SPST Coil Cut Switch

One thing we never discussed is

which coil gets cut and which coil
stays active when a coil cut
switch is 'on'. Figure 1 shows the
simplest wiring for a coil cut
switch. When the switch is 'on', it
'grounds out' the middle wires,
which causes both of Coil B's wires (green and white) to be
connected to each other. This is, in effect, creating a shunt (a
deliberate short circuit) across Coil B so that it can no longer
produce any sound.
So, coil 'B' has been shunted and Coil A is the active coil.
If we wanted Coil 'B' to be the active pickup, is there a way to do
this? Sure.
"Inside-Out" Wiring of a Humbucker
Figure 1 shows a conventional
humbucker wiring - red to 'plus',
black to 'minus' and the two
'middle' wires (black and white)
connected to each other. Figure
2 shows an alternate wiring.
Speaking informally, you could
say the red and the green wires are now the 'middle wires' and
what were the two 'middle wires' are now on the 'outside'. (I refer
to this as 'inside out' wiring.) There is nothing wrong with this, it
sounds exactly as it did before and it is in phase with itself just as
if it were wired conventionally.
Now, when the coil cut switch is 'on', the red wire is being led to
ground, Coil A has been shunted and Coil B is the active coil.
DPDT plus SPST Switch
Using an SPST
switch
connected to the
'jumper' of a
DPDT
series/parallel
switch works the
same way as in
the previous
diagrams.
When the coil cut switch is 'on', a conventionally wired
humbucker 'grounds out' the middle wires and Coil A is the active
coil. If the humbucker has an alternate (or 'inside-out') wiring, Coil
B is then the active coil during coil cut.

SPDT Center OFF Switch

You can choose series humbucker / Coil A / Coil B all with one switch

The diagram on the right offers

an interesting, relatively easy-to-
wire circuit that gives you three
tone choices with just one
switch. Remember to use a
single pole double throw center
OFF switch. (This switch isn't particularly difficult to find but
make sure you use this exact type of switch).
In the center position, the switch isn't connecting anything and so
this produces the series wired humbucker tone.
When switched in one direction, the switch connects the red and
black wires, which shunts Coil A and leaves Coil B active.
When switched in the other direction, the switch connects the
white and green wires, which shunts Coil B and leaves Coil A
active.
DPDT on/on/on Coil Cut Switch
This type of switch utilizes a
different manner of coil cut
switching. Looking at the graphic
on the right, we see a very
popular switching arrangement
for a humbucking pickup. It gives
you the options of coils in series,
coils in parallel or (what concerns
us most in this topic) - just one coil active.
Looking very carefully at the graphic, there is a dashed blue line
in the lower left and upper right part of the switch. These are the
terminals that are connected when the switch is in the middle
('coil cut') position. Notice that in this case, the switch does not
shunt the inactive coil but in fact shuts it off. (Coil B's white wire
has no connection to the output). Following the current flow, we
see that Coil A is the active coil.
Now, if we want Coil B to be active,
we'll have to give the humbucker
an 'inside-out' wiring. Compared to
the last diagram, it's as though the
green and red wires have been
shifted 'up' one terminal and the
black and white have been shifted
'down'. Parallel and series settings
will sound exactly the same as the previous wiring. The only
difference is when the switch is set to the middle 'coil cut'
position Coil B is the active coil.