Advice Needed Re Wiring 5 Pos Switch To Pearly Gates In Telecaster

[strummer]

Hopefully members of this group can give me some input and guidance on finding a rotary switch and rewiring a Squire Telecaster Custom I have just purchased. I am trying to copy a modified Squire Esprit which I played some months ago which was a pretty awesome piece of kit . It was a bit of a revelation to me how a budget guitar can play and sound better than something costing 5 times as much. Sadly this model has been discontinued and I have been unable to find one and the Telecaster Custom is a definite compromise.

I really liked the sounds of the Esprit and want to copy its modified electrics on the Telecaster .Both guitars have similar electrics--2 HB ,2vol and 2 tone although in the modification there is only 1 master tone .On the Esprit this was a 6 pos varitone . The following other changes had been made:-

The original Duncan Designed Humbucker neck p u had been kept but the bridge had been upgraded to a Pearly Gates .There were mode switches between each p u and its volume control; a 3 way throw switch for the neck giving parallel, series and coil split and a 5 position rotary switch for the bridge which I’m pretty sure was (1) in parallel -in phase (2) in parallel -out of phase(3)in series- in phase ((4) in series- out of phase (5) coil tapped. This gives 23 pick up combinations all of which were very usable. The only visible additional switch is another throw switch next to pu selector and there are no push pulls --I am not keen on these as I think they wear after a while. I’m sure many members of this group will be familiar with this sort of wiring system but it was new to me.

I have worked out a wiring diagram and it seems I need a 10 pole/ twin output 5 pos rotary switch for the bridge p up but have not yet sourced this --presumably I need something similar to that fitted to some PRS guitars .I did get something from Radio Shack but it only had 5 pins and was very stiff to turn. I have sourced most other bits including a 2nd hand DD bridge pu (formerly fitted to a Samick). The Squire one fitted to the Custom appears to have only 2 wires.

Would welcome input on the wiring and any recommendation where to get a suitable rotary switch

strummer

 

[Artie]

Re: Advice Needed Re Wiring 5 Pos Switch To Pearly Gates In Telecaster

I have worked out a wiring diagram and it seems I need a 10 pole/ twin output 5 pos rotary switch for the bridge p up but have not yet sourced this . . .

You need a 4-pole, 5-position rotary switch. In other words, a "Superswitch", layed out in a circle. Here's what the wiring would look like: (for the bridge only)

Top half shows what a superswitch would look like, and bottom half is how a 4P5P rotary would look like. You can get one here, although its terminals are layed out a little differently than the one I drew. I can redraw that part a little later, but this gives you an idea what your up against.

 

[strummer]

Re: Advice Needed Re Wiring 5 Pos Switch To Pearly Gates In Telecaster

Thanks very much for your advice ArtıeToo.My wiring plan was a bit different but it was based on a slightly different sort of switch. I had looked at the guitarelectics switch but was not sure it was suitable. Would really apprecıate a redrawn schematic for that switch. It all looks a bit tricky and I am glad I am not trying to rewire a hollowbody this way. Am I right that the switch will be cutting the coil closest to the bridge.

Thanks again

Strummer

 

[Artie]

Re: Advice Needed Re Wiring 5 Pos Switch To Pearly Gates In Telecaster

A rotary switch is much more difficult to draw and explain, so examine the one you get closely. Basically, it will be layed out like this:

One side is the top wafer and one is the bottom. Imagine the red dots to be pivot points for the black needles that then connect to 1 through 5 as you turn the switch. Its like a Superswitch, only layed out in a circle.

Then, connect your wires like this:

B, G, R, and W identify the black, green, red, and white common terminals. All the red lines connect together and go to the volume pot. All the blue points connect together and go to ground. Short the two green points together.

If you want to split to the stud coil, run a jumper from either green point to any blue point. Or, to split to the screw coil, connect the green points to any red point. Doesn't matter which one. They're all shorted together.

Make sense?

Artie

 

[strummer]

Re: Advice Needed Re Wiring 5 Pos Switch To Pearly Gates In Telecaster

Thanks again ArtıeToo for your very much appreciated diagram. I think I have grasped the basics and I will hopefully get a better picture after the switch arrives and I have played with continuity tester a bit and sussed out what the swıtch ıs doıng ın each posıtoın. Am very much looking forward to the project.

Have still to order the Pearly Gates and are procrastinating due to (a)trying to locate the best deal and (b)enthusiastic advice being given to save a few bucks and go instead for a Tonerider Rocksong ( Alnico 11 mag--resist 12k) or Tonerider A4 ( A4 mag- resist 8.6k ). Said advisor has a Sheraton with Rocksongs and I must say they sound pretty good even with stock wiring and I don’t think the Custom’s Agathis body is a million miles from the beefy chunk of mahogany up the centre of the Epi. As a an acknowledged pick up guru I ıwould also appreciate your ınput on the suggested alternatıves. Suspect any of the three wıll produce good results but the bonus of the Tonerıder ıs that the budget would then possıbly stretch to a new Tonerıder neck p u-- Havıng saıd that the DD ın the Esprıt sounded pretty good. Decısıons decısıons!

Strummer