Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

[Shy_Boy]

I have a wiring plan that I may try, but it will require 3 toggles. I would like to use 3 conventional mini toggle switches through the pickguard. I could use push-pull pots if I have to, but I would just prefer to have the 3 switches.

Is it possible to mount 2 DPDT toggles, 1 3PDT toggle, a superswitch and 3 full sized CTS pots on a Fender pickguard? If so, would anyone have any pics?

Thanks,
George

 

[Artie]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Hey George; Sure you can. Its just a matter of making it all fit. What you may want to do, is cut out a make-shift pickguard out of stiff cardboard. Like that kind that comes in the back of a new shirt. You could cut it out with scissors just to get all your components placed properly. Then transfer the holes to the real one.

Also, you might want to tell us what your plan is. Some of us have been known to be able to streamline your switching needs and retain all the desired functionality.

Artie

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Artie,

The cardboard is a great idea. One of those common sense things I should have thought of myself.

The setup is a H/S/H Strat. I’m probably trying to do too much, but after playing with the wiring, the final setup is this:

Pos 1: Bridge HB
Pos 2: Bridge Split + Middle
Pos 3:
a) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Parallel
b) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Series
c) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Parallel – Out of Phase
d) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Series – Out of Phase
e) Outer Coils – Parallel
f) Outer Coils – Series
g) Outer Coils – Parallel – Out of Phase
h) Outer Coils – Series – Out of Phase
Pos 4: Neck Split + Middle
Pos 5: Neck HB

Position 3 is the only position that is affected by the switching. There are a few more options than I really wanted, but I had to take a few extra to get the ones I wanted.

One leg of the Superswitch is also open for tone switching, but I haven’t drawn the controls in yet. I also wanted to be able to control the tone individually in the HB/HB mode versus the outer coil mode in position 3, but I haven’t figured that one out yet.

I am going to post the drawing tonight or this weekend. I was hoping someone could give it a look to see if I missed anything or to tell me I’m nuts and the goofy thing won’t work. I’ve checked and re-checked, and it looks right, but this isn’t DC, so I could use a second pair of more experienced eyes.

Also, after double-checking my work again last night, I discovered that I really only need 3 DPDT toggles. I may stay with the 1 3PDT though if I can use it for tone switching, but I’m pretty sure I can’t.

Thanks again,
George

 

[JacksonMIA]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Pos 1: Bridge HB
Pos 2: Bridge Split + Middle
Pos 3:
a) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Parallel
b) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Series
c) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Parallel – Out of Phase
d) Bridge HB + Neck HB – Series – Out of Phase
e) Outer Coils – Parallel
f) Outer Coils – Series
g) Outer Coils – Parallel – Out of Phase
h) Outer Coils – Series – Out of Phase
Pos 4: Neck Split + Middle
Pos 5: Neck HB

That sounds like one of those cars with the sport-shift transmission where you have your usual park/reverse/neutral/overdrive/etc but you can shove the stick over when it's in drive and control it like a manual transmission. I don't know why, but that's what it made me think of. Pretty cool idea. I like to see crazy wiring ideas.

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Well, for better or worse, this is the wiring scheme, that I was going to try. I’ve checked multiple times and can’t find any problems, or dead switch positions. I know the parallel, out of phase positions will be weak, but I can’t find a way to eliminate just those positions.

S1 is drawn as a 3PDT because I thought I might be able to switch tone controls at that point, but that tone control would also be active in other positions of the main switch. All of the switches will most likely be DPDT on/on switches.

The tone controls are not drawn in, but I’m planning to wire in both a 250k and a 500k tone pot. The switching will allow a different cap and pot for each of the 5 switch positions if needed / wanted. For the moment I’m planning to use the 500k with positions 1 & 5, and the 250k with positions 2 & 4. I’m still not sure what to do with the #3 position tone control. Since that position can have either humbuckers or single coils I’m not sure what pot and cap I would use.

Any comments are appreciated. If this won’t work, I’d rather find out now.

Thanks,
George

 

[Artie]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Cool. I'll look this over in the morning . . . with coffee.

Artie

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Artie,

If you are looking at this, you may want to hold off for a little while. I was checking the humbuckers I have, a JB/Jazz neck, and realized that in order for the "outer coils" mode to be humbucking I would have to use the screw coil of the JB and the stud coil of the Jazz. Then I figured while I was at it I should use a RW/RP coil in the middle so the 2 & 4 positions would use coils that were a little futher appart, hopefully getting a little closer to the strat-like tone.

I will mod the file and repost.

Cheers,
George

 

[Shy_Boy]

Re: Toggle switch mounting Q for Strat

Well, I changed the diagram as I said. Changed the middle to a RW/RP and changed the #3 position so the single coil mode used the south coils to stay humbucking. I don't know if the tone section will stay as drawn, but I put something there to start. The final descision may be after experimentation.

Any comments or suggestions are welcome.

Thanks,
George