Unusual 5-way switch

[FretFire]

So, I ordered a 5-way lever switch kit from guitarelectronics.com for my strat and it came with the pictured 5-way. I've not seen one like this before, and of course it didn't come with a wiring diagram as advertised. Anyone have a clue how this might differ from a standard 5-way? I'm not sure how I'll need to wire it up. I'll be doing an H-S-S setup with one volume and one tone.

[ErikH]

That's a 5-way superswitch. You can do all sorts of different wirings with that one.

[FretFire]

Thanks for the information. I just want a simple setup, but am not sure how to adapt the HSS/1 volume/1 tone diagram here on the SD site to this switch (I'm a wiring n00b, I admit). Any tips/help are greatly appreciated.

[Jet-Jaguar]

It kinda looks like a multi-pole 5-way. I've never used one myself, but there's a diagram here (PDF format) :

http://www.dimarzio.com//media/diagrams/B2.pdf

[MattPete]

http://www.stewmac.com/shop/Electron...0.html#details

[MikeS]

I don't have my diagrams file with me, so you get a hand sketch.



That's wired to split in the notch position. If you don't want a split in the notch position the diagram is the same, just tape off the red and white and remove the ground from the switch.

[FretFire]

Cool, thanks a lot!

[arellanon]

At first glance, that looks like seafood!

[ugameus]

Check out this link:

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-3200/

[jeff90125]

That's my favorite super-mega switch. I've used several for different instruments.

Here is what I would do. It will use all your current knobs, no extra holes to drill, no extra switches. It will also give you a wide pallet of sounds to choose from. You will just have to do without one of your tone controls.

Convert one of your tone controls to a volume control for a single pickup of your choice. let's say you choose the middle pickup. I wired a squier strat this way. You may have to replace the pot.

Run the other two pickups to the super-mega 5 way. I have the schematic for this if you need it. Wire it to give the following options:

1) Neck by itself
2) Neck and bridge in parallel
3) Neck and bridge in series
4) Neck and bridge in series and out of phase
5) bridge by itself

This way you have all these combinations, none of them are stupid, and you can dial in your middle pickup however much you want.

I have this in my "Forecaster". It's a custom made HSS. I have the two single coils wired this way and a seperate volume for the humbucker in the bridge position (a Duncan JB).

[Fresh_Start]

You can do all sorts of things with those super-switches. One thing you might add to the suggestion Mike_S made would be to use the fourth, unused pole to select different tone caps. .015 for neck position, .022 for positions 2, 3 & 4, then .033 for bridge. Season to taste.

You could also go stupid complicated like I did with my H/S/S strat and have a series/parallel switch plus the ability to mix neck & bridge or all 3 pickups, plus a bass cut.

Chip