Telecaster Wiring 3-Way Switch, Master Vol & Blend (double)

[nonost]

Hi! I was thinking about a wiring based on blending both pickups. I would be the classic tele wiring but with pickup blending in both 1 & 3 positions. That would be:

     1 - Bridge with the neck pickup for blending
     2 - Bridge & Neck in parallel (blend pot out)
     3 - Neck pickup with the bridge pickup for blending

About the pots: Master Volume & Blend. No Tone pot.

Would that be possible? I've been thinking about it and it looks that maybe a mini-switch is needed.

Thanks!

[stevewf]

Hi nonost.

At a glance, I'd say you could probably get what you've asked for.

To make sure, maybe you could clarify: 1 - Bridge with the neck pickup for blending, does that mean in parallel? Same question for  3 - Neck pickup with the bridge pickup for blending

Cheers

[nonost]

Hi Steve! 

Yeah, I meant in parallel. 

It would be great!

[reTrEaD]

Feb 18, 2024 16:55:57 GMT -5 nonost said:

Would that be possible?

If I understand correctly, it looks pretty simple.

3 - Neck pickup. Rotating blend pot CCW gradually adds Bridge pickup in parallel.
2 - Neck pickup and Bridge pickup in parallel. Blend pot does nothing.
1 - Bridge pickup. Rotating blend pot CCW gradually adds Neck pickup in parallel.

Step-by-step procedure:

1. Starting with the Standard Telecaster wiring, remove the Tone cap.
2. Connect a wire (shown in blue) from the wiper of the Tone pot (now the Blend pot) to the two previously unused lugs of the selector switch.
3. There is no step three. You're done already!

[nonost]

Ey thank you! Yeah, that's it. That looks great. Pretty easy mod

Do you know what kind of pot works best for the blend? Linear or Log?

And I assume I need to mod a "normal" pot to make it a "blend" pot, don't I?

Cheers!

[reTrEaD]

Feb 19, 2024 8:04:19 GMT -5 nonost said:

Do you know what kind of pot works best for the blend? Linear or Log?

Definitely log. Most severe taper available, would be best.

Feb 19, 2024 8:04:19 GMT -5 nonost said:

And I assume I need to mod a "normal" pot to make it a "blend" pot, don't I?

Not necessary but it would improve the usability. The 250k audio taper pot Fender uses would work okay. Modifying it to be a no-load pot would be better. It would completely disconnect the "blended-out" pickup at the fully CW end of the rotation. This will allow more brightness from the other pickup.

A 25k audio taper pot would allow a more gradual change from both pickup full-on (CCW) to one pickup "blended-out" (CW) but in this case, modifying the pot to a no-load is absolutely mandatory.

[nonost]

Great! I've done the no load mod to pots in the past, so no problem. The idea of disconnecting the pickup is really useful. I can have a standard tele that way. 

Ok, 250k log10 seems fine. I can't easily get a 25k quality one, but I will try in the future.

I really appreciate your help!

Cheers.