Wiring a Tele-Esquire hybrid 5 way series / neck / parallel / bridge / bridge no tone

Hi,

this is yet a new thread requesting help for wiring diagrams. I’ve search and, although I’ve seen some post talking about this, I’ve found no solution.

I own a Tele with standard configuration but 4-way switch mod (series wiring). I’d like to go one step further and add the classic Esquire no tone option using a 5-way switch.

I want to achieve the following:
Position 1: Bridge no tone
Position 2: Bridge
Position 3: Bridge + neck in parallel
Position 4: Neck
Position 5: Bridge + nech in series

As you can see, the overall timbre goes from brighter in #1 to darker in #5. Volume wise, #1 and #5 are louder, #3 quieter, #2 and #4 in between. Volume is working in all 5 positions.

anyone could help me with a wiring diagram? Do I need a 5 way switch or a 5 way superswitch?

Thanks I’m advance for the help!

 

I guess I have found the answer myself, so I share it here...

I have some extra complications that block me from a no load pot. The guitar has a piezo pickup, so one control is reserved for piezo volume and the magnetic pickups volume/tone control is a concentric 500k/250k pot. Also I want to be able to go “full twang” with the flick of a switch.

The idea is to further develop the Esquire wiring concept (including the jazz tone circuit) while adding Telecaster versatility. Positions move from brighter to warmer.

So, in the end I get:
1. Bridge no tone
2. Bridge tone cap 0.022uF
3. Bridge + neck parallel tone cap 0.022uF
4. Neck tone cap 0.022uF
5. Bridge + neck series tone cap 0.047uF

Volume is 500K, tone is 250k; higher value cap for series only to reach ultra warm tone if desired (just the opposite to bridge with no tone). Neck pickup cover is connected to ground as per series wiring recommendations. Tone circuit wired to the volume output (Gibson ‘50s style). To achieve this circuit, I need a 5-way superswitch.

Wiring is as follows:
POSITION 1: BRIDGE ONLY NO TONE
Neck White = Connected To Output
Neck Black = Connected to Nothing
Bridge White = Connected to Output
Bridge Black = Hard Ground to Pot
Tone Circuit = Connected to Nothing

POSITION 2: BRIDGE ONLY
Neck White = Connected To Output
Neck Black = Connected to Nothing
Bridge White = Connected to Output
Bridge Black = Hard Ground to Pot
Tone Circuit = Connected to 0,022uF capacitor

POSITION 3: BRIDGE & NECK PARALLEL:
Neck White = Connected To Output
Neck Black = Ground
Bridge White = Connected To Output
Bridge Black = Hard Ground To Pot
Tone Circuit = Connected to 0,022uF capacitor

POSITION 4: NECK ONLY
Neck White = Connected To Output
Neck Black = Ground
Bridge White = Connected To Nothing
Bridge Black = Hard Ground To Pot
Tone Circuit = Connected to 0,022uF capacitor

POSITION 5: BRIDGE & NECK SERIES:
Neck White = Connected To Output
Neck Black = Bridge White
Bridge White = Neck Black
Bridge Black = Hard Ground To Pot
Tone Circuit = Connected to 0,047uF capacitor

I believe this is correct, I’ll see how it works once wired. If anyone has a good tip that would help me or anyone else with similar needs, please add your comment. Also if something is wrong with my wiring diagram!

 

Nashville Teles use 5-way switches, so it is not a rarity.

In some passages, I would like to go from a bright tone to a very dark one, or just to a brighter one! So being able to have different cap values (even no cap at all) depending the switch position and pickup configuration will help me to do so.

If the switch fits in the cavity, I prefer it to a button or a secondary switch. I do not want thousands of options, I rather prefer few (if 5 mag options plus piezo could be considered as “few“) options in a more intuitive and straightforward control layout.

I might be wrong, but I think it will work for me... plus it is not an irreversible modification.

 

I understand what you mean, my best mod ever has been to get rid of the 5 way on my stratocaster and place a 3 way instead. On the other hand I am the worst singer ever, so I do not deal with the same challenges as you... people are grateful that I remain silent.

Intentionally or not, I usually do not play with the pickups on my Tele mid song. I feel them to have too different timbre from each other so I rarely change pickups while playing, I do tweak volume or tone... but no pickup selector. I do just the opposite with my Strat

As a side benefit, having a 5-way switch, the standard bridge w/tone is the second position, the switch will be slightly far away from the volume knob (on Thinlines it is awkwardly close).

Anyway, I bought the superswitch and some Orange Drop caps. I hope it works as expected... thanks for your advice!