Strat Wiring

[xStonr]

I'm looking for a wiring diagram for a Strat that when in the middle position, the middle pickup is off and only the neck and bridge are on. Thanks

[StratLover]

First of all can you clarify one thing for me as well as the other "Nuts." From your post I am getting the feeling that you have a 3-way switch. Is this correct or do you have a 5-way switch.

Are there any other mod's you would like or not like to have in this diagram?

[xStonr]

I have the standard 5 way switch installed. As far as other mods, maybe have all 3 pickups on (not that important though).

[jdtogo]

from old guitar nuts Adding a "Neck-On" Switch

This modification does not have to alter the appearance of your guitar.

This is a very simple way to achieve the Neck/Bridge and Neck/Middle/Bridge combinations. If you use a push/pull switch on one of the pots it won't even alter the appearance of your guitar. I've seen this one so many different places that I won't even try to attribute it to anyone.

A simple variation of this is a "bridge on" switch (simply move the red line from the "N" terminal to the "B" terminal below).  That variation offers the advantage of tone control in the neck/bridge position.  (Thanks to a contributor, unfortunately I've lost the e-mail so I can't give you the credit you deserve, but you know who you are.)


Switch shown may be a SPST, SPDT (on-none-on), or 1/2 of a DPDT (on-none-on) as shown.
If you replace one of your pots with a 250k audio taper pot with a push/pull switch this modification won't change the appearance of your guitar.

Switch Knife Switch Pickups Selected
off 1 neck
off 2 neck + mid
off 3 mid
off 4 mid + bridge
off 5 bridge
on 1 neck
on 2 neck + mid
on 3 neck + mid
on 4 neck + mid + bridge
on 5 neck + bridge
I think you can get it from this address w/photo

[xStonr]

I heard about a Megaswithch E that gives me b/bm/bn/nm/n. It is available at StewMac. I think I may order it.

[Iggy]

If you never use the middle pu alone, that megaswitch seems like a good thing.

The neck on or bridge on mod however makes it possible to use neck and bridge pu simultaniously and still have the standard pu selection.

[StratLover]

Hey----------"xStoner"
Here is your link to StewMac, but I think you should look at the second link and save yourself about $8.00 per switch. ;D

www.stewmac.com/shop/Electronics,_pickups/Components:_Switches_and_knobs/Super_Switch.html


Warp Drive Music has most all of the same as StewMac, but at a cheaper cost to you, the struggling musician.

The link below goes directly to the page the same switch is on.

cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&category=47076&item=7325402042&rd=1&ssPageName=WDVW

[xStonr]

Thanks for the links StratLover. I cancelled my order with StewMac,as they were backordered for 2 weeks,and bought the switch from WarpDrive.

[xStonr]

Does anyone have a wiring schematic for the wiring challenged on this switch?

[bam]

see this site.
www.geocities.jp/dgb_studio/index_e.htm

[damian]

I like the other way with the push pull pot with out altering the guitars appearance. which pot would I replace in that mod?

[xStonr]

The super switch is just not going to work out. It seems that it's for an American Deluxe Fat Strat to work in conjunction with a push pull pot. Way to comlicated for me to do.

[bam]

Damian: whichever pot of the three (vol/tone/tone) will do.

Stoner: have you checked the DGB site I mentioned ? there are lots of alternative wirings there.

[xStonr]

I did check out the DGB site and thanks for the tip. I guess I'm too much of a novice to handle the complex wiring and a tech I spoke with from my local store wasn't real sure on the wiring either so I opted to go with the Mega switch E instead. I'll get it installed within the week and let ya all know how it worked out.

[xStonr]

I'm not having much luck with these switches. The one I got from StewMac turned out to be defective and I'm waiting for a new one to be sent to me.

[ChrisK]

I may be mistaken, but there was a nifty wiring scheme on the guitarnuts board called "the Mike Richardson scheme" that realized this as well as all three PU's on AND the bridge in series with middle, bridge in series with neck, middle in series with neck, and all three in series. It used a PP pot for the volume.

It works well, especially if you add PP pots for neck and bridge tone/phase reversal.

[xStonr]

Just a little update. The second switch I got in exchange is defective too. Apparently the maker, Schaller, had a bad run of Mega E switches.

[stratovani]

xStonr, I also got a bad E Megaswitch from Stew-Mac. Like you said, it must have been a run of bad switches. I'm just gonna eat the $15 and go with a regular Strat switch.

[TooManyWires]

Perhaps its a bit late for this post, but I believe if you look here: The very last mod on that page is how to get the same combos as on a standard strat switch with Neck Bridge series in the center position, and it only uses a standard strat switch.

[xStonr]

Latest update. The last switch I had, I took to a local luthier and he put in some switch he had that gave me the combo I wanted. N/NM/NB/BM/B. I've returned the switch to Stewmac for a refund. The guitar sounds good. And I'm pleased with the NB option. I'm now ready for the next mod to this guitar.