Middle Position on Telecaster 3-Way Switch – Series or Parallel?

[Slim Chance]

I beleive it's parallel, but since I am considering buying a Tele with a 4-way and am wondering which position would be the new sound. Fender says they wire a 4-way as such:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups (In Parallel), Position 3. Neck Pickup, Position 4. Neck and Bridge Pickups (In Series)

 

[AAT65]

“Normal” is parallel.
Series is available on a number of Fender Teles either on a 4-way switch, an S1 push switch, or a push-pull knob.
Many people rave about series as a “humbucker-like” sound but personally I’ve never been very impressed with it on my Elite Tele. Probably depends a lot on the specific pickups you have.

 

[Billy3]

Well, series. A standard 3 way switch is parallel in the middle position. 4 way gives you series. Many different ways to wire it up

 

[SixStringSlinger]

As a general rule, two separate pickups that can be engaged simultaneously (middle positions on a Tele or Les Paul, positions 2 and 4 on a Strat…) will be in parallel (this gives those in-between tones their “hollow” sort of sound), while two adjacent coils in the same pickup (PAF, Filter’Tron…) will be in series (giving them that denser, thicker tone).

There are exceptions, like the common Tele mod (separate pickups in series) and switching the coils in a humbucker between series and parallel (a cool alternative to coil splitting). The above is just what’s typical

 

[W.L.Weller]

The only "middle position = series" standard wiring I can think of off the top of my head is the Danelectro lipsticks. Which is a very cool-sounding, useful middle position. I use the Dano middle position 80% of the time on that guitar, reaching for the others for occasional flavor.

 

[Martocaster]

It's interesting that this has come up. I've just got one of the JV Modified guitars specifically with the intention of getting the 'in series' sound. I considered the Ultra for a while but couldn't really justify the additional cost.

I've only had 20 mins or so with the guitar but personally I really like the 'in series' fourth position. It really seems to fatten up the tone and drive the amp harder without losing the clarity of the higher frequencies. Rolling down the tone a little gets a great blues / jazz sound. It's a great addition to the Teles range of sounds without spoiling the simplicity of it.

Out of phase is another thing entirely though, I'm not sure there's much point in that for me!

 

[pipthepilot]

I beleive it's parallel, but since I am considering buying a Tele with a 4-way and am wondering which position would be the new sound. Fender says they wire a 4-way as such:

Position 1. Bridge Pickup, Position 2. Bridge and Neck Pickups (In Parallel), Position 3. Neck Pickup, Position 4. Neck and Bridge Pickups (In Series)

Correct, standard 3-way the middle position is both in parallel.

“Normal” is parallel.
Series is available on a number of Fender Teles either on a 4-way switch, an S1 push switch, or a push-pull knob.
Many people rave about series as a “humbucker-like” sound but personally I’ve never been very impressed with it on my Elite Tele. Probably depends a lot on the specific pickups you have.

I'm one of those that rave about having a 4-way switch with in Series position.

Mine are Custom Shop Twisted pickups, they're wound quite hot and definitely sound like a Humbucker in series. Aren't the Elite pickups noiseless?

 

[AAT65]

I'm one of those that rave about having a 4-way switch with in Series position.

Mine are Custom Shop Twisted pickups, they're wound quite hot and definitely sound like a Humbucker in series. Aren't the Elite pickups noiseless?

That’s right, the Elite has 4th Generation Noiseless (N4) pickups.
In series you get a definite change in tone, maybe a bit higher level and definitely less treble: but you also get the hollowing-out that you get on (what I regard as) a well setup Tele middle position, so it doesn’t really sound anything like a humbucker. The coils are just too far apart for that.

 

[NeverTooLate]

It's interesting that this has come up. I've just got one of the JV Modified guitars specifically with the intention of getting the 'in series' sound. I considered the Ultra for a while but couldn't really justify the additional cost.

I've only had 20 mins or so with the guitar but personally I really like the 'in series' fourth position. It really seems to fatten up the tone and drive the amp harder without losing the clarity of the higher frequencies. Rolling down the tone a little gets a great blues / jazz sound. It's a great addition to the Teles range of sounds without spoiling the simplicity of it.

Out of phase is another thing entirely though, I'm not sure there's much point in that for me!

I got a Player Plus instead of a Player that I would have immediately modified to replace the stock bridge with Super Distortion bridge.

I am a total newbie and I really use two positions, as planned:
--Series for "my kind" of songs (Enter Sandman, Holy Diver, Rainbow in the Dark, Ain't Talking Bout Love)
--Neck for scales, learning licks, all practice + Hey Joe and U2's One.

--Bridge for now exclusively for Highway to Hell cause it gives me that mean, nasty AC/DC sound, to my 'green' ears anyway.

I have tried the parallel and it is fine but I don't feel it gives me, again I am newbie, anything in particular that I want at this early stage.

Some people find the "series" option somewhat "muddy" and I think I understand exactly what they mean, but it is really a non-issue for me with gain. When switching out of series and onto a traditional Tele position, the relative "muddiness" becomes apparent assuming one is playing clean sounds. Maybe more "experienced ears" can find a fault with the series in high gain situations, but I cannot.

 

[pipthepilot]

That’s right, the Elite has 4th Generation Noiseless (N4) pickups.
In series you get a definite change in tone, maybe a bit higher level and definitely less treble: but you also get the hollowing-out that you get on (what I regard as) a well setup Tele middle position, so it doesn’t really sound anything like a humbucker. The coils are just too far apart for that.

The spacing will definitely give a different voicing but still get a great powerful tone. But must admit, it does suit a more driven and distortion setup, more Marshall than a Fender amp.

 

[Singin' Dave]

I have a 4 way on my number 1 and love it. Unless you are very busy with your pickup selector in the middle of playing, I see no reason not to give yourself another tonal option (in this case a series option) when it really doesn't limit your other "stock" options.

 

[AndrewG]

The only "middle position = series" standard wiring I can think of off the top of my head is the Danelectro lipsticks. Which is a very cool-sounding, useful middle position. I use the Dano middle position 80% of the time on that guitar, reaching for the others for occasional flavor.

I love the sound of this thing! Tasty player too...

 

[boris bubbanov]

Just make sure your pickups are RWRP towards one another. Otherwise you don't get the 60 cycle noise canceling that helps justify going with the 4 way switch. This is my gripe with the Classic Player Baja. Sacrificing a chance at 60 cycle noise canceling, to get some interesting/whimsical sounds, isn't IMO a good real world tradeoff.

 

[Twang Deluxe]

I have two S1 switches in my tele, so I have all the six baja sounds with a 3 way switch. For me it is the perfect solution

Position 1 = Bridge
Position 2 = NB parallel/ NB in series / NB parallel out of phase/ NB in series out of phase
Position 3 = Neck

 

[Lou Tencodpees]

I understand the attraction to the 4 way switch, but I've now installed and removed one 3 times. To my ear the added position just sounds like a hotter version of the middle position. But for some reason the ergonomics of the 4 way bugged my diminutive brain. Just looking at the switch in the 2 and 3 positions, all cockeyed and stuff, nope.

 

[Martocaster]

I have two S1 switches in my tele, so I have all the six baja sounds with a 3 way switch. For me it is the perfect solution

Position 1 = Bridge
Position 2 = NB parallel/ NB in series / NB parallel out of phase/ NB in series out of phase
Position 3 = Neck

Have you found any use for those out-of-phase tones? Them seem a bit pointless to me but it’s early days.

 

[AAT65]

I understand the attraction to the 4 way switch, but I've now installed and removed one 3 times. To my ear the added position just sounds like a hotter version of the middle position. But for some reason the ergonomics of the 4 way bugged my diminutive brain. Just looking at the switch in the 2 and 3 positions, all cockeyed and stuff, nope.

Yup, same for me… I don’t like 4 or 5-way switches. For gig situations it’s got to be a 3-way switch for me. So the S1 for series is fine with me (I think I’ve used it 10 times in the 6 years I’ve owned the guitar, and it doesn’t do any harm there!) and I could cheerfully ignore a push-pull just as well — so long as the switch goes forward, back and in the middle only.

There’s also the subtle problem that a 4-way typically has a longer throw arc than a 3-way or a 5-way, and sometimes the control plate slot won’t be long enough to quite make good contact in one of the end positions. Something for anyone changing from a 3-way to a 4-way go bear in mind.

 

[Cosmic Cowboy]

I put a 4 way in every single tele I own...or have owned. Beacause the answer is yes you want both.

It should be standard gear on every factory tele. As should locking tuners imo.

 

[Slim Chance]

Ok, I’m back and I have purchased the guitar. I’m already looking into buying the parts to make a new control plate without the 4-way and S1. The added sounds are not compelling enough to me to want to retain them. This is exactly what I thought about my Baja before it sold it. I just prefer few voices and the simplicity of a 3-way switch.

 

[Twang Deluxe]

Have you found any use for those out-of-phase tones? Them seem a bit pointless to me but it’s early days.

Yes of course. I can get nice fake strat sounds (Position 2 and 4) and can leave my Strat at home