I Know What It Does, But What Does It Do?

[Wrighty]

Just been reading a thread discussing the push / push tone knob on an AmPro ll Strat.
Got me thinking, there’s one on my AmPro ll Tele. Definite change to the tone when you engage it but, how is this brought about, what does it do to bring about this change?

 

[John C]

The push-push pot on the American Pro II Tele changes the middle position from both pickups in parallel to both pickups in series - as you say that makes it louder and a bit thicker sounding.

Here's the service manual for it; it shows the wiring diagram:

https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10001/SM_011394XXXX_Am_Pro_II_Telecaster.pdf

 

[kuch]

I owned a Deluxe tele quite a few years back that had what was called then the "S1" switch. The paperwork described it as affecting only the middle position on the switch-parallel/series. I don't know if it's possible, but to my ears, it slightly changed the sound of the neck and bridge positions on the switch too.

 

[John C]

I owned a Deluxe tele quite a few years back that had what was called then the "S1" switch. The paperwork described it as affecting only the middle position on the switch-parallel/series. I don't know if it's possible, but to my ears, it slightly changed the sound of the neck and bridge positions on the switch too.

That's correct; Fender's been doing this parallel/series wiring in various ways for quite a while now; the first production model with it that I can remember were the American Deluxe version 2 models that came out in 2004 and as you say they used that S-1 switch that sits inside the volume knob for the function.

So it's the S-1 switch on: American Deluxe v2 (2004-2009), American Deluxe v3 (2010-2015), American Elite (2016-2019), American Ultra (2019-present) and American Ultra Luxe (2021-present)

They use a 4-way switch on: Baja (50s) Tele and Baja 60s Tele (not sure of the start dates on the Bajas but they end in mid 2019, replaced by the Vintera Modifieds), MIM Deluxe Thinline Tele (2016-2021), Vintera 50s Modified Tele (2019-present), Vintera 60s Modified Tele (2019-present), JV Modified 50s Tele (2022 limited run) and JV Modified 60s Tele (2022 limited run). On the Bajas/Vintera Modifieds they also have the S-1 switch that is a phase switch, and the JV Modifieds use a push/pull pot as a phase switch.

They use a push-pull pot on: Player Plus Tele (2021-present)

And as the OP states they use a push/push pot on: American Professional II Tele

I'm sure I'm missing some but that's a start off the top of my head.

 

[Skyhook]

Just been reading a thread discussing the push / push tone knob on an AmPro ll Strat.
Got me thinking, there’s one on my AmPro ll Tele. Definite change to the tone when you engage it but, how is this brought about, what does it do to bring about this change?

I recently acquired an AmPro II Strat(yes, yes, NGD post coming soon).
I can definitely concur that there's a noticeable change in tone when the switch is engaged.

Other than that...

 

[John C]

I recently acquired an AmPro II Strat(yes, yes, NGD post coming soon).
I can definitely concur that there's a noticeable change in tone when the switch is engaged.

Other than that...

What the switch does on the American Pro II Strats depends on the pickup configuration - is yours SSS or HSS? On the SSS the push/push pot combines the bridge and neck pickups (in parallel) in position 1 and position 2 - so position 2 is all 3 pickups on. On the HSS model the push/push switch splits the humbucker in position 1 and position 2.

 

[Skyhook]

What the switch does on the American Pro II Strats depends on the pickup configuration - is yours SSS or HSS? On the SSS the push/push pot combines the bridge and neck pickups (in parallel) in position 1 and position 2 - so position 2 is all 3 pickups on. On the HSS model the push/push switch splits the humbucker in position 1 and position 2.

Thanks for the info!

Also, FYI: Mine's the SSS config.

 

[AAT65]

The push-push pot on the American Pro II Tele changes the middle position from both pickups in parallel to both pickups in series - as you say that makes it louder and a bit thicker sounding.

Here's the service manual for it; it shows the wiring diagram:

https://www.fmicassets.com/Damroot/Original/10001/SM_011394XXXX_Am_Pro_II_Telecaster.pdf

Bonus points for linking to the FMIC Assets site with the technical manuals!! Tons of useful information in there for all recent-ish Fender guitars.

 

[Peegoo]

It's similar to the series option that a Tele four-way switch adds to the mix. The normal three-way switch middle position is both pickups in parallel.

You can do the same thing with a double-coil humbucker; when the coils are closer together, the difference in tone between parallel and series is more pronounced. Here's a good example of this, at 3:35 in the vid:

 

[Wrighty]

I recently acquired an AmPro II Strat(yes, yes, NGD post coming soon).
I can definitely concur that there's a noticeable change in tone when the switch is engaged.

Other than that...

Just sooooo helpful, to me, with a Tele!!

 

[Wrighty]

Bonus points for linking to the FMIC Assets site with the technical manuals!! Tons of useful information in there for all recent-ish Fender guitars.

Thank you, makes perfect sense and, yes manual’s a bonus.

 

[John C]

Bonus points for linking to the FMIC Assets site with the technical manuals!! Tons of useful information in there for all recent-ish Fender guitars.

Thank you, makes perfect sense and, yes manual’s a bonus.

Actually I only linked to the service manual for Am Pro II Tele from the product page. I haven't looked in the Assets Site page for all the technical manuals in a couple of months, but they used to only be the discontinued models on that page and you had to get the manuals for the current products from the individual product pages.

 

[Skyhook]

Just sooooo helpful, to me, with a Tele!!

I'll be helpful if I can, of course.
Otherwise I just type stuff.
Knowing nothing about the subject rarely shuts me up.

 

[AAT65]

Actually I only linked to the service manual for Am Pro II Tele from the product page. I haven't looked in the Assets Site page for all the technical manuals in a couple of months, but they used to only be the discontinued models on that page and you had to get the manuals for the current products from the individual product pages.

It’s got tons of stuff including current products — if I want a Fender wiring diagram I Google “fmicassets.com telecaster manual” and something useful usually turns up

 

[John C]

It’s got tons of stuff including current products — if I want a Fender wiring diagram I Google “fmicassets.com telecaster manual” and something useful usually turns up

Good to know they finally updated it! As I say the last time I looked was probably in April and they didn't have the current models listed the. For most current models you can also find a link to the service manual under the "Support" heading on the product page (down in that row where it says "Highlights", "Specs", "Support"). But that's a bit hit-and-miss; some models have the link there, others do not.

 

[Wrighty]

I'll be helpful if I can, of course.
Otherwise I just type stuff.
Knowing nothing about the subject rarely shuts me up.

 

[Mur]

In phase, out of phase, parallel, series . . each sculpts the tone in a different way.

 

[neptunedriver]

That's correct; Fender's been doing this parallel/series wiring in various ways for quite a while now; the first production model with it that I can remember were the American Deluxe version 2 models that came out in 2004 and as you say they used that S-1 switch that sits inside the volume knob for the function.

So it's the S-1 switch on: American Deluxe v2 (2004-2009), American Deluxe v3 (2010-2015), American Elite (2016-2019), American Ultra (2019-present) and American Ultra Luxe (2021-present)

They use a 4-way switch on: Baja (50s) Tele and Baja 60s Tele (not sure of the start dates on the Bajas but they end in mid 2019, replaced by the Vintera Modifieds), MIM Deluxe Thinline Tele (2016-2021), Vintera 50s Modified Tele (2019-present), Vintera 60s Modified Tele (2019-present), JV Modified 50s Tele (2022 limited run) and JV Modified 60s Tele (2022 limited run). On the Bajas/Vintera Modifieds they also have the S-1 switch that is a phase switch, and the JV Modifieds use a push/pull pot as a phase switch.

They use a push-pull pot on: Player Plus Tele (2021-present)

And as the OP states they use a push/push pot on: American Professional II Tele

I'm sure I'm missing some but that's a start off the top of my head.

Thanks for that overview! It would be nice if they just installed the 4-way Telecaster switch that Fender already manufactures for the series option, rather than these "exotic" pot options.

That being said, if you're going to offer a push-push pot you would think that someone would come up with the idea of slightly recessing the control plate where the push-push knob is located in such a way that it can sit flush with the other control knob when it is not engaged.