FDP Forum / Does this pickup selector switch exist?/ 9 messages in thread.
1 to 9 of 9 shown.
| gdw3 Contributing Member ** LA-la-land, CA Insert clever comment here |
I had an idea for how I'd like a H-S-H guitar pickup selector, but I don't know if such an animal exists.<br /> <br /> What I'd like is a 3-way switch, each position choosing the corresponding pickup. So, position 1 chooses bridge, 2 chooses middle, and 3 chooses neck pickup. Then, what I'd like is a push-pull knob each for the single volume and tone control. The volume knob, when pulled out, engages the neck pickup, when the middle is selected with the switch. The tone knob, when pulled out, engages the bridge pickup when the middle is selected. <br /> <br /> Is this possible?<br /> <br /> There are 3 reasons I want to do this. 1) I don't use positions 2 and 4 on a 5-way very much, 2) it'll make switching to the middle quicker and more accurate, 3) it'll make it easier to see what's selected on a quick glance. |
| wrnchbndr Contributing Member ******* New Jersey The otters threw me out |
A standard telecaster 3-way switch will do this. |
| gdw3 Contributing Member ** LA-la-land, CA Insert clever comment here |
No, I don't think so. A tele switch will do bridge, or middle, or both.<br /> <br /> What I want is a 3-way for 3 pickups: neck, middle, bridge. No combining of the pups. I want to do any combining with switches. |
| Peegoo Contributing Member ********** ********** That chicken is WRONG, baby. |
A tele switch will do it. Thats the same switch that the original Strats came with. To make the tele run neck and bridge in the middle position, you add a jumper across the switch. |
| FunkyKikuchiyo Contributing Member *** New England |
Another vote on "tele switch". Also, if you find the "in between" points, you'll be able to fish out 2 and 4 like on old Strats. Simply wire the common to your volume pot, and your pickup leads to each of the three remaining lugs on that side.<br /> <br /> Do you want the push/pull pots to work ONLY when the switch is in the middle position? That could be done for one pickup, but off of the top of my head I don't think you can do it with two. You just use the other side of the switch that is as of yet unused. It might be possible, but I haven't thought of a way yet.<br /> <br /> If you want the push/pull pots to work regardless of switch position then it isn't a big deal. |
| Te 52 '52 Tele + Delirium = Tellurium 52 |
As everyone has pointed out, the Tele switch will select three individual pickups in three positions, no problem. In fact, that only takes one pole of the switch.<br /> <br /> But that's not the hard part. The hard part is getting the push-pull switches to function only when the selector switch is in the middle position and never have the neck and bridge interact in any other switch position. You need three poles on the selector switch to accomplish that, and the Tele switch has only two.<br /> <br /> A more practical solution might be to use a Telecaster 4-way switch giving N, M, B, and N+B. Then have one push-pull switch which switches in the middle pickup in any position of the selector switch. That way you get all the combinations you asked for, just via a different approach.<br /> <br /> =====<br /> <br /> Edit: Upon further reflection, there *is* a way to do exactly what you asked for; it involves using a 3-way 4-pole Superswitch (link). The third pole would allow you to isolate the function of the push-pull switches to only the middle position of the selector switch. <br /> <br /> Only problem is, I haven't physically examined one of these switches, and it could be too wide to fit in the tight control cavities one finds on some guitars (e.g. Telecaster). You haven't told us what sort of guitar you want to modify. |
| gdw3 Contributing Member ** LA-la-land, CA Insert clever comment here |
Thanks so much for the responses!<br /> <br /> Yeah, someone else I know suggested a superswitch.<br /> <br /> If I were to do it, it would either be on my '05 AmSe Strat, or on my custom Lipe guitar. At the moment, it's just a question of it being possible at all. Seems it is. |
| Te 52 '52 Tele + Delirium = Tellurium 52 |
It should fit in a Strat, no problem. If you decide to do it, note that you need a *3-way* Superswitch, not the common 5-way. The 3-way ones are a rare item, the seller on eBay is the only place I know to get them. <br /> <br /> You didn't ask for a wiring diagram, but I drew one up anyway for my own files: |
| gdw3 Contributing Member ** LA-la-land, CA Insert clever comment here |
That's perfect! Thank you so much! |
Copyright 1999-2003 Fender Discussion
Page, LLC. Visit the web site at http://www.fenderforum.com