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Somewhat sacriligious wiring question

B.G.
July 8th, 2012, 10:02 PM
Can anyone help me with instructions to wire a tele to a 3-way switch without the bridge-only option, something like:
Position 1 - bridge and neck parallel
Position 2 - bridge and neck series
Position 3 - neck only

I know it's kind of a weird wiring, and I'm doing it more for experimentation purposes than anything. I know it's probably easier to get the parallel/series sound with a 4-way switch or a push/pull, but all I have at my disposal are 3-way switches. Any diagrams for this? Or just some advice? I'm pretty new to the wiring side of guitars, so the more detail the better.

The pickups for the guitar I'm planning this on are Seymour Duncan '59s. The neck is a single-conductor humbucker. Thanks for any tips.

donh
July 9th, 2012, 10:23 PM
In order to do the series-pickup option, you will need to separate the ground and the signal-minus wires on one of your pickups.

I have successfully wired the center-positon as a series option before.

B.G.
July 10th, 2012, 01:58 AM
Okay, I think I've got that part. But how do I need to wire the switch?

Deaf Eddie
July 10th, 2012, 02:27 PM
Here's one way:

http://deaf-eddie.net/tdpri-drawings/sacriledge1.jpg

I am ASSuming two things: your neck 59er has the braided shield type lead; and your bridge 59er has the four-conductor lead.

The common lugs are LEFT bottom and RIGHT top - don't count those.

The neck's hot goes to lug #1 on the LEFT pole, and is jumpered to lug #3, which is jumpered the RIGHT pole lug #2.

Make a new jumper connected to the braided shield, and run it to lug #1 on the RIGHT pole. Insulate to prevent unwanted shorts on other lugs.

The bridge's black (hot) lead goes to the LEFT pole common, along with the lead to the volume pot.

The bridge's green (negative) goes to the RIGHT pole common.

The bridge's bare wire (ground/shield drain) goes on RIGHT pole lug #1, along with the neck pup's ground, and this lug is then connected to ground (back of the volume pot). Insulate the bare wire as needed to prevent shorts.

The bridge's red and white leads are soldered together and taped off.

B.G.
July 10th, 2012, 05:51 PM
Eddie, thank you so much. Your assumptions were correct. I was way off on how to wire the switch; I need to get a better grasp on how these things work. If I'm awake enough to solder when I get home tonight I'll try that out.

soulman969
July 11th, 2012, 01:59 AM
Just out of curiosity since they Neck only and B/N Series both tend to offer a smoother jazzy or bluesier tone do you think you'll miss the twang from the Bridge only? Also wondering why you don't want to install a 4-way and have all four choices.

B.G.
July 11th, 2012, 02:12 AM
I'm sure I will miss bridge-only. That's why I've got more than one tele :)
And it's mostly just to experiment with different wirings, not necessarily permanently keep.

I just tried wiring it and couldn't get it to work though, so maybe it's all academic anyway.