Useful Middle Position?

[sethb]

I bought a Fender Duosonic RI for my 8 year old (good for small hands and it was dirt cheap). I replace the pickups with a Strat lil 59 in the bridge and a Duckbucker in the neck providing two classic sounds.

But the middle position (Duosonic’s have a Gibson type 3 way switch) is terrible, low output, no warmth, and no quack. Any suggestions on wiring a useful middle position?

I am not looking to buy additional pickups (this is a kids guitar and I had these two already), but I look at the red and white wires on the lil 59 and wonder what I can do with them with a 3-way switch and no push-pulls.

peace

[MDS]

Wow, that kid has some awesome pickups!

[larry_emder]

You could split the little 59 pickup and combine it with the other one, which will produce quack. That would probably be the most popular option (could use a push pull for a vol/tone pot)

Im sure artie (the wiring god) will show you how to do this

[Zhangliqun]

If it's a 3-way switch, you're probably getting only the middle pickup in the middle position. To get classic Strat cluck, you need a 5-way switch so you can get the bridge/middle and neck/middle pickup combos.

[tone4days]

welcome, seth

could they be wired out of phase by accident?
the symptoms you describe kinda sound as if they might be

flip the green and black wires on the lil59 and see if it helps

also, to answer your Question directly .. i do not think there is anyway witha standard 3-way that you can use the red/white wires to effect a coil-split ... with a push/pull pot you could ..

good luck
t4d

[sethb]

welcome, seth

could they be wired out of phase by accident?
the symptoms you describe kinda sound as if they might be

flip the green and black wires on the lil59 and see if it helps

also, to answer your Question directly .. i do not think there is anyway witha standard 3-way that you can use the red/white wires to effect a coil-split ... with a push/pull pot you could ..

good luck
t4d

Thanks, I will check it. The pickups individually sound great, so I am not unhappye

seth

[ArtieToo]

Hi Seth; If its actually an LP-style switch, there aren't a lot of options. ALong with the standard (n, n & b, b), you could also do:

1. 59 split
2. 59 split + Duck
3. 59 + Duck

But thats not a great sequence, because you eliminate the 59 by itself option.

I notice that Stew-Mac lists a Duosonic 3-way that's a "slide" switch. If yours is like that, but with a bat handle, then there are more options. You'ld just need to look under the pickguard to be sure. Although, if you've changed the pups, I assume you already know what you have.

Artie