Wiring a Strat-O-Tele

Today's project was to modify my Strat to get all the usual Strat pickup selections, but also be able to have the neck & bridge pickups together like a Tele. I bought a 5-way Super Switch like this - http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Switches_and_knobs/Super_Switch.html - and wired it like this:


http://members.cox.net/mywebimages/AS/5-WaySwitch.jpg


I love the result. I used a push-push (not push-pull) 250k audio pot as the volume so that I could use the stock Strat knobs & just hit the volume knob if I want to make the pickup change. When the volume knob is down, it's a normal Strat wiring. With the knob up, the middle position changes to the neck & brdige in parallel instead of the middle pickup. The other 4 positions remain standard Strat.

I've only use 1 tone control (and I actually use the TBX, not the standard in the drawing), but you could wire in 2 tone controls if you like. With 2 tone pots, I don't like how in one of the "in between" positions, you end up with 2 sets of tone controls in the circuit, so I dropped one.

That's pretty cool. I'm considering putting a middle pickup in my CV50. Like you I'd want a 5-way switch to work like a Strat except for the middle position....I'd want that to be neck/bridge like it is currently with the 3-way switch. I like your idea of a push-pull (that's what I'd go with because I don't care for push-push pots), but I'd probably put it where the tone control is. I seldom use just the middle pickup on a Strat, but I'd like the option on my Tele. So I'd set the push-pull to be just the middle pickup when up and bridge/neck when down.

In other words:

Tone push-pull down:

1) bridge
2) bridge+middle
3) bridge+neck
4) middle+neck
5) neck

Tone push-pull up:

1) bridge
2) bridge+middle
3) middle
4) middle+neck
5) neck


I'm gonna have to study your diagram to see if I can figure out how to do that.

push push ??

push push ??

You don't see them too often. I've got an ESP Horizon that came with a push-push pot. As far as buying them separate, I believe Warmoth carries them.

They are similar to a push-pull except they are spring loaded and both positions are accessed by pushing. You push it once and it pops up and looks like when you pull on a push-pull pot. You push it again and it goes back to looking like a normal pot (or a push-pull pot in the down position).

http://www.warmoth.com/Push-Push-Pot-250k-with-DPDT-Switch-On-On-P731C74.aspx

Kinda like the Fender S-1, without the special knob. I think I'm going to use the S-1 switch on mine, though, to be a little more stealth.

In other words:

Tone push-pull down:

1) bridge
2) bridge+middle
3) bridge+neck
4) middle+neck
5) neck

Tone push-pull up:

1) bridge
2) bridge+middle
3) middle
4) middle+neck
5) neck




That's exactly what I setup. The bridge & neck together sounds great. A different kind of chime than the usual Strat in between positions. More chime, less quack. The middle by itself has more mids. Combined with the no load tone pot, I can get some bright twangy sounds out of the Strat. I'm very happy with the results.

Phostenix: Did you use that exact switch from StewMac? I believe Fender sells a SuperSwitch as well that is less expensive. I put one in a Strat a few years back. If I remember correctly, the Fender version was wider than the one depicted at StewMac, but I don't think there'd be a problem getting one into a Tele control cavity.

I'm gonna have to study your diagram to see if I can figure out how to do that.

Let me know if you have any questions. The one in the upper right (#1) is like the main setup on a normal 5-way. #2 &# 4 are all about getting the middle & neck together and the middle & bridge together regardless of what position the push-push/push-pull switch is on. #3 connects the bridge & neck in the center 5-way position and feeds the switch. The other pole of the switch just has the middle p/u by itself.

Phostenix: Did you use that exact switch from StewMac? I believe Fender sells a SuperSwitch as well that is less expensive. I put one in a Strat a few years back. If I remember correctly, the Fender version was wider than the one depicted at StewMac, but I don't think there'd be a problem getting into a Tele control cavity.

Mine was from Warmoth. As long as it has 4 sets of contacts (each with a common) & there are 5 separate contacts for each, it should work. The standard 5-way switch only has 3 contacts & ties them together for the in between positions.

Let me know if you have any questions. The one in the upper right (#1) is like the main setup on a normal 5-way. #2 &# 4 are all about getting the middle & neck together and the middle & bridge together regardless of what position the push-push/push-pull switch is on. #3 connects the bridge & neck in the center 5-way position and feeds the switch. The other pole of the switch just has the middle p/u by itself.

Thanks a lot. I was just thinking today how I'd like to do a wiring setup to my Tele like this and I came here and you've got it pretty much already figured out. I'm studying your diagram right now and trying to keep my head from exploding. ha! I'm sure it will sink in eventually.

Correction, I got the super switch locally at Guitar Electronics in Phoenix. I'm not sure how it compares to the Stew-Mac switch.

Thanks a lot. I was just thinking today how I'd like to do a wiring setup to my Tele like this and I came here and you've got it pretty much already figured out.

I got the idea from a friend of mine who has a Nashville Tele that has the middle pickup & the center position is neck & bridge. I seem to spend most of my time on the Strat using just the middle p/u & I could never give that up, but I also have an old Parker Fly with 2 humbuckers & a 3-way toggle where the middle position is wired for the outside single coils. I love the way that sounds & wanted to add that to the Strat....

I've made a Visio drawing of the original Strat-O-Tele. I reworked the original switching to free up a set of contacts for tone pots (or other uses like humbucker splits) & added the choice of all 3 pickups in parallel.

This idea has evolved into several variations, including the Strat-O-Tele SS. The original was more like a 7-way Strat, but with the added positions in different places than that setup normally gives you.

It's a lot more work than just adding a switch to the standard Strat, but I like having the Neck & Bridge combo in the middle like it is on a Tele.

This could be wired to use a push-pull or push-push pot instead of the toggle.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7440801/Guitar%20Wiring/Strat-O-TeleV2.jpg

You are quite the Wizio Lizard...

... I mean Visio Wizard.. :cool:

Here's another version I drew up on paper a while back. I've never built it, but it looks interesting.

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/7440801/Guitar%20Wiring/Strat-O-TeleFatTele.jpg

You are quite the Wizio Lizard...

... I mean Visio Wizard.. :cool:

I'm hooked! :lol: