What will I hear between these 2 wiring diagrams? [Archive] - Telecaster Guitar Forum
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What will I hear between these 2 wiring diagrams?

Cole
September 29th, 2008, 08:55 AM
Here's the current wiring setup I'm using on my MIM tele... '66 Tele wiring (http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=66tele). I understand how this works and I'm satisfied with it.

However, with this wiring diagram '53 Tele wiring (http://www.seymourduncan.com/pdfs/support/schematics/1953_tele.pdf) there are two caps used instead of one. Please explain if you will what I'm getting with this set up. Any advantages/disadvantages? Is the neck pup receiving the benefit of both caps in tandem?

gaddis
September 29th, 2008, 10:21 AM
In the '53 wiring with the selector in the forward position (towards the headstock), the neck pickup is selected and the second cap is switched in. This cap applies an extrem roll-off of all of the highs and is referred to as the "deep rhythm" setting or something like that. The middle setting selects just the neck pickup without this second capacitor and the remaining setting selects just the bridge pickup. The tone control is active for all three settings but it's effect is negligible in the "deep rhythm" setting since the second capacitor dominates. This wiring was used up until around '67/'68.

The other diagram shows the later wiring in which the "deep rhythm" setting doesn't exist. Instead, the middle selector setting gives you both pickups at once and the other two settings give you neck and bridge pickups individually. I question it's being labeled as '66 wiring though because it didn't change to that until a year or so later.

If you do a search you will find many threads on the pros/cons of the two wiring schemes. I happen to like the deep rhythm setting alot. Others will think it's useless and prefer to be able to get the two pickup sound. Personally I use the old wiring. You can get the two pickup sound with the old wiring by putting the switch in between two settings if you don't mind fiddling with it a little bit.

Cole
September 29th, 2008, 11:03 AM
thanks!

Amby
September 29th, 2008, 02:00 PM
Here is the poll (with comments) taken on the vintage v modern wiring which you may find interesting
http://www.tdpri.com/forum/telecaster-discussion-forum/94891-vintage-52-wiring-circuit.html

JasonRobert
September 29th, 2008, 02:07 PM
Another thing you could do is have the 66 wiring, and then have the dark "deep rhythm" setting on a separate switch, which is what I have done on my les paul junior.