5 way switch for tele

[leejord]

hi. am awaiting parts for mahog chambered tele with rosewood lam, wenge neck/rosewood fret. P/ups P-rail in neck, SD SSL-6 (rw) mid and SD quarter pounder for tele in bridge. Play mainly blues, some rock,jazz,funk. I probably will only be able to wire to select P90 and humbucker from P-rails ( am only planning for one push/pull pot). Question is- If I have a fiveway selector like in a strat, is it worth being able to combine neck and mid or mid and bridge.e.g does combining P90 plus single coil give a good option. thanks

 

[Super Turbo Deluxe Custom]

I think you might like the bridge and middle together, plus all three by themselves, making the 5-way necessary leaving the 4th position left open.  The position of the neck and middle together, if you didn't like, you wouldn't have to use it, but for the other combos a 5-way is necessary.  You could always get a 5-way super switch and wire it anyway you want.  If you didn't like the neck and middle together you could wire the 5 way switch to be:

1.  bridge
2.  bridge and middle
3.  middle
4.  bridge and neck
5.  neck

 

[drewfx]

Definitely get a 5-way (you need to get the kind with 2 lugs for each switch position, not the strat-style 2 lugs for each of the 3 PU's).

I would probably do something like this (given the constrictions stated):

1. Bridge
2. Your choice: Bridge + Middle, Bridge + P-90/HB (depending on Push/Pull), or Bridge + Rail
3. Middle
4. Middle + Rail (or you could do "Rail alone" if desired)
5. P-90/HB (depending on Push/Pull)

 

[leejord]

thanks for the help

 

[Doughboy]

I set up all my 3 pickup guitars like this & believe it's about as versatile as humanly possible without altering the look of your guitar with switches.

5 way switch

1.  bridge
2.  bridge and middle
3.  middle
4.  middle and neck
5.  neck

I have 3 push / push pots

1. Master Volume - out of phase middle PU
2. Master Tone -  series/parallel
3. Neck Volume - neck & bridge on at the same time

By doing this to my strat, the traditional strat look is unadultered, but the tonal variety is GREATLY enchanced.

On guitars thet have humbuckers, I also install the Seymour Duncan Triple Shot ring, which allows each PU to be split 2 ways , series & parallel.

The amount of tonal variety to choose from is quite staggering if you have a 2 humbucker, 1 single coil in the middle set up.

 

[leejord]

I've ordered the five-way switch that warmth carries.is this not the correct one.confused about which of the 3 pickups I'm using need to be series or parralel

 

[Doughboy]

I've ordered the five-way switch that warmth carries.is this not the correct one.confused about which of the 3 pickups I'm using need to be series or parralel

To make things simple & get even more tonal possibilities, just get a push/push pot for your tone control & make that your series/parallel & wire the 5 way switch the traditional way.