Three way with center blend

[old school fender]

As the thread title implies I'm in need of a wiring diagram for a three way switch that maintains position one and position three stock (position one, bridge maintaining tone control, position three,neck maintaining tone control, but using position two purely as a blend control), roll the tone knob one way, more bridge, the other" way , more neck.

From what I've found so far what I'm looking for is not traditional "blackguard" wiring since it defeats the tone control in one or more positions (one or three, or maybe both, can't remember). I want to retain tone control in both one and three positions and use tone control for "blend" in position two only.

If you have this diagram and could post it or supply a link where I might find it it would be greatly appreciated but please don't bog me down with "here's one you might like even better'. I've spent enough time down this "rabbit hole" already. Thanks!

 

[Wallaby]

Just making sure of something -

You're looking for the blend to be for tone control adjustments when using the center switch position?

Or would the blend be for blending volume control but using the tone control knob?

roll the tone knob one way, more bridge, the other" way , more neck.

 

[old school fender]

The way I worded it could have been confusing. What I'm trying to accomplish is using the tone control, when in position two only (bridge and neck pickups) as what I would term a balance control. I guess that would be considered a volume control between the two pu's as well. Hope I didn't confuse you more. Terminology can be a tricky thing!

 

[SPUDCASTER]

So, you want tone control only on the B/N position?

Then, you want to control the volumes of the pickups individually in the middle position?

A friend of mine has a master tone, master volume and a blender pot to achieve all three positions. No switch.

Then you could use a no-load tone pot so you could always utilize the tone pot if needed.

Not sure if that's what you're after?

 

[old school fender]

Then, you want to control the volumes of the pickups individually in the middle position?

Yes. Using the tone control.

 

[old school fender]

So, you want tone control only on the B/N position?

Then, you want to control the volumes of the pickups individually in the middle position?

A friend of mine has a master tone, master volume and a blender pot to achieve all three positions. No switch.

Then you could use a no-load tone pot so you could always utilize the tone pot if needed.

Not sure if that's what you're after?

 

[SPUDCASTER]

Well, good luck on that.

Maybe some sort of stacked pot?

 

[mountainhick]

You said you don't want to hear it... sorry.

Not that it can't be done, but I do not see a practical way to retask the tone pot as you want for both functions tone and blend. You might be able to get there with a super switch that would switch out the tone cap in middle position, but then you're dealing with a 5 position switch. And the tone pot itself is not a good choice for blend in the first place.

The best blend IMO is to use a double decker MN type which would entirely replace the tone pot. This type pans between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation so they are both on full at the center, one or the other at end ranges. It can in effect replace the switch entirely, or can be left at any chosen blend in middle switch position and blend tweaked on the fly between the two pickups.

(EDIT: just adding that using a standard tone pot as a blender (Tone pot with the cap disabled/lifted in blend mode) gives you only the option of one of the pickups on full, and blending the other with it, not panning between them. This is the kind of arrangement used on strats. In bridge position it is all bridge, and neck blent. In neck position it is all neck and blent bridge.

If you want to keep both volume and tone function, you need 3 pots (if you use an MN it is actually 4 pots (2 double deckers)) I would use a dual pot with stacked knobs for vol tone, and retask the tone position for blend.

Block diagram. (tone control not shown but wired off Vol as usual.) If you really want to go this route I can draw a detailed wiring diagram

 

[old school fender]

You said you don't want to hear it... sorry.

Not that it can't be done, but I do not see a practical way to retask the tone pot as you want for both functions tone and blend. You might be able to get there with a super switch that would switch out the tone cap in middle position, but then you're dealing with a 5 position switch. And the tone pot itself is not a good choice for blend in the first place.

The best blend IMO is to use a double decker MN type which would entirely replace the tone pot. This type pans between clockwise and counter clockwise rotation so they are both on full at the center, one or the other at end ranges. It can in effect replace the switch entirely, or can be left at any chosen blend in middle switch position and blend tweaked on the fly between the two pickups.

(EDIT: just adding that using a standard tone pot as a blender (Tone pot with the cap disabled/lifted in blend mode) gives you only the option of one of the pickups on full, and blending the other with it, not panning between them. This is the kind of arrangement used on strats. In bridge position it is all bridge, and neck blent. In neck position it is all neck and blent bridge.

If you want to keep both volume and tone function, you need 3 pots (if you use an MN it is actually 4 pots (2 double deckers)) I would use a dual pot with stacked knobs for vol tone, and retask the tone position for blend.

Block diagram. (tone control not shown but wired off Vol as usual.) If you really want to go this route I can draw a detailed wiring diagram

View attachment 1072973

Yes. Having one pickup on full and blending the other with it would suit my purpose. Wouldn't necessarily have to involve panning. "Bingo" !

 

[mountainhick]

Hmm, there are 3 way super switches: https://guitarelectronics.com/3-position-super-switch-for-telecaster-16-terminals/

I think you could use one of these to lift the cap off the tone pot in blend mode, but again, the blend you'd get from a standard 250K tone pot would be one pickup on full with the other blended in. You could not pan between them.

And then do you want the blend to be a no load pot?

 

[mountainhick]

Yes. Having one pickup on full and blending the other with it would suit my purpose. Wouldn't necessarily have to involve panning. "Bingo" !

in blend mode which pickup do you want full on?

I'll play with this idea soon, but need to get some other things done today...

 

[old school fender]

in blend mode which pickup do you want full on?

I'll play with this idea soon, but need to get some other things done today...

Neck. No rush. Thanks for the help!

 

[mountainhick]

Neck. No rush. Thanks for the help!

And to confirm, in middle position you will not have the tone control.

I am pretty certain we can do this.

 

[old school fender]

Correct! Will use the blend function for tonal preference.

 

[mountainhick]

Easier than I thought:

Both blend and tone function wiring to same pot

(grounds left out for clarity)

 

[old school fender]

Thanks a million. I think that's what I'm looking for.

 

[mountainhick]

Thanks a million. I think that's what I'm looking for.

Playing around with this a little more, it's neater to use a number of jumpers on the switch instead of running multiple wires to the pots. I'll update the diagram sometime soon.

 

[old school fender]

10-4

 

[Solaris moon]

You could use a PUSH - PULL pot to make the necessary modifications without compromise. You could wire it so that the pull could activate the tone while the down position makes it a blend control. But this would be tricky to do but it could be pulled off. I don't know of any other way that would allow you to have the switch with the two blended without this feature.

 

[old school fender]

You could use a PUSH - PULL pot to make the necessary modifications without compromise. You could wire it so that the pull could activate the tone while the down position makes it a blend control. But this would be tricky to do but it could be pulled off. I don't know of any other way that would allow you to have the switch with the two blended without this feature.

I've about come to the conclusion you're right. The only way to accomplish this would be with a stacked pot.I was originally thinking along the lines of a stereo receiver balance control but I seem to recall that they are also a stacked , or dual control with no tone circuitry involved. Oh well, back to the drawing board!