The four way tele switch mod...

[solspirit]

Is it necessary? Why shouldn't I just wire in series?

 

[Clint 55]

It's up to you wether you prefer parallel, series, or both options. For general playing I don't really need the giant boost of series unless I have a spin a split to dial it back.

 

[St_Genesius]

I don't find two singles in series to be as interesting a sound as parallel. If I were adding a fourth sound to a Tele, I'd probably go with the Jerry Donahue fake-Strat setting.

 

[solspirit]

I don't find two singles in series to be as interesting a sound as parallel. If I were adding a fourth sound to a Tele, I'd probably go with the Jerry Donahue fake-Strat setting.

Ok you got me interested, what's this?

 

[St_Genesius]

It's a little resister and cap wired in to put the pickups partially out of phase (don't ask me to explain; I'm not knowledgeable enough) and get something akin to positions 2&4 on a Strat.

I've been fascinated by it for twenty years, but still haven't gotten around to actually doing it.

Ok you got me interested, what's this?

 

[solspirit]

It's a little resister and cap wired in to put the pickups partially out of phase (don't ask me to explain; I'm not knowledgeable enough) and get something akin to positions 2&4 on a Strat.

I've been fascinated by it for twenty years, but still haven't gotten around to actually doing it.

Do you have a diagram with values?

 

[St_Genesius]

They're all over the internet. Premiere Guitar did an article about it. Also, If you go back far enough in the Forum, there's an Artie diagram in a very old thread of mine, back when I was obsessed with getting as many sounds out of a single guitar as possible.

Do you have a diagram with values?

 

[NegativeEase]

Agree -Parallel is much more interesting than series.... and Jerry Mod is cool.

I've got a 5 Way Superswitch with my own custom thing right now.

 

[Mincer]

Two vintage-output single coils sound pretty cool in series. It is a thicker sound that is a good contrast to parallel. I wouldn't do it with more powerful pickups, as it will turn to mud pretty quickly.

 

[solspirit]

Thanks guys, I'm wondering now if should just leave alone and not mess around.

Thank you St_Genius for pointing out my problem as well, Ive always had an obsession with getting as most sounds as possible.

 

[Artie]

Also, If you go back far enough in the Forum, there's an Artie diagram in a very old thread of mine, back when I was obsessed with getting as many sounds out of a single guitar as possible.

I think you might be talking about this diagram. And here's the original text that went along with it.

Jerry Donahue Wiring.

Position ONE:
The neck (Strat®) pickup with the tone circuit OUT, affording a clearer, brighter tone
to compensate for the inherent dullness normally found in this position. The result: a lead guitar
sound that echoes the blues shadings of Clapton, Hendrix, etc.

Position TWO:
The neck (Strat®) pickup with the tone circuit IN, allowing the guitarist to soften the tone
for rhythm or mellow leads, as per a stock Tele rhythm pickup.

Position THREE:
The neck and bridge pickups are in the standard stock parallel wiring with the tone circuit IN,
enhancing the customary Tele® sound.

Position FOUR:
By combining both pickups with a capacitor and resistor in a controlled degree of reversed phase,
the guitar offers a bell-like, rich tone that echoes the classic Strat® sound. Until now,
this sound could only be obtained by the use of the bridge and middle pickups on a typical Strat.

Position FIVE:
An updated stock-style bridge pickup with symmetrically staggered pole pieces for great string
balance and a special wind for increased sustain. It captures that great old Tele® lead sound
that launched post-War popular music in America, and has the same gutsy, "punchy" tone of Jerry's
prized '52 Tele®. By the way, the Fender® Custom Shop Jerry Donahue Signature model uses a
Seymour Duncan APTL-3JD Jerry Donahue Model bridge pickup and an APS-2 Vintage Flat pickup
for Strat® in the neck position. In any event, the wiring is fairly complex and the key to the
Strat® sound is using a Strat® pickup in the neck position.

 

[St_Genesius]

Maybe I'm conflating things. You did a diagram for a Nashville Tele with, like, 11 settings or something dumb. But maybe it didn't include the JD mod.

But whenever I've searched for info on the mod over the years, even as more and more stuff has shown up, I've repeatedly come across a thread called something like "Is the Jerry Donahue Wiring a Secret?" Because back then, it kinda seemed like it was. Nowadays... Not so much.

I think you might be talking about this diagram.

 

[Artie]

Maybe I'm conflating things. You did a diagram for a Nashville Tele with, like, 11 settings or something dumb. But maybe it didn't include the JD mod.

I'll keep looking, as I sup my morning coffee. I actually (vaguely) remember that title.

 

[St_Genesius]

I've got series on my Danelectro (about as low-output as they come). It's... Fine? I haven't bothered to change it. But I def prefer the middle settings on my other guitars more. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

Two vintage-output single coils sound pretty cool in series. It is a thicker sound that is a good contrast to parallel. I wouldn't do it with more powerful pickups, as it will turn to mud pretty quickly.

 

[solspirit]

I've got series on my Danelectro (about as low-output as they come). It's... Fine? I haven't bothered to change it. But I def prefer the middle settings on my other guitars more. ¯\_(ツ)_/¯

I don't want muddy. What's the output on the vintage pickups?

 

[St_Genesius]

No idea, but I've got a new switch for it (stock one is a bit dodgy, so I've been doing switching with the volume knobs pretty much since it was new) so I'll check with the multimeter while I've got it open later today.

It's not muddy, but it's fairly flat. None of the eq filtering that creates twang, quack or or whatnot. Certainly not offensive. Just not terribly interesting.

I don't want muddy. What's the output on the vintage pickups?

 

[stevie_bees]

I had a 4-way switch in the old iteration of my Tele, but I didn't use the in-series position anywhere near as much as I thought I would. Although it offered a good option, I foundI was happy with the 'standard' Tele sounds. Now, I have a Psyclone neck, wired just to the volume and a Five-Two bridge wired to tone and volume so that I can adjust the bridge pickup to taste.

I have been contemplating a "Nashville" Tele, utilising the Secret Agent pickup under the pickguard. Use a superswitch to get B/B&M/B&N/M&N/N, but I'm still firmly in the contemplation stage for now!

 

[St_Genesius]

The 5-2 is such an underrated pickup.

 

[Mincer]

I don't want muddy. What's the output on the vintage pickups?

Compare to the Duncan vintage offerings. Series single coils sounds pretty tubby. That does work sometimes, especially into a fuzz. It also works if you are the only guitarist in the band, and need to take up a lot of space.

 

[solspirit]

Compare to the Duncan vintage offerings. Series single coils sounds pretty tubby. That does work sometimes, especially into a fuzz. It also works if you are the only guitarist in the band, and need to take up a lot of space.

Damn Mincer, why did you post that link? That just opened up a whole new world of possibilities.