Alternate Selector Switch Wiring

[tube power]

Hi,

I want to replace the 5-way and wire my Strat so it only has two settings,
Neck/Middle and Middle/Bridge.

I'd like to use a simple positive switch like a heavy duty toggle ala' Radio Shack.

I would appreciate any help on wiring it this way.

Thanks

[big_teee]

Hi,

I want to replace the 5-way and wire my Strat so it only has two settings,
Neck/Middle and Middle/Bridge.

I'd like to use a simple positive switch like a heavy duty toggle ala' Radio Shack.

I would appreciate any help on wiring it this way.

Thanks

Why would you want to limit your guitar like that?
You could just do some strapping on the bottom of the 5 way and accomplish the same thing.
I always want more choices not less.
John Mayer Sound Maybe?
Good Luck,
B_T

[tube power]

Why would you want to limit your guitar like that?
You could just do some strapping on the bottom of the 5 way and accomplish the same thing.
I always want more choices not less.
John Mayer Sound Maybe?
Good Luck,
B_T

Yuck, I don't know jack about John Mayer.

I want to.
Thanks

[Mark Hammer]

Clearly, you want the middle on all the time, and only want to switch between neck and bridge. The simplest thing, involving the least damage to the guitar is to wire up the middle pickup directly to the volume control, bypassing any switching, and get yourself a push-pull pot that connects the neck pickup in the up or down position, and the bridge pickup in the other position.

I honestly don't know why someone would want to deprive themselves of the tonal palette that a Strat can deliver, but if that's your objective, that's one way you can do it.

[tube power]

Clearly, you want the middle on all the time, and only want to switch between neck and bridge. The simplest thing, involving the least damage to the guitar is to wire up the middle pickup directly to the volume control, bypassing any switching, and get yourself a push-pull pot that connects the neck pickup in the up or down position, and the bridge pickup in the other position.

I honestly don't know why someone would want to deprive themselves of the tonal palette that a Strat can deliver, but if that's your objective, that's one way you can do it.

Good idea, thanks.

I honestly never use any other setting.
I have tried them many times but just like those two.

Nothing wrong with a Les Paul Jr. they don't foster a feeling of being deprived to me.

Not too worried about "damaging" this guitar, It's just a piece of wood to me.
Anything can be wired back pickguards can be replaced etc.
Never been one to treat them like museum pieces, not that I purposely abuse them,
but they are tools to do my will and a good one will never be for sale anyway.

[David Schwab]

Thats funny. I almost never use positions 2 and 4. But they are good when you want that funky quack.

I also never use the middle pickups by itself. On my guitar position 3 selects neck and bridge.

You can remove the 5 way switch, drill a small hole in the slot, and wire in a two way toggle switch.

[jrfrond]

My guess is that people who generally use only 2 & 4 do so because it doesn't hum. I don't care about the old days of rock & roll and how they lived with the hum and many still do, I think hum sucks and there are PLENTY of GOOD hum-canceling SC-sized pickups to not have to put up with it.

[tube power]

Thats funny. I almost never use positions 2 and 4. But they are good when you want that funky quack.

I also never use the middle pickups by itself. On my guitar position 3 selects neck and bridge.

You can remove the 5 way switch, drill a small hole in the slot, and wire in a two way toggle switch.

That's what I was thinking of doing, toggle switch.
I want it to be very difficult to bump it out of position.
Neck/bridge? I will try that, maybe I'll end up with a 3 way.

[tube power]

My guess is that people who generally use only 2 & 4 do so because it doesn't hum. I don't care about the old days of rock & roll and how they lived with the hum and many still do, I think hum sucks and there are PLENTY of GOOD hum-canceling SC-sized pickups to not have to put up with it.

This is a '94' Strat Plus, it has Lace Sensors, not much hum.

To me the neck is just slightly too muffled, middle too harsh and bridge a bit too bright.
The two combos are just right to me.

90+ % of the time it's in neck/middle.

[David Schwab]

My guess is that people who generally use only 2 & 4 do so because it doesn't hum. I don't care about the old days of rock & roll and how they lived with the hum and many still do, I think hum sucks and there are PLENTY of GOOD hum-canceling SC-sized pickups to not have to put up with it.

Yeah, I only use hum canceling pickups. I've been installing the DiMarzio Virtual Vintage pickups, and they sound exactly like a single coil Strat pickup.

I have some old Bill Lawrence pickups in my Tele, and they sound great too.

[David Schwab]

That's what I was thinking of doing, toggle switch.
I want it to be very difficult to bump it out of position.
Neck/bridge? I will try that, maybe I'll end up with a 3 way.

Put the switch so it switches sideways, then you don't have to worry about hitting it.

Something else to try; get a three way switch, and keep the middle pickup wired in all the time. Wire the switch to switch in the neck or bridge pickups like on a Tele, and then in the center you will have all three on. That's a cool tone. Or in the center have the neck and bridge on and no middle. That's how I wire up my Strats.

[big_teee]

Put the switch so it switches sideways, then you don't have to worry about hitting it.

Something else to try; get a three way switch, and keep the middle pickup wired in all the time. Wire the switch to switch in the neck or bridge pickups like on a Tele, and then in the center you will have all three on. That's a cool tone. Or in the center have the neck and bridge on and no middle. That's how I wire up my Strats.

Anyway to throw Series in the mix.
Bridge and middle, or bridge and neck.
B_T

[tube power]

Thanks guys, got me thinking and that's important.

I tinkered and a/b compaired the daylights out of it...

Ended up with a spdt with the middle pickup on the pole so it's on all the time,
neck on one throw and bridge on the other.
Solid click, click back and forth very hard to switch on accident.

Just the way I like it and it sounds perfect.