Non-traditional 5-way switching setup

[eljib]

Hello, again, to all my old friends. And I see there are some new guys that are really contributing as well. Work has been more than enough to keep me away from guitars for a little while, but now I've got a project in mind and I'm completely stumped.

My uncle had a Nashville Tele with SD vintage stacks that he hated so in return for replacing the stock TexMexies for him, he gave me the Duncans. I stayed up all night drawing up the body they would go in, but now I need some help or suggestions on the electronomical side of things.

I would like to have 3 pusher pots (my favorite) controling on/off for each pup. Pots would be Master Volume, Master Tone, and maybe a preamp. I then want the 5-way to configure the selected pups like so:

5-Dead
4-Series Out 'o Phase
3-Parallel
2-Series
1-Blowout (ALL coils active in series, regardless of on/off position)

These are stacked hums that can sound a little "non-tele" like to my ears, so I want only single coils for 2-5, then all three hums in series for quick change lead breaks on 1.

I don't even know if this can be done. I've got a 4-pole 5-way to use, and I think I've heard about an 8-pole job somewhere in the archives. My attempts at solving this led me to believe that all could be accomplished except the out of phase stuff. Another challenge is that I would prefer to maintain stock strat appearance: just three knobs and a switch (although I have been swayed to superior alternatives in the past).

So, friends, what can be done? You're the only folks I know that understand what I'm talking about, so I haven't had the chance to bounce this off anyone else for feedback. Help me, or convince me I'm wrong (but if you choose the latter, please offer your opinions of a better alternative)

Thanks,
Aaron

[UnklMickey]

eljib said:

...You're the only folks I know that understand what I'm talking about...

of course that's true.

GuitarNutZ are.




making "room" for 3 pickups in series or parallel could be tricky.

in series configuration, a pickup's "space" needs to be shorted when that pickup is off.

in parallel the "space" needs to be open.

i won't say that your basic scheme can't be implemented.

but at best, it will require considerable thought to work out the details.



my $.02

next opinion?



unk



BTW, welcome back!



EDIT:

one problem is see is with the series OoP.

with 3 pickups, 2 are in-phase, one is reversed phase.

so for one combination of 2 pickups on, they will still be in-phase.

[eljib]

Thats what I figured out, too. But I may not even want that option. I seem to be the only one I personally know that likes that sound. I've already had several fender freaks offer to buy it once it's finished, so I might take out the dead and OoP settings to better suit mainstream needs.

unklmickey said:

one problem is see is with the series OoP.

with 3 pickups, 2 are in-phase, one is reversed phase.

so for one combination of 2 pickups on, they will still be in-phase.

Given that fact, which pup would God put OoP?

[UnklMickey]

eljib said:

...Given that fact, which pup would God put OoP?

i don't know. i'll ask him next time we talk.

considering:

• if you put the bridge OoP that will work for N-B, M-B.
  
• if you put the neck OoP that will work for N-M, N-B.
  
• if you put the middle OoP that will work for N-M, M-B.
  

they are in order of what i think would be the natural preference. (first is best)

but it's very much a personal preference thing.