5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

G

guitar bitch

New member
Hi,

I am currently looking for a solution to a problem that I have with my Fender Standard MIM stratocaster pickup configuration. I currently have a Humbucker in the bridge and 2 single coils (H/S/S). I am looking to use a 500K volume and 500k tone pot for the bridge humbucker, and a 250k voume pot along with a 250k tone pot for each of the single coils.
Is this wiring possible on the 5-way Super Switch? If so is there any loading of resistance that would affect tone when im using the 2 single coils coming from the humbucker circuit? What I am looking to do is isolate the humbucker circuit (with 500k vol. and 500k tone) from the 2 single coils circuit (w/250k volume), so that I get the best of both worlds for humbucker and single coils seperately.

Input appreciated from all wire heads,

guitar_bitch
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Let me clarify a couple points:

1. Do you want three volumes and three tones? Or just one volume and one tone that "adapt" themselves to the pickup. (Or one volume, two tones?)

2. Whichever way you go, you'll always have the overlap condition at the middle/bridge notch position. Do you prefer 250k or 500k at that position?

Artie
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Hi, and thanks for the reply ArtieToo.

I'm aiming to have 2 volumes and 3 tones total. I'm going to rexchange/replace the 250k tone pots for the Middle single and Neck single with for 2 little blue trimpots set a at 269k so that I can have those under the pickguard (this is the value I found sounds good when I had my guitar in S/S/S config).
As for the 250k volume pot which controlls the middle and neck single, i'm going to leave that pot at a fixed value under the pickguard as well. The only knobs acessable on the top of the pickguard is the 500k volume for the humbucker and the 500k tone for the humbucker. Crazy:yell:

Heres a list of positions on the 5 way switch that I prefer.

1. Bridge humbucker (controlled with 500k vol and 500k tone pot)
2. OFF if possible (when switching to this position, no audible sounds)
3. OFF if possible (same here, I never use the middle by itself anyways)
4. Middle/Neck Singles (love this sound, controlled with 250k vol pot and two trimpots set to 269k in parallel, its parallel right?:smack: )
5. Neck Single (controlled by the 250k vol and a trimpot set at 269k, in parallel again with the volume right?:smack: )

Thanks for any of the help you guys can give.
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Cold Hit, that was a screen name that I came up with a while back when joining a bunch of forums, I think it came from the days when in High school alot of people used the term "Bitch" alot, it was a saying that was used in my High school days, nothing grotesque in any regard.
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Ok . . . this is easily the most bizarre wiring diagram I've ever heard of. There's nothing wrong with that - :D - I just want to make sure I have this right.

Is there some reason that you actually want two dead positions on the switch? You can achieve what you want with a simple Fender 3-way switch. If you really want a dead position, make it a Fender 4-way. I can't see why you'ld want two dead positions. But its your guitar. ;)

Also, I can't understand why you'ld want three pots preset to a fixed value. If they're all in parallel, why not replace them with a single fixed resistor, which will be around 87k. Thats the "effective" pot load your singles are gonna see. You're gonna lose a lot of high end. Again . . . its your axe.

Let me know.
Artie
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Hey ArtieToo,
Thanks again for the reply, I'm currently in the process of racking my wires (brains) right now figuring out how to wire up the connections for the Super Switch. I did consider the Fender 3-way, but yes I do prefer to have at least one OFF position/positions. So I believe I'm going to have to use the versatility of the Super Switch, OR use some kinda ON/ON 3PDT Switch to switch between the Humbucker circuit and the single coils circuit. I really have to get those two tones isolated.
Furthermore you guys dont have to reply to this Thread any longer I think i'm on to it, and thanks for the Help:)
One last thing though, is there any info on the internet about how the Super Switch works or where I can find a Schematic of the Super Switch? I looked online and couldn't find anything regarding how the Super Switch works even though it's pretty popular. Thanks again. :banana:
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Welcome to the forum

I can see you´re in much more capable hands than mine, so I´ll shut up now and try to learn something :beerchug:
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Here's a great diagram and tutorial on how a superswitch works:

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/I-3200.html

If it was me, I'd do a "kill" switch as a separate entity from your pup selector. Might save some embarrassing "silent" moments on stage. But then again, you know what you want.

I'll draw up a little diagram in a moment that shows how easy it is to get what you want with a standard 3-way. The humbucker will be isolated from the singles. Give me a sec . . . ;)

Artie
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

This will get you the humbucker by itself, then the neck and middle, then the neck. I just did this quick-'n-dirty:

guitar_bitch.png


I can show you how to add the pots and resistors later, if you want.

Artie
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Hey thats really smooth. So I find it that the 3-way is not built the same as the 5-way standard switch, cause when I first looked at your diagram I was thinking "whoa".
Yes, Please include the volumes and tones, if thats not too much. Thanks again.
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Actually, a 3-way and 5-way are identical except for the 3-way is missing two detents. Also, the "blade" moveable contact is a bit narrower since it doesn't have to span two contacts. Other than that, it works the same.

I'll do the rest of the diagram tomorrow. ;)

Artie

Edit 1: I just noticed, as I look at the bottom of my switch, I should have the "blue" side offset "up" rather than "down". I'll correct that too.

Edit 2: Then again, maybe not. I think thats the difference between a Fender switch and a CRL switch.
 
Last edited:
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

ArtieToo said:
Actually, a 3-way and 5-way are identical except for the 3-way is missing two detents. Also, the "blade" moveable contact is a bit narrower since it doesn't have to span two contacts. Other than that, it works the same.
Click to expand...

Not quite, there are 2 types of 3-way blade... the "classic" strat style, where each PU could only be selected individually (the type you speak of, no pos 2 and 4), and the Tele 3-way which is in function similar to a Gibson type ;)
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

Zerberus said:
Not quite, there are 2 types of 3-way blade... the "classic" strat style, where each PU could only be selected individually (the type you speak of, no pos 2 and 4), and the Tele 3-way which is in function similar to a Gibson type ;)
Click to expand...

Hmmm . . . not sure if I've seen one of those. I've seen the Gibby-style, of course, but my Tele's have the "classic" 3-way blade. Got any pics? :)
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

They look the same, the "classic" i speak of is the original strat switch that was on them in the ´50s, the one players "locked" into the in between positions so often that Fender started using 5-way switches.

The difference is that the tele does Bridge - Bridge+neck - neck, wheras aforementioned strat switch does bridge - middle - neck

But looking at what I just wrote and thinking of how the switch is wired up, I think you´re right after all, it´s probably the same 3-way, just wired differently... sorry:smack:
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

No prob buddy. I was just concerned that I might be giving folks wrong wiring advice. :)
 
Re: 5-way Super Switch HELP NEEDED WIRING GURUS

ANd in the process letting ME give them wrong advice... Hmmmm.... which is really better? :laugh2::beerchug:
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top