How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

That90'sGuy

That90'sGuy

DyzaBoyzologist
Hey guys. I was having trouble with my other toggle switch and I decided to take a high quality one I bought I while back from my old defunct guitar.

It has three lugs on one side and two on the other. Can anyone tell me which lugs are for the ground, bridge, neck pups? I'm almost done wiring this stupid archtop so hopefully I can get this rolling. Thanks :)
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

I think the one lug on that side of the toggle gets wired to ground, then...you know what, they have schematics on the duncan website you can use, there also some at guitarelectronics.com. I don't have a direct link at the moment but they aren't hard to find. Gimmie a minute.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

Thanks for the links Korovamilkdud!

The problem is the two lug part of the switch. Normally, switches seem to be with one lug in the back and four in the front. The ground is attached to the back one and the two middle. The hot of the pups are attached to the side lugs.

However, I'm not sure what to do with the lugs on the back. I think MRID knew how to do it before (on the old forum he helped me). Something about the back two were one hot connection, the middle was the ground/output jack part, and the two side were another hot connection? I thought it was something like that, but before I get more solder all over the place I want to make sure I have it right.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

the_Chris said:
Please, anyone?
Click to expand...
Well, its not hard to tell which lug is what when you look at it, have a digital camera? can you take a whole buncha pictures of the switch and the contacts in it and such? then i can help
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

All the LP toggles I've used has the single ground in back...maybe you should get a new switch? Here's the diagram I used.
LP wiring
Good luck
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

All of the LP style 3 way switches I have seen are the wafer type, with the conductors seperated by an insulator. If you look at the wafers/conductors you should notice that on the side that has 2 terminals, the conductors are coming from the inner most portion of the wafer. You want to solder those 2 conductors together and use them to connect to the tip terminal (hot) of your output jack.

The two terminals with their conductors to the outside of the wafer will be used to connect the feeds from your pots. With Gibson guitars these will be the red and white wires from the 4 conductore harness, with other makers you'll need to check the pots for the proper colors.

The 5th terminal should be the ground connection.

A picture of the switch or a link to a pic of a simular switch would be a big help.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

butnut said:
All the LP toggles I've used has the single ground in back...maybe you should get a new switch? Here's the diagram I used.
LP wiring
Good luck
Click to expand...

Actually, the stock Dean switch looked like that. I understand the one on the back is the ground (and that's also attached to the two middle lugs - I think)? Would the hot from the pups go to the leftmost and the other hot would go from the rightmost?

Robert is right. The Epi LP replacement switch I used has the insulated wafers setup as well with two parts in the back (no doubt, the ground as he mentioned). I found out that this switch is too tall to fit properly in my semi-hollowbody anyways. Looks like I'm sticking with the stock Dean switch and if that doesn't work... I'll go to a guitar store and hunt for another one similar.

Sorry about all these questions. One thing I really need to work on is a) my soldering skills... tighten up everything, make better connections etc and b) get a better understanding of how switches work, pups, and guitar electronics in general (I really have little to no concept on why certain lugs and certain things are wired/grounded). I really need to get a book that can explain all these advanced concepts in detail. But, first thing is first... I need this guitar up and running :)

Thank you all for your responses and your help. I'm keeping close mental notes of everything. Is my guessing for the wiring (according to Butnut's style switch) correct? Man I feel ignorant.
 
Last edited:
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

Allparts makes that version of the LP toggle, I used it in my Tele's as it is shorter than the Gibsons...although I would have preferred the Switchcraft. Allparts can be found most anywhere. Funny thing about the Allparts, on both Tele's I thought I had bad switches as they would cut out at times after I installed them. A blast of contact cleaner from the top made it all good and they never cut out again. If the Dean switch looks like the diagram, best you replace it with a like switch to avoid hassles, good luck, you'll get better at it, at least you're trying and that is the first step. I like using paste flux when soldering too...it makes it easier IMO.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

Butnut, am I correct with the wiring of it? I'm willing to try it out first with the Dean switch and if that doesn't work, I'll get one from a nearby store.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

3way_toggle_switch.gif

The upper pic is the LP diagram I used. Center 2 lugs to jack, outer lugs to their perspective pups/pots. I highly recommend getting some mini-jumpers (small alligator clips on single wires) from Radio Shack. You can 'clip on' all your connections and 'test' it before soldering. Just plug into your amp, and tap the pup poles with a screwdriver, as you flip your switch, or strum if you have your strings on. If they work, just solder as you remove your jumpers. Good luck.
 
Re: How do I wire up my new 3 way toggle switch - LP style?

Robert S. said:
All of the LP style 3 way switches I have seen are the wafer type, with the conductors seperated by an insulator. If you look at the wafers/conductors you should notice that on the side that has 2 terminals, the conductors are coming from the inner most portion of the wafer. You want to solder those 2 conductors together and use them to connect to the tip terminal (hot) of your output jack.

The two terminals with their conductors to the outside of the wafer will be used to connect the feeds from your pots. With Gibson guitars these will be the red and white wires from the 4 conductore harness, with other makers you'll need to check the pots for the proper colors.

The 5th terminal should be the ground connection.

A picture of the switch or a link to a pic of a simular switch would be a big help.
Click to expand...


It took a little bit of thinking before it finally hit me. :smack: Thanks for the info Robert, I just took your advice and applied it to both of the toggle switches. It's all making much more sense now. Inbetween those insulators, the inner ones are to the output jack, the outer insulators are to the hot wires of the pups and the remaining one is in fact the ground... :smack:

It still isn't working, but I KNOW all my wiring is correct. :dance: Before I had this down... I had to resolder several times. There's no doubt in my mind I fried my volume control and my toggle switch. Hopefully a nearby store has what I need ;)

Thanks for the extra info too butnut... I can't believe I didn't pick up on it sooner (no pun intended).

Wow... I am getting much more comfortable with the electronics and how it's setup now, but I wish I knew all this before I wrecked anything... hello another $15-20 :yell:

Once again, thx for the replies and sorry it didn't sink in earlier :D
 
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