5 way or push/pull?

[rjhubbsg]

Hi everyone! Just got a new MIM tele and decided on the hot tele tapped lead and the vintage rhythm. Just one question...to go with the five way switch (I know there is a way to even get series and paralell wiring) or a push/pull pot? Which would be cheaper? Is the wiring option really worth it?

As a sidenote...I've been playing guitar for about nine years now, yet I've never even opend one up. I'm tired of spending 4o bucks to get my pickups changed. How hard is this job? Mind you, I've never sodered anything before. Is there any resource or class or book that can teach me about the "guts" of a guitar. I would like to someday be able to do my own customization. Thanks for the input.

 

[Artie]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

Actually, what you want is the 4-way switch. That will give you each pup by itself, and both in series, both in parallel. The 5-way won't do it.

As for wiring it yourself, if you practice soldering on a couple of non-critical items, we can supply the wiring diagram. You should be able to handle it.

A Tele is one of my favorite guitars to wire, because you can remove the control plate without taking the whole guitar apart. You'll still need to remove the strings/bridge at least once to install the new pups, but after that, its a piece of cake.

 

[tone4days]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

artie, couldnt he use a 5 way to incorporate the tap in the bridge?

pos 1 - bridge
pos 2 - bridge (tapped)
pos 3 - bridge + neck
pos 4 - bridge (tapped) + neck
pos 5 - neck

or would it be better to use a 4 way with the push/pull controlling bridge tapped or full in any of the positions using the bridge?

t4d

 

[Artie]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

I didn't even notice the "tapped" part. :smack:

I just focused on the series/parallel part. I think I would still use the 4-way for the basic pup combo's, then use a push/pull to bring in the "tapped" part. Thats pretty much how I have my Tele-clone setup, except that I did away with the series connection. I just didn't care for it, but that might have been my pups.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

I have my Tele with the Tele Hot Tapped pickup wired with the 5 way switch method. Very easy to use! I'd do it that way and that way only. Lew

 

[Artie]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

I have my Tele with the Tele Hot Tapped pickup wired with the 5 way switch method. Very easy to use! I'd do it that way and that way only. Lew

I was just looking at that since you mentioned it. That is a simple, and versatile, way to go.
For the sake of rjhubbsg, here's what we're refering to:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/schematics/tapped_tele.html

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

I was just looking at that since you mentioned it. That is a simple, and versatile, way to go.
For the sake of rjhubbsg, here's what we're refering to:

http://www.seymourduncan.com/website/support/schematics/tapped_tele.html

Do you have a Tele Artie? That Tele Hot Tapped and a 5 way switch wiring is hipper than hip. You can switch between the Hot output or the Vintage output all with the 5 way switch. The Vintage output is similar to a Broadcaster pickup's output. Lew

 

[Artie]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

I have a pretend-Tele. And it's an HSS. (The Genny, in my sig.) I hope to add a "real" Tele to my stable next year. Its just this first four years of home ownership is the rough part. There's light at the end of the tunnel, though. Just a few more months.

 

[rjhubbsg]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

Thanks for all the great info guys. I think the 5-way is the way to go? So Lew, what is in each position? Send me a link if this has already been discussed in a previous thread. Also, do you guys really think I can do this myself? Any reccomendations on a good book or website to check out? Thanks again, you guys are sooooo much help.

 

[Nite_Maresz_25]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

a 5 way would give you 5 positions, and a push/pull+3way would = 6...so for versatility's sake i saw the push/pull

 

[Artie]

Re: 5 way or push/pull?

Scroll up about 4 posts (#6) and you'll see the link. The five positions are:
(Starting from the bridge.)

1. bridge (tapped)
2. neck & bridge (tapped)
3. neck
4. neck & bridge (full)
5. bridge (full)

I believe you can rearrange those wires to some degree to change the sequence. There are limitations, though.

Artie