Tele Wiring Fever Dream

[SixStringSlinger]

So I had an idea and I'd like to know if/how it's possible before even considering if I want to do this. Don't try to talk me out of it, even if this doesn't work it might be a step toward something cool.

Typical Telecaster pickup set, typical volume and tone controls, 4-way switch.

Neck position (call it position 4): Neck pickup only
Position 3: Both pickups in parallel
Position 2: Bridge pickup, with a mini-toggle to select between Eldred, Arlo and regular bridge pickup only.
Position 1: Bridge pickup, straight to jack.

I'm imagining the volume and tone controls active as normal in positions 4 and 3.

I'd like them both active as well in position 2, though I don't know how the tone control would work with the Eldred and Arlo. I'm fine with no tone control on those two options, but I'd like to have it when using the bridge pickup with no "effects". My Esquire currently has a switch position dedicated to both Eldred and Arlo, selectable via mini-toggle, so I'm confident I can wire one up to switch between those two and bypass.

Naturally, no volume on tone controls in position 1.

So, can this be done?

 

[frisco slim]

So, can this be done?

I would say not with standard hardware. The Fender DP4T selector switch can barely handle the minor task it was designed for.

At first look, I would say you'd need at least a 5-pole selector switch, which means a rotary and a whole lot of wiring.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

I wonder if it’s possible to use a diagram like this…

…but adapt it to a 4-way switch with the extra position (the switch point all the way toward the bridge) as the blower option. If so, I think I can figure out how to wire an Eldred/Arlo/bypass on a mini-toggle where the Edlred snd Arlo bypass the tone control and the third position uses it.

It would apply the Eldred and Arlo effects to all (non-blower) switching options, but that might be interesting.

 

[frisco slim]

The blower switch feature is more complicated than it looks, it normally takes a DPDT switch such as a push-pull switch. It's easier on an Esquire with only one pickup. With two pickups, the 4-way switch doesn't have enough horsepower to also include the blower.

If you're willing to have the Eldred and Arlo mods applicable to all pickup combinations, that would make things easier ... I need to think about that for a while.

 

[frisco slim]

After kicking this around for a while, I think the best approach to get the six sounds you want is to use a 4-pole 3-way Tele Superswitch for the pickup selector, have the 3-way toggle switch which gives Arlo mod, bypass, and Elder mod, and use a push-pull switch on the volume pot or tone pot for the blower switch.

The attached shows how it works schematically -- I find it much easier to visualize signal flow on a schematic than on a wiring diagram. The Arlo and Eldred mods only work in the bridge position. The blower switch overrides everything else, you pull the knob up and you get bridge straight through, no volume or tone, regardless of selector switch position.

 

[SixStringSlinger]

Thank you for this! I'll have to think about it but I think that would do just fine.

I assume the blower can work on an S1 switch just as well as a push-pull? The S1 may be overkill but it's easier for me than a push-pull.

 

[frisco slim]

S-1 would work fine as a blower switch.