6 pole 5 position rotary switch with LED’s

[lisaharsh]

Hi stumbled across this forum while trying to figure out what I need for a guitar build I’m doing.

It’s my first guitar build, but I’m comfortable with electronics and LED projects. I was told for what I want to do I would need at least a 5 pole 5 way rotary switch I have found a six pole five position.

What I am making is a Star Wars inspired design and a rotary switch will fit better than the five way toggle switch. However what I want to happen is when I switch potions, an led marks what selection it’s on.

I was going with a push pull tone and possibly volume and a typical HSH
Wiring 1 bridge 2 split bridge/middle 3 middle 4 split neck middle 5 neck.

I do need a good schematic for this as well but mostly need to know if this can work and function. I will also have other electronics so LED’s will be powered from a power source away from the pickup wires.

I’m using house of tone pickups. Thank you.

[JohnH]

Hello and welcome to GN2. That sounds like a fun project.

Two thoughts to offer:

Just to do the basic wiring for positions 1 to 5 as you described, seems like it needs 3 poles on the switch (to do it best), being 2 to select pickups and one to split the bridge in position 2. That doesn't include LED's or whatever the push pulls might do, and other things you may have in mind.

A watch-it: Switching current through LED's in a guitar, with sensitive pickups and then maybe feeding into an amp with some gain, may create an audible click, so maybe some testing of the setup might be a good idea before final assembly.

[unreg]

Hi lisaharsh,

Did you check this page:

guitarnuts2.proboards.com/thread/8886

There are some great HSH diagrams there. Don’t know if that page has schematics too. Your wire colors may be different depending on your house of tone pickups.

The first diagram there shows how to wire something similar to your desire, I think at least. Without the LEDs of course.


I’m not talented enough to create a schematic; though, others here definitely are; hope that thread helps you.


Edit: Oh, AND those diagrams don’t use rotary switches. Since you are good with electronics, maybe you could adjust the wiring. Or, you could reply with your specific rotary switch part and someone else could make a schematic for you.

[lisaharsh]

Thank you both. House of Tone sent me a rotary diagram. I’m starting to understand.

John H I was going to use a push pull switch on the tone to have both hums split. I asked and they don’t think the LED’s would interfere with pickups.

A 4P5T rotary switch from my understanding, limited as it is.

Pole 1 bridge hum connected to 1&2 neck to 4&5
Pole 2 middle 2,3&4
Pole 3 ?
Pole 4 LED’s.

Push pull tone to split hums and a volume.

There are 4P6T where the 6 can be both hums together.

Anyone that can help with a schematic for this I would be grateful.