common port on fender 5 way swtich

[mafew129]

im having some trouble figuring out which port is the common port on a fender 5 way switch. I'm trying to to this mod (the first one): www.1728.com/guitar3.htm

on the switch on the left it has a common port but where does that correspond to on a real 5 way switch. Here is a diagram of a standard strat setup www.guitarplayerscenter.com/blog/guitar-upgrades/wiring-for-stratocaster-three-pickup-guitars/

is the common port on the switch in that diagram the white one (the one not being used) or is it another one?

[newey]

mafew-

Hello and Welcome!

There are 2 common terminals on the std 5-way switch, one on each pole. In the second link you posted, the white one is indeed a common, not being used, but the other is being used, at the far end of the switch, on the opposite side from the white one.

Lever Switches Explained

[mafew129]

so if im doing that mod would i use the common port that is being unused or the one that is being used?

[ashcatlt]

newey, I'm sorry to say that you are mistaken. I knew before even looking at the links since I know that standard strat swtiching uses both commons, leaving one of the other terminals unconnected. Actually following the links confirms this.

On the diagram of standard strat switching, the commons are the two which are jumpered together and are connected from there to the volume pot.

I think the confusion comes in that this switch is drawn wrong in that schematic. Here's the right answer:

You can use whichever common terminal you'd like, so long as it is on the same side of the switch as your pickup wires.

[newey]

Ash is correct if we're talking about an import style switch; I was referring to the Fender style ones. The link I posted shows the layout for both types. You can determine which type you have by the the diagrams.

[JohnH]

Confusions! Stemming from the guitarplayerscentre diagram in the first post.

It's based on the Fender style with two sides, but it has the offset between the two sides of the switch the wrong way round (ie a mirror image). The poles are ones linked across the switch by a wire, but they are as shown here, from our own reliable GN source:



cheers
John

[newey]

I stand corrected; I was look at a wrong diagram the wrong way, so a double error.

For the sake of completeness, we should also note that the import- style schematic Ash posted is also wrong, as ChrisK pointed out when he posted it; it should show the terminals as "3-2-1 Com Com 3-2-1"

(I've gotten bit twice by that one on the import switches, before I learned to check every switch with a meter and not to rely on diagrams).

[mafew129]

so does it matter which COM i attach the other switch to?

thanks for all the help too?

what do u mean u got 'bit'. can it be dangerous if you solder the wrong ports? sorry if im ignorant in this stuff. im not really an electrical engineer or anything.

[mafew129]

also, would i desolder the wire going from the 5way switch to the volume and reroute it to the DPDT switch in the mod diagram? is that right?

[newey]

what do u mean u got 'bit'.

No, nothing like that. I only meant that I had to rewire it.

You won't hurt yourself with guitar wiring. Amps are another story . . .

[mafew129]

HOLY CRAP IT WORKED! i cant believe i actually got it to work. and on the first try too. wow ive never done anything like this before and its sounds so sweet. thanks for all the help! im getting so many sounds out of my strat now!

[mafew129]

oh yea i ran into a few problems though. like mis-reading where i drilled the holes in the faceplate for the switches. but it's w/e that can be fixed with a new faceplate lol.

[pete12345]

Mar 14, 2009 3:59:53 GMT -5 mafew129 said:

HOLY CRAP IT WORKED! i cant believe i actually got it to work. and on the first try too. wow ive never done anything like this before and its sounds so sweet. thanks for all the help! im getting so many sounds out of my strat now!

Great job ;D Watch out though, soon you'll be dreaming up all sorts of wonderful schemes, not emerging for days while you solder it all up....

[mafew129]

i got a question. does it matter if solder the positive lead coming out of the middle pickup to the 5 way switch or does it have to be in between the 2 switches?

like this instead of this www.1728.com/series.gif