Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

[Agileguy_101]

I'm assembling the ultimate combination of wiring trickery to make my strat Uber-versatile. I've got a set of StraBro90's coming in and a 3PDT switch to tap them all. I've got a blender knob so I can get neck+bridge and all 3 simultaneously. I also have a push/push coming in and while I'd love to use it for series/parallel switching, I read somewhere that series operation is impaired when one uses a blender pot. Is this true? If so, is there any way to get around it?

[Myaccount876]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

It depends exactly how you want it. I know that a series/parallel switch working just between the bridge and neck, and the middle always in parallel with whatever else is active will definitely work. Which type of blend control are you using? Do you want the series/parallel switch to work for all three pickups? If so, you'd need more than a DPDT; more like a 4PDT.

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

I'd be fine with just the middle pickup being in series with the bridge. I'm using a no-load for the blend pot.

[Myaccount876]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

That can be done. I'm drawing up a diagram now.

[Myaccount876]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

Here you go:

[Agileguy_101]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

Thanks dude! Of course, I just realized that OOP is also a possibility, and in P90 mode it might sound awesome. I guess I will have some experimenting to do...

[Myaccount876]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

The phase switching is pretty straightforward on this circuit if you decide to add it, more so if you reverse the phase of the neck pickup. Enjoy!

[gdsmithtx]

Re: Strat w/ a Blender Knob and a Series/Parallel Switch - Can it be Done?

Look into the Deaf Eddie Chromacaster switch; it's the ultimate in Strat versatility, only costs $30 and can be installed in 30 minutes. It can also be easily removed, leaving the guitar in stock form.

The Chromacaster is a six position ROTARY switch that expands the potential pickup combinations available in your Stratocaster or other "S-type" guitar. It installs where one of your old tone controls was. The Chromacaster does NOT replace your 5-way pickup selector switch - your 5-way still works just like it always did. The Chromacaster works in conjunction WITH the 5-way to give you new combinations. You lose a tone control, but gain a lot of tones!

The traditional Strat 5-way selector gives you only 5 of the seven parallel combinations possible, and no series or out-of-phase connections. With the Chromacaster , you can get all seven parallel combinations, PLUS two series settings with variations, PLUS two out-of-phase settings with variations, for a total of SIXTEEN different pickup combinations.

That's a lot of tones!

BEST OF ALL, NO NEW HOLES!

Just put your old tone knob back on the Chromacaster switch, and your Strat looks completely stock!