Switching Help

Okay, so I'm building myself a double-neck Tele by cutting and gluing two into one.

(Don't worry, I'm not cutting up a couple of sweet Custom Shop Telecasters or even Affinity Squiers... I'm using two of those "Hanna Montana" Washburn guitars that I scored for $50 each from on-line clearance.)

Anyway, the "top" guitar is going to have a 4-wire humbucker in the bridge and no neck pickup (mainly used for bottle slide), while the "bottom" guitar is going to be a traditional Tele layout.

What I'd like to do is figure out a way to put all this on a single 5-way switch:

Position 1: Top, bridge pickup (in full humbucker mode)
Position 2: Top, bridge pickup (in split-coil mode)
Position 3: Bottom, neck pickup
Position 4: Bottom, neck + bridge pickups
Position 5: Bottom, bridge pickup

I can't see a way that it can be done with a typical strat 5-way, because position 2 would close the circuit for both the humbucker on the top rig and the neck pickup on the lower one, right?

So is there another 5-way switch (that fits as a Tele 3-way replacement) which would get me there? Or perhaps an alternate way of wiring a strat switch that I had not considered?

I realize that I could simply add an additional selector switch, but I'd rather see if I can figure out a way to get this all done in a single Tele control cavity (the other cavity will be cut off by the table saw when I make this thing, so any new electronics will require extra routing.)

Suggestions?

You could do all this with a 2-pole 5-position switch like the Oak Grigsby single wafer 5-way (http://www.allparts.com/5-Way-Switch-p/ep-0479-000.htm).

On the first pole, just wire the top humbucker output to position 1 and the joined center leads to position 2, and the bottom neck pickup to positions to positions 3 and 4. Then run the bottom bridge pickup to positions 4 and 5 on the second pole. Run both commons to vol/tone and out, and your done.

There are lots of ways to do it. If you wanted separate volume controls for each pickup you would obviously run through those before going to the switch on the bottom pickups. If you wanted a third separate volume/tone for the top pickup though, you may need to use the 4-pole version, as you would need one more pole to run to a volume after the top coil tap if you wanted that volume pot separate from the bottom pickups.

Or you could run to just two pots after the switch on a 2-pole if you were willing to make one volume pot serve both the top bridge pickup, as well as your choice of the bottom pickups when in those positions.

Actually, you could run three separate volumes with only two poles, but this would mean having one pole with a ground to common, connecting and disconnecting the ground of the top pickup and one of the bottoms, splitting the top humbucker by grounding the center. I prefer not to leave the hot lead of coils permanently connected though, as it may invite a bit more chance for noise.

Here's hoping the poor wood that has to go into those guitars will get a chance to do something really cool- love the idea!

Make sure to post your progress along the way!

You could do all this with a 2-pole 5-position switch like the Oak Grigsby single wafer 5-way (http://www.allparts.com/5-Way-Switch-p/ep-0479-000.htm).

On the first pole, just wire the top humbucker output to position 1 and the joined center leads to position 2, and the bottom neck pickup to positions to positions 3 and 4. Then run the bottom bridge pickup to positions 4 and 5 on the second pole. Run both commons to vol/tone and out, and your done.

I'm not sure I follow you. There isn't a "Position 2" or "Position 4" terminal to connect to, is there? Those two positions are just places on the switch that close two circuits at once.

My understanding is that strat switches like this have 3 lugs (per pole) which the switch closes to a "common" lead. Positions 1, 3, and 5 each close the circuit for one of the three lugs, while positions 2 and 4 close the circuit for both the middle lug and one of the two outside lugs. So how to I make a distinct connection to "Position 4"? Isn't Position 4 always going to close the circuits of both position 5 and position 3?

Here's hoping the poor wood that has to go into those guitars will get a chance to do something really cool- love the idea!

Make sure to post your progress along the way!

I will, but I probably won't get much farther than the cutting, gluing, and prep until April or so.

I live in Minnesota and do all my painting in the garage, so I need to wait before the weather gets nicer before I can start spraying the new finish on it.

On a traditional CRL strat switch (which is really just a 3-position switch with two extra detent notches) there isn't a position 2 or 4. On these there is. There are a few different makers of true 5-way switched today.

Looks like the Allparts link above actually has the 4-way switch pictured, but here (http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/SingleWafer_Superswitch_Oak_Grigsby_P402C10.cfm) it is through a reseller. Look at the pic, you'll see how they work. They make a double wafer / 4-pole version as well.

Sweet! Thanks!