Complicated Underdrive mod on telecaster

[Heft]

I want to put an Underdrive unit (http://www.guitarheads.net/products/electronics/underdrive.html) in my telecaster and I'd like it to only effect one pickup. I also wan't to be able to toggle it on and off.

I know I can do this if I have a push/pull tone pot distinctly for that pickup, I would like more options.

I would prefer not to have two tone pots and a master volume. There doesn't look like there is enough real estate under the control plate for three pots and a traditional 3-way switch.

I've brainstormed a bit, and these are the best ideas I have right now,

-Dual concentric pots for tone and volume, and a switch for the tone I want the Underdrive on,

-Instead of grounding the Underdrive to the pot, -put it in circuit between the pickup and a DPDT toggle switch (switch connected to tone),

-Use a Les Paul style 3-way switch instead of a normal 3-way. Then use two -tones and one master volume (although I don't know if there is room for this in a tele control plate).


Would any of these of these work? Is there a right way of doing this?

Thanks,
Heft

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

This might be kind of cool to try on a P Bass

 

[stratamania]

What about using a 5 way super switch so that the device is only active in a chosen position or two?

 

[Heft]

What about using a 5 way super switch so that the device is only active in a chosen position or two?

I really like that idea.

 

[Heft]

Would something like this work?

 

[stratamania]

It doesn't give a lot of possibilities but if it does what you want then yes that probably would work.

 

[Rick]

I like really stratman's idea

 

[Heft]

The other question I have; if I put a capacitor (say a .01) of the neck terminal of the switch, and a .022 on the tone control, would that give something similar to a .033 when switching to the neck?

 

[Heft]

I like really stratman's idea

I do too, but the Super Switches that fit in telecasters are hard to find right now. I either make it work some how with a 5-way or sit on a wait list.

 

[stratamania]

The other question I have; if I put a capacitor (say a .01) of the neck terminal of the switch, and a .022 on the tone control, would that give something similar to a .033 when switching to the neck?

Your current wiring design the tone control will only work when switching to the neck so why not just use a 0.33 or close in the first place?

But no putting a cap on the switch would be in the wrong place for what you suggest.

Also, two caps in series will end up with a value less than either of the two caps individual values. To add a capacitor to a 0.22 and arrive at 0.33 you would need a value of 0.11 wired in parallel to it.

 

[Heft]

Your current wiring design the tone control will only work when switching to the neck so why not just use a 0.33 or close in the first place?

But no putting a cap on the switch would be in the wrong place for what you suggest.

Also, two caps in series will end up with a value less than either of the two caps individual values. To add a capacitor to a 0.22 and arrive at 0.33 you would need a value of 0.11 wired in parallel to it.

Thank you!
I was hoping in the circuit I proposed that the underdrive would only engage in the bridge position and in all others the tone would engage. I was going to activate the underdrive with a push/pull so I would have tone in neck and bridge ( left that out  :doh: ). I was also hoping to make the tone more tailored to the different pickups by stacking capacitors.
Sounds like I really need a 5-way super switch for this kind of thing. Do you know if the Stew Mac ones fit telecasters?

 

[stratamania]

If I understand you correctly you want the underdrive to engage in the bridge only. And in neck and middle the tone control.

Move the blue wire of the underdrive in your diagram to the same terminal that the bridge pickups hot lead is connected to, then add a jumper from where the blue wire was connected to the and the terminal that is connected to the tone control.

To do anything more fancy you would need a super switch, but you might be getting to diminishing returns at that point.

The Oak grigsby Stew Mac sell should fit. They even have a video on that page about using one in a tele. I have a Fender one in a Tele also so I know that fits.

https://www.stewmac.com/electronics/components-and-parts/switches/oak-grigsby-super-switch.html