Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

[flatironmike]

Hello. Flatironmike here. Greetings from Fort Myers, FL.

I am new to the forum and need to ask a question regarding SD Tele pickups and 4-way switch.

I have just built a Warmoth Tele from scratch using new Fender parts and SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups. I am using a 4-way switch to play both pickups in parallel and series configurations.

My issue is that when both pickups are selected there is little to no sound through the amp. when either the neck or bridge is selected, the sound is loud and clear and the tone pot works normally. I have checked and rechecked the wiring and all seems correct. Also, I have used the mod to have the bridge in pos. 1, neck and bridge in series in pos. 2, neck and bridge in parallel in pos. 3 and neck in pos. 4

I read in the SD Broadcaster paperwork that when mixing pickups, the pickup may be out of phase. While i do not believe this is the case (using both SD pickups for the Tele), i would like to ask for help before diving in and switching the bridge phase.

Any help would be appreciated. Thanks in advance, FIM

PS - here's a pic or the Warmoth Tele

 

[jtougas]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

It'd help us a lot to have pics of the wiring, both at the switch, and at the pickups. It *sounds* like the shielding on the neck pickup is not disconnected from the ground wire. For the 4-way wiring to work, they need to be separated, and the shielding should have a separate wire going to ground.


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[flatironmike]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

thanks for the quick reply, J.

yes, i in fact disconnected the neck shield and grounded it to the volume pot. I'll upload the wiring ASAP. thanks again - FIM

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

It'd help us a lot to have pics of the wiring, both at the switch, and at the pickups. It *sounds* like the shielding on the neck pickup is not disconnected from the ground wire. For the 4-way wiring to work, they need to be separated, and the shielding should have a separate wire going to ground.


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Agreed. I could be wrong, but I think you can either separate the shield from ground at the neck pickup, or you can disconnect the bridge pickup shield wire. My understanding is that either will work - they just can't both have the shield connected to ground.

 

[flatironmike]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

thanks, Laz. I did run a ground from the metal base plate of the Broadcaster bridge pickup to the volume pot - which doubles as the bridge ground

 

[jtougas]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

You *have* to separate the neck shield from the coil leads, Laz...


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[flatironmike]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

here's the wiring schematic. thanks

 

[Lazarus1140]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

You *have* to separate the neck shield from the coil leads, Laz...


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Gotchta. That's what I did when I put a Phat Cat in the neck of my avatar Tele with 4-way switching.

 

[flatironmike]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

I re-wired the switch to the 4-way switch kit's wiring diagram and it works. the bridge only in pos.1, bridge and neck parallel in pos. 2, neck only in pos. 3 and bridge and neck series in pos. 4. these positions don't feel 'intuitive' to me, but it does work. thanks for looking and if you can help with the original question, thanks - FIM

 

[jtougas]

Re: Having 4-way Tele Switch Issues with SD Broadcaster and STR-1 pickups

It helps if you think of it in terms of growl output... Full forward has a lot of growl in it! ;-)