How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

[johnnygee-tar]

Hey all.... I'm new here, but a regular on the Telecaster forum. I just picked up a 62 RI Tele with a 2TL Tele pickup in the bridge. It's got 3 wires coming out of it... I haven't seen one like this before... I normally put 4-way switches in all of my Tele's and I'm kind of lost with this pickup but I really like the way it sounds but I'd like to use the 4-way switch. Any advice? I can't find any info about my pickup either....

Thanks!

Johnny Isaacs

UPDATE... apparently I have a Tapped Tele pickup.... SO I guess the question now is how do I wire it to a 4 Way switch?!

 

[Artie]

Re: How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

Hey Johnny; Welcome to the forum. With a tapped bridge, you can have at least 5 different variations and sequences. Its just a matter of deciding which you want. For example, you could have any of the following:

1. Neck
2. neck and bridge
3. neck and bridge (tapped)
4. bridge (tapped)
5. bridge.

You can also have the bridge and neck in series. That makes the diagram a bit more tricky, but not impossible.

So, which of those do you want, and in what sequence? Then we can whip up a diagram.

Artie

 

[johnnygee-tar]

Re: How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

Thanks for your reply!

I'd like to use my 4 way switch like this:

Bridge
Bridge & Neck (Parallel)
Neck
Bridge & Neck (Series)

If you think I could get more use out of the 5 way, then I could switch back to that but I'm so used to the 4 way in all of my Tele's.

Thanks for the welcome! I've read this page quite a bit. I'm a big SD fan. I have all kinds of SD pickups: Broadcaster's, 54's, Alnico II's, and now this Tapped Tele pickups in several of my guitars. I also use the SD Pickup Booster.

Johnny Isaacs

 

[Artie]

Re: How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

Using the 4-way is "ok", but it does have a problem. Here's how to do what you're asking:

This is similar to what several different websites show as the way to this, but they all, (including mine), share a common problem. The bridge hot wire is connected direct to out. This means that it may act as a big noise antenna when the neck is selected by itself. I solved this problem on my own Tele by adding a microswitch to the 4-way. But that may not be practical for you to do.

The other option, is to just use a standard 3-way, wired as a conventional Tele, then add a push-pull or a toggle switch to implement the series function.

Also, in that diagram above, the red lines are the optional "tap" if you want to use it. Let me know if you have any questions.

Artie

 

[johnnygee-tar]

Re: How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

What's the difference between a microswitch and a mini toggle switch? I don't have a problem drilling my control plate for a mini toggle but how would that look on the schematic??

Thanks!
Johnny Isaacs

 

[Artie]

Re: How to wire a 2TL to a 4-way switch?

A microswitch is one that you'ld use with something else. It would be activated by something. You can see how I did mine in the pic in the first post in this thread. It just breaks the unwanted hot connection when in the appropriate position. (Mine's wired different than yours, but the concept is the same.)

The series toggle would be done bascially like this:

singlecoil_series_mod

I can incorporate that into your diagram. Just give me a little time.
(I tend to move slowly on Sundays.)

Artie