P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt

Arkitkt

Here's to what Ale's ya!
Hi,

Since I'm bored I'm planning to re-do a tele:

Is it possible to have a P-Rails (b) and an SC (n) and use only a 5-way for the switcheroo?
As in H - P90 - Rail - Rail + SC - SC?
I know I could use an additional switch for the P-Rail, but I'd rather have just one switch.

TIA
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
Hi,

Since I'm bored I'm planning to re-do a tele:

Is it possible to have a P-Rails (b) and an SC (n) and use only a 5-way for the switcheroo?
As in H - P90 - Rail - Rail + SC - SC?
I know I could use an additional switch for the P-Rail, but I'd rather have just one switch.

TIA
Click to expand...

A normal 5 way switch (i.e. has only 2 poles) cannot handle splitting the P-rail two different ways plus combining it with the single coil. A 5-way superswitch (has 4 poles) however, definitely CAN support what you want to do.
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Jack_TriPpEr said:
A normal 5 way switch (i.e. has only 2 poles) cannot handle splitting the P-rail two different ways plus combining it with the single coil. A 5-way superswitch (has 4 poles) however, definitely CAN support what you want to do.
Click to expand...
Great! You wouldn't happen to know where I might find a diagram for that?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
Great! You wouldn't happen to know where I might find a diagram for that?

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

No diagram exists for what you want to do. However, I am glad to work one up for you... *but* if I do that, I want to hear back from you afterwards that either A) it went well or B) what problems you encountered *with pics of the soldering you performed* so I can help resolve and get you across the finish line. Sounds fair, right?
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Jack_TriPpEr said:
No diagram exists for what you want to do. However, I am glad to work one up for you... *but* if I do that, I want to hear back from you afterwards that either A) it went well or B) what problems you encountered *with pics of the soldering you performed* so I can help resolve and get you across the finish line. Sounds fair, right?
Click to expand...

If you promise not to give me too much of a hard time for my lousy soldering, I'd be happy to give you a full report. :notworthy
I appreciate your help.

Patrick
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Jack_TriPpEr said:
Ok...year, make and model of the Tele then..
Click to expand...
It's a Solo tele kit that I'm about to put together.
Sorry to disappoint. [emoji848]

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Just to clarify:

It's a project I'm doing together with my son, who given that the schools are closed, is bored out of his teenage mind.
One of my favorite players uses a tele with a P-90 and I was intrigued by the P-Rails concept.

Hope that helps :beerchug:
 
Last edited:
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Double post

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
 
Last edited:
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
It's a Solo tele kit that I'm about to put together.
Sorry to disappoint. [emoji848]

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk

Just to clarify:

It's a project I'm doing together with my son, who given that the schools are closed, is bored out of his teenage mind.
One of my favorite players uses a tele with a P-90 and I was intrigued by the P-Rails concept.

Hope that helps :beerchug:
Click to expand...

Ok, it's no problem. Ok, I will get to work on the diagram for you.
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
Wow! Thanks so much! Parts are ordered and I should be able to get started this weekend. I'll take pictures and give you a full report.
:beerchug:

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

Great - have fun with your son on this project!
 
Last edited:
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
Wow! Thanks so much! Parts are ordered and I should be able to get started this weekend. I'll take pictures and give you a full report.
:beerchug:

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
Click to expand...

P.S. you may want to consider using a 250K value Tone Pot instead of the 500K value depicted in my diagram... maybe and/or a 250K volume pot since this is Tele after all
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

OK - the deed is done!

The job wasn't completely without its challenges, but it all worked out great in the end:
The bad:
1. Regular super switch wouldn't fit into the tele control cavity (too wide). Fortunately we noticed that early enough and ordered a narrow one (Oak Grigsby)
2. The width of that one was fine, but is was a little too deep (high?) which meant that switch was grounding out against the cavity shielding, so we had to rout the cavity a bit deeper.
3. The neck PU (cheap ceramic magnet thing) was out of phase with the rail coil of the P-Rail. Tried to switch the leads, but the cover was grounded in a way that you had to take off the cover to disconnect it. At this point I ditched that one and installed a different one (still cheap, but AlNiCo 5 and much nicer sounding).

The good:
1. Your diagram was great. Easy to follow and worked like a charm. We ended up switching positions 1 and 2 to have the P-90 on 1 and the full HB on 2. Just liked it better that way.
2. I haven't had a lot of time to play the thing, but so far, I'm really happy with the sound.

Here are some pictures of the wiring and the finish product. Excuse the soldering hackjob. At least it works.:fingersx:

2020-05-14 18.02.10 (Medium).jpg

2020-05-14 18.02.16 (Medium).jpg

2020-05-12 22.47.50 (Medium).jpg


Thanks for your help with this. The forum comes through again.

Patrick
:beerchug:
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Arkitkt said:
OK - the deed is done!

The job wasn't completely without its challenges, but it all worked out great in the end:
The bad:
1. Regular super switch wouldn't fit into the tele control cavity (too wide). Fortunately we noticed that early enough and ordered a narrow one (Oak Grigsby)
2. The width of that one was fine, but is was a little too deep (high?) which meant that switch was grounding out against the cavity shielding, so we had to rout the cavity a bit deeper.
3. The neck PU (cheap ceramic magnet thing) was out of phase with the rail coil of the P-Rail. Tried to switch the leads, but the cover was grounded in a way that you had to take off the cover to disconnect it. At this point I ditched that one and installed a different one (still cheap, but AlNiCo 5 and much nicer sounding).

The good:
1. Your diagram was great. Easy to follow and worked like a charm. We ended up switching positions 1 and 2 to have the P-90 on 1 and the full HB on 2. Just liked it better that way.
2. I haven't had a lot of time to play the thing, but so far, I'm really happy with the sound.

Here are some pictures of the wiring and the finish product. Excuse the soldering hackjob. At least it works.:fingersx:

View attachment 104931

View attachment 104932

View attachment 104930


Thanks for your help with this. The forum comes through again.

Patrick
:beerchug:
Click to expand...

Thanks for taking the time to let me know the outcome, and very happy to hear that it all worked out!

Did you and your son enjoy the experience of working on this project together like was your original intent?
 
Re: P-Rails, SC in Tele - wiring question

Jack_TriPpEr said:
Thanks for taking the time to let me know the outcome, and very happy to hear that it all worked out!

Did you and your son enjoy the experience of working on this project together like was your original intent?
Click to expand...
Absolutely! He's actually quite handy for an 18 y.o.
Most fun we've had building something together since pinewood derby in cub scouts.

Thanks again.

Sent from my SM-N970U using Tapatalk
 
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