Strat 4-way wiring

[minions]

So, I'm thinking of modding my Strat. Basically, what I want is a 4-way switch for:

1: B
2: B*N
3: B+N
4: N

And a 3-way toggle to switch the Middle pickup on:

1: Series
2: OFF
3: Parallel

For the 4-way switch, I've referred to Sumgai's diagram on this thread: guitarnuts2.proboards.com/index.cgi?board=wiring&action=display&thread=1952 (reply #9)

I just don't know how to incorporate the Middle pickup switch.

Any ideas?

Thanks!

[reTrEaD]

[newey]

reTrEaD's diagram only gives the middle in series with the bridge, and in parallel with the neck (if we also assume that "neck +" is also connected to the output, not shown on the diagram).

It should be possible to put the mid in series/parallel with whatever is selected on the 4-way switch, but I'm not sure if the "Center Off" requirement throws a wrench into that.

[newey]

Yep. From Ozboomer's Module Library:

[reTrEaD]

Dec 29, 2011 22:07:15 GMT -5 newey said:

reTrEaD's diagram only gives the middle in series with the bridge, and in parallel with the neck (if we also assume that "neck +" is also connected to the output, not shown on the diagram).

Perhaps it seems that way without referring to the original diagram. I updated the drawing to show how it connects to the original.

Dec 29, 2011 22:12:20 GMT -5 newey said:

Yep. From Ozboomer's Module Library:

Yes, that would work too. But routing the series path through the "d" pole of the switch is unnecessary. It makes more sense to just make a direct connection from "d" to "a".

[minions]

Okay, so is this where I would insert the DPDT?

[newey]

Perhaps it seems that way without referring to the original diagram. I updated the drawing to show how it connects to the original.

Yeah, my fault, I wasn't looking at the whole.

For future reference, when editing prior posts, and particularly diagrams, please leave the original post intact and add new material as an "Edit" (expressly so designated), or use a new post. Otherwise, threads become hard to follow for lack of continuity.

And minions, to answer your last question, yes, you're on the right track here.

[minions]

Awesome. Thanks guys.

[minions]

Alright. So I've wired up my Strat using the above wiring (4-way w/ Middle series/parallel).

For some reason, however, there is no signal when I plug it in and strum.

I opened it up and tested some spots with my DMM. Whenever I touch one probe to the Volume wiper (going to the jack's tip) and the other to the Volume out (going to ground), my DMM (set on CONT) indicates they are connected. It does this in all positions except when the Middle Pickup switch is set to series. I can't find a visible short between the hot signal and the signal ground!

When I plug it into my amp and tap the jack tip with a screwdriver, at first, there is no signal going to the amp, and then all of a sudden I hear it. When I start testing with my DMM, the signal goes away. Then if I start probing with the screwdriver again, the signal gradually returns again.

I'm confused and frustrated. Does anyone have any advice?

[ashcatlt]

First advice I can think of is to stop using your "CONT" setting. It gives us no useful information. Set the thing to the 20KΩ setting (or just DC resistance, if autoranging) and then do your tests.

You're sure the V pot is turned all the way up? You haven't wired it backwards so that you think it's all the way up, but actually all the way down?

[thetragichero]

Jan 24, 2012 20:42:42 GMT -5 ashcatlt said:

You're sure the V pot is turned all the way up? You haven't wired it backwards so that you think it's all the way up, but actually all the way down?

this happens to the best of us... most recent strat i threw together, i thought the pickups were SUPER dull with the 500k pots turned all the way up
turned the tones all the way down and was surprised at how bright it got!

[minions]

Jan 24, 2012 20:42:42 GMT -5 ashcatlt said:

First advice I can think of is to stop using your "CONT" setting. It gives us no useful information. Set the thing to the 20KΩ setting (or just DC resistance, if autoranging) and then do your tests.

Oh okay. Ha. Didn't know that.

Jan 24, 2012 20:42:42 GMT -5 ashcatlt said:

You're sure the V pot is turned all the way up? You haven't wired it backwards so that you think it's all the way up, but actually all the way down?

Yeah... I definitely have done that before. But fortunately (or maybe unfortunately, since now I don't know what the issue is), it's wired correctly this time.

[minions]

Okay, so now I'm confused. If one probe from my DMM is going to ground and the other is at the jack tip, should it read 0 ohms? Because currently, that's what is happening. If this is a short, how to I actually find where the short is occurring?

[minions]

Okay! I figured it out. It looks like the shielding from the coax cable going to the jack and the hot lead going to the jack's tip where touching. So I just had to rewire that and it works now.

The only thing is that I can't seem to get the neck pickup's tone control to work. I checked the resistance on the pot and it looks like it still works. Here's how it's wired:

EDIT:


CLARIFICATION:
(Thanks newey)
By "'*' denotes the pot's CCW (output) lug", I mean:


Any suggestions?

[newey]

What does the little symbol that "denotes the pot ground tab" mean? Are you simply grounding the shell of the pot? Or are you actually grounding a "tab", i.e., one of the lugs on the pot?