Help with Adding a Middle Pickup using DPDT in 3 way Tele

[adambrewsmith]

Hi,

I am in the early stages of converting my 50s Classic Vibe Tele in a Nashville style.  I just picked up a set of Fleor Alnico 5 strat pickups and would like to put one in the middle position.  

I purchased my CV tele with a Lil 59 in the bridge, and it has a push pull tone knob, to split that pickup.  My idea is to route a cavity (although i dont currently have access to a router!?!), and install one of the strat pups.   I checked the polarity of the neck and its south up, so i would assume that the best option would be a north up pickup.

For simplicities sake, I am thinking that I could add a DPDT on/off/on switch to the plate, between the two knobs.  In the future, I may change the 3 way to a 5 way and add a blend knob but this would be cheaper and would let me see how well this works without doing a lot of changes.

I believe that with the DPDT on/off/on switch, I could have it setup so :

UP - Middle pickup on in phase
Centre - Middle pickup off
Down - Middle pickup on out of phase. 

I made a schematic and would greatly appreciate any input anyone has on this, if it will work as I think or if there needs to be any changes. 

imgur.com/gallery/T82Tdt3

Sorry, i havent figured out how to embed the image!

I appreciate it!!
Adam

[newey]

Your diagram looks fine (provided the wires actually connect to the lugs on the switch, it looks like they go to the switch case!)

Also, since you are using different brands of pickups, don't assume the polarity of any of them- check them all. One manufacturer may call North and South the opposite from another manufacturer, there is no standard for designating polarity. But you are correct, if the neck pickup is South, you would want a North for the middle to hum-cancel

[adambrewsmith]

Hi Newey, and thanks for your reply!  The wires will actually go to the lugs on the switch, I am just not great at drawing!  Pickup wise, I did buy a set, just to make sure I have a north up pickup, and I will probably use the other two to upgrade the ceramics in my sons bullet Squire.  I used a small magnet to check polarity, so I am good on that front.  Thanks for your reassurance.  All that's left is for me to find someone to let me use their router and i am all set!

[newey]

Oct 13, 2022 19:03:44 GMT -5 adambrewsmith said:

All that's left is for me to find someone to let me use their router

Depends on whether you want to go 'down n' dirty" on it. I added a pickup to a P-Bass by just drilling a line of holes with a bit the width of the pickup, then using a chisel to take out the wood in between. Granted, this was on a cheap guitar, you might not want to perform such butchery on your Squier. But you don't really need a router, the pickguard will cover any ills.

[adambrewsmith]

oh i am good with down and dirty.  Someone I know offered me use of a set of forstner bits, so I may go that route (pun intended) and chisel the rest.  A router would be nice, and I am still  keeping an eye out, but it's unlikely i will be selling this guitar, and youre right that a pickguard hides all manner of mess.  Thanks again!