Wiring using switchcraft 3 way switch

[swag]

Hi;

I just purchase the switchcraft (3 way) toggle switch and had a question about wiring it up.

Currently, I have a Les Paul Style guitar with the import switch. The problem is that it only has three wires. Two for the incoming pickups and one to go out the guitar.

On the switchcraft, it has a total of five hooks for my wires. I understand the big one is the ground, and two are for the incoming pickup wires. The question I have is about the outgoing wire (since there is one). Do I wire the two outgoing hooks together with the outgoing wire?

This means that when the toggle is in the middle position, both pickups will be heard.

Is this standard wiring or better wiring?

Thanks for your help.

[UnklMickey]

hi swag.

not knowing which switchcraft switch you have, i can't answer your question.

but, i bet we can figure it out together.

that big hook you spoke of, if it connects directly to the metal frame and in turn to the bushing where the lever goes through the mounting hole, then yes, it can be used as a ground.

most of the switchcraft pickup switches have multiple contacts that are pushed on by the lever.

so if yours has 2 sets of contact pairs, and one set is opened when the lever is one way, and the other set is opened when the lever is opened the other way, and both sets are closed when they are in the middle, then wiring as you have described will work. "pickup one only" when the switch is "up", "pickup two only" when the switch is down, both pickups when it is in the middle.

thats standard wiring. nothing special about it.

[swag]

Hey Unklmickey;

Thanks for the quick response.

The switch I'm using is this one:

www.guitarpartsresource.com/eletoggle1.jpg

Yes, the big hook appears to connect to the outer metal frame around the switch.

I guess to wire both outs, I'll need a little wire to connect them together since they are so far apart.

Thanks!!

[UnklMickey]

yup, that'll work.

the reason they do the switch this way is so it "modular".

you can imagine how easy it is for them to add 1 more tab and one more insulator to each side of the stack, those additional tabs are normally open to the movable contacts and close when the lever moves the movable contact into it.

that kind of switch has lots more uses.

they sell a lot with your kind of stack for standard gibson 2 pup switching.