move a slider over a resistive track, modifying the signal flow. Simple, right?<\/p>\n

The push\/pull pot<\/strong> is an evolved version of this component. Imagine a normal potentiometer, but with a small mechanical switch mounted underneath. This switch activates by pulling the pot knob up and deactivates by pushing it down.<\/p>\n

The magic lies precisely in this integrated switch. It's not a simple on\/off. In the vast majority of cases, the push\/pulls you find for guitar are DPDT type switches.<\/p>\n

DPDT stands for “Double Pole, Double Throw”. What does that mean? It means it has two “poles” (two separate circuits it can control) and each pole has two “throws” (two positions it can connect to).<\/p>\n

In practice, it's like having two single switches (SPDT) that move simultaneously, actuated by the same mechanism. This gives you enormous flexibility to modify your guitar's circuits.<\/p>\n

If you look at the bottom of a push\/pull potentiometer<\/strong>, you will see the three classic pot terminals (input, wiper, ground) and, below them, a series of six terminals for the DPDT switch, usually arranged in two rows of three.<\/p>\n

These six terminals are the heart of its operation as a switch. They allow you to divert signals, ground components, or reverse phases, all with a simple gesture.<\/p>\n

The great advantage of this design is that you can add a switching function without having to drill holes in the guitar body to install an additional mini-toggle switch. You maintain a clean aesthetic and gain versatility.<\/p>\n

It's an elegant solution, much appreciated by those who want to expand their guitar's sonic capabilities without altering its look or filling the top with switches.<\/p>\n

Why use a Push\/Pull? The infinite tonal possibilities<\/h2>\n\n
\n
\n \"STRICH\n <\/div>\n
\n
STRICH DIY Electric Guitar Kit, LP Style Mahogany Body & Maple Neck Guitar with HH Pickups, Easy to Assemble Kit with All Parts Included \u2013 Build Your Own Electric Guitar SLP-D30<\/div>\n
\u2605 4.1<\/span> (77 reviews)<\/div>\n \n See on Amazon<\/a>\n <\/div>\n \"\"\n<\/div>\n\n\n

Okay, we've understood what it is technically. But what is it for in practice? Well, the applications are truly many, and they allow you to explore sounds that would otherwise be precluded to you, or that would require much more complex circuits.<\/p>\n

Here are some of the most common and useful modifications you can make with a push\/pull control<\/strong>:<\/p>\n

1. Coil Split (or Coil Tap) for Humbucker<\/h3>\n

This is probably the most common application. Humbuckers are dual-coil pickups, designed to reduce noise (hum) and provide a fatter, more powerful sound compared to single coils.<\/p>\n

By pulling the double-switch potentiometer, you can “split” the humbucker, deactivating one of the two coils. The result? Your humbucker transforms into a single coil.<\/p>\n

You'll get a brighter, thinner sound, with less output, very similar to that of a Stratocaster or Telecaster. It's perfect for clean passages or funky rhythms, and gives you an incredible sonic range with the same guitar.<\/p>\n

Don't confuse it with “coil tap”, which is similar but different: the tap refers to a single-coil pickup that has a “tapping” point halfway through the winding, allowing only part of the coil to be used for lower output. Coil split is specific to humbuckers.<\/p>\n

The first time I tried splitting the humbuckers on my Epiphone SG, I spent hours experimenting with the new sounds. It was like having two guitars in one, without spending an extra cent on new pickups!<\/p>\n

2. Phase Switching<\/h3>\n

This is a slightly more “for connoisseurs” modification, but very interesting. If you have two pickups (or even two coils of a humbucker) and put them “out of phase” with respect to each other, you get a very characteristic sound: more nasal, scooped in the mids, with less body.<\/p>\n

It's not a sound for all tastes or all genres, but in specific contexts (blues, funk, “weird” sounds) it can be incredibly expressive. A pot with integrated switch<\/strong> allows you to activate or deactivate this function on the fly.<\/p>\n

3. Series\/Parallel Wiring<\/h3>\n

Normally, the coils of a humbucker are wired in series. This offers the highest output and the densest sound typical of a humbucker.<\/p>\n

But you can also wire them in parallel. The sound will be brighter, with less output and a bit more transparency, similar to a coil split but with noise cancellation intact. It's an excellent middle ground between a full humbucker and a single coil.<\/p>\n

A versatile potentiometer<\/strong> like the push\/pull gives you the ability to choose between series and parallel for each humbucker, further expanding your sonic palette.<\/p>\n

4. Tone Bypass \/ Kill Switch<\/h3>\n

Another simple but effective application. You can use the switch to completely bypass the tone circuit. This means that the pickup signal goes directly to the output, without passing through the tone potentiometer and the capacitor.<\/p>\n

The result is a more open, brighter sound with a slight increase in output, because there are no components that “suck up” part of the signal. It's like having a “turbo” for your tone.<\/p>\n

Alternatively, you can configure it as a “kill switch”, which grounds the pickup signal when activated, completely cutting off the sound. Great for rhythmic effects or for eliminating noise between songs.<\/p>\n

5. Pickup Selector Expansion<\/h3>\n

If you have a guitar with a 3-way selector, you might want to add options like activating the neck and bridge pickups simultaneously (in addition to the middle position which usually activates both). Or, activating all three pickups on a Stratocaster.<\/p>\n

A switching component<\/strong> how the push\/pull can be wired to add these combinations, transforming a standard selector into a true control center.<\/p>\n

As you can see, the possibilities are manifold. The beauty of DIY is precisely this: you can customize your instrument to make it unique and perfectly adapted to your sound needs. And a double-switch potentiometer<\/strong> is one of the most effective tools to do so.<\/p>\n

Let's start wiring: Materials and first solders<\/h2>\n

Well, now that we understand the “why”, let's move on to the “how”. Wiring a push\/pull pot<\/strong> is not difficult, but it requires precision and the right tools. Don't be scared: soldering is a skill acquired with practice. I burned a couple of potentiometers and melted some wires before getting the hang of it, and that's okay.<\/p>\n

What you need: Your garage toolbox<\/h3>\n