There are many instruments and custom wiring circuits that determine what combination of pickups can be used. A tone circuit can have active or passive components to enhance the sound of an instrument. Natural enhancement is done by the combination of woods, hardware and amplification. Below are a few common instruments and how the selector switch works with each instrument.

50s Telecaster:

• (1) Bridge position-Bridge pickup only.
• (non-blend control) (2) Middle position-Neck pickup only.
• (3) Neck position-Neck pickup only-full bass from grounded capacitor.
• Master volume control for both pickups in all three positions.

50s Esquire:

• (1) Bridge position-Bridge pickup-full treble-tone control doesn’t work in this position.
• (2) Middle position-Bridge pickup-tone control functional.
• (3) Neck position-Lead pickup only-full bass from grounded capacitor.
• Master volume control on all three lever switch positions.

Telecaster – Current:

• (1) Bridge position-Bridge pickup only.
• (2) Middle position-Bridge & Neck pickup.
• (3) Neck position-Neck pickup only.
• Master volume & tone control in all three lever switch positions.

Telecaster Thinline: The Telecaster Thinline used a 3 position lever switch.

• (1) Bridge position-Bridge pickup only
• (2) Middle position-Bridge & Neck pickup.
• (3) Neck position-Neck pickup only.
• Master volume & tone control in all three lever switch positions.

Telecaster Deluxe (inc. 70s Elite): The toggle switch was made by Switchcraft and also used by Gibson Guitar Company.

• (1) Down position-Bridge pickup only-individual volume & tone.
• (2) Middle position-Bridge & Neck pickup.
• (3) Up position-Neck pickup only-
• individual volume & tone.

Stratocaster: 3 Way: The 3 way switch had to be carefully offset for the 2 & 4 position.

• (standard wiring) (1) Bridge position-Bridge pickup only-no individual tone control.
• (2) Middle position-Middle pickup only-individual tone control.
• (3) Neck position-Neck pickup only-individual tone control.
• Master volume control in all three lever switch positions.

Stratocaster: 5 Way: The 5 way switch allowed for instant 2 & 4 position.

• (1) Bridge pickup-Bridge pickup only-no individual tone control.
• (2) Bridge & Middle position-Bridge & Middle pickups in parallel.
• (3) Middle position-Middle pickup only.
• (4) Middle & Neck position-Middle & Neck pickups in parallel.
• (5) Neck position-Neck pickup only.
• Master volume control in all five lever switch positions

Duosonic: The Duosonic uses a 3 position toggle switch for pickup selection.

• (1) Down position-Bridge pickup only.
• (2) Middle position-Bridge & Neck pickup in series.
• (3) Up position-Neck pickup only.
• Master volume & tone control in all three positions

Jazzmaster: The Jazzmaster has a unique switching system. The single slide switch near the two rollers controls what pickup circuit operates.When the slide switch is in the down position the toggle switch is operative:

• (1) Toggle down position-Bridge pickup only.
• (2) Toggle middle position-Bridge & Middle pickups.
• (3) Toggle up position-Neck pickup only.
• Master volume & tone control for both pickups in this position.

When the slide switch is in the up position:

• (1) Neck pickup only-The two rollers are operative for independent master volume & tone control for the neck pickup only.

Jaguar: The Jaguar has a unique switching system similar to the Jazzmaster. The single slide switch near the two rollers controls what pickup circuit operates.When the slide switch is in the down position the 3 slide switches are operative:

• (1) Neck position slide switch turns on & off the neck pickup only.
• (2) Middle position slide switch turns on & off the bridge pickup only.
• (3) Bridge position slide switch puts a capacitor in the tone circuit and makes the pickups have less bottom.
• Master volume & tone for both pickups in this position.

When the slide switch is in the up position:

• (1) Neck pickup only-The two rollers are operative for independent master volume & tone control for the neck pickup only.
• Jazz Bass: The two pickups are control by two of the three control knobs.
• (1) Neck pickup controlled by 1st volume control. (neck position knob)
• (2) Bridge pickup controlled by 2nd volume control. (center knob)
• The master tone control for both pickups is the 3rd knob.

Precision Bass: The Precision Bass single coil pickup on early models.

• Single coil: Single pickup controlled by master volume & tone control.
• Dual coil: The dual coil pickup uses a single master & volume control.

Mustang: The Mustang guitar uses 2 – three position slide switches. Each switch has a front or neck position, center or off position and rear or bridge position.

• (1) The front slide switch turns the neck pickup on and off. It puts the neck pickup in or out of phase with the bridge pickup.
• (2) The rear slide switch turns the bridge pickup on and off. It puts the bridge pickup in or out of phase with the neck pickup.

Switch position: When both slide switches are in the front position, both pickups are in phase with each other. When both switches are in the rear position, again both pickups are in phase with each other. When both slide switches are in opposite positions, both pickups are electrically out of phase with each other.VI String Bass: The Bass (VI) uses 4 slide switches to control the pickups. 3 slide switches are used to turn each of the 3 pickups on and off. The 4th slide switch is to change the tone of the pickups.

• (1) The number one slide switch (closest to the neck) turns the neck pickup on and off.
• (2) The second slide switch turns the middle pickup on and off.
• (3) The third slide switch turns the bridge pickup on and off.
• (4) The fourth slide switch adds a capacitor to the circuit of the 6 String Bass to give a different tone.
• The volume and tone are controlled by a two potentiometers.

Jerry Donahue: The Jerry Donahue Telecaster has a unique wiring designed for Jerry’s need and tonal character. It uses a special 4 pole 5 position lever switch.

• (1) Neck pickup with tone control out.
• (2) Neck pickup with tone control in.
• (3) Neck & Bridge pickup with tone control in.
• (4) Neck & Bridge pickups-neck pickup phased electrically with capacitor in and with tone control out.
• (5) Bridge pickup with tone control in.

Misc. Instruments: Bullet H-1-dual pickup system with push button coil split-master volume & tone control.Deluxe 6 & 8 Steel-Single neck lap steel-two pickup with blend control and master volume & tone control.

Lead I- Uses two 3-position toggle switches for the two coils in the humbucking style pickup. The Lead I uses one bridge pickup with master volume & tone.

Lead II-3 position toggle switch for neck & bridge pickup-master volume & tone control for both pickups.

Mandolin-master volume and tone control-no selector switch. Musicmaster-Single pickup and master volume & tone control.

Musicmaster Bass-Single pickup and master volume & tone control.

Mustang Bass-master volume and tone control-no selector switch.

Pedal 1000 & 2000-The steel guitar uses a 3 way lever switch for desired pickup and master volume & tone.

Stringmaster Steel-Single neck-two pickup system with blend control to combine second pickup. Master volume and tone control.

Stringmaster Steel-dual neck & triple necks determined by lever switch and output from each neck goes to a master volume and tone control. Each neck has a blend switch for desired tone.

XII String-rotor switch for pickup selection and master volume & tone control.