What if? Strat switch question

[Kac]

I love the tones I get from the middle + neck pickups of a strat and also having all 3 pickups on. That’s all easy enough to wire up, but What If I used the 3 knobs as 3 volume knobs for each individual pickup so I could adjust the exact blend level of each pickup when I was using all 3 of them...

So let’s say I did that, now I can control the volume level of each pickup, so what would I do with the 3 or 5 way switch? Any ideas? I want to make this happen.

Thanks!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

You wire the switch to trim pots and have it usable as a volume switch.

Edit: I meant as a master volume switch, that way you can still control your gain without fiddling with three different knobs. Or use it as a Varitone type deal. Methinks using it as a standard switch would sacrfice quite a bit of tones, such as neck and bridge with the neck dialed in to bring just the right amount of fattest.

 

[AlexR]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Yep.....vol for each pickup then normal selector. You can dial in or out the level of each pickup for all selections.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Normal selector wouldn't get all three on though. Need an additional push/pull I believe.

 

[Kac]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

With a super switch I should be able to get the option to have all 3 pickups on. [emoji106]

 

[Chistopher]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

I thought you wanted a dedicated volume for each pickup?

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

That was my understanding. 3 volumes, ability to have all 3 PUs on and use standard 3 or 5-way switch.

 

[Kac]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Yes a dedicated volume for each, so that wouldn’t follow the diagram at all at that point.

But I’m trying to find a way to still use the switch and I do want to have the ability to have all 3 pickups on at the same time.

A standard 3 way switch would be my priority to use if that would somehow be a possibility.

That super switch diagram is something I just found on google.


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[idsnowdog]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

I would just go with three on/off mini-toggles and then wire from each switch to its own volume. There would be interaction between the volumes when using multiple pickups but it isn't a big deal. I usually wire my strats with two volumes and one tone.

 

[AxlOz]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Do the 3 volume pots - 1 for each pup; then use the 5-way as a pre-set master tone switch. Pos 1 (normally selects the bridge pup) for brightest, Pos 5 for darkest.

OR

Find a potentiometer that is on a rotary switch ala the 5-way and wire that as master tone.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

 

[Kac]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Do the 3 volume pots - 1 for each pup; then use the 5-way as a pre-set master tone switch. Pos 1 (normally selects the bridge pup) for brightest, Pos 5 for darkest.

I would love to do that with the switch. How would it be done? Just different resistors wired to the terminals of the switch?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

One way to do it would be to wire three caps so that there is one on the 2nd and one on the 3rd lug of one side and one wire from the common lug to whatever your hot is (be it directly from the pickups, or after the volume pots). This would use exactly one half of the switch. Electrically it would work like this:

Position 1: The signal bypasses all tone caps
Position 2: The signal will be tonally between 1 and 3
Position 3: The signal goes through a smaller tone cap
Position 4: The signal will be tonally in between 3 and 5
Position 5: The signal goes through a larger tone cap

OR you could have 4 different caps and a bypass if you used a super switch.

Somebody please fact check, I'm certain in my head this is correct, but I'm also very tired and I may have overlooked something. I know what I meant to say, but I might not have put it to words in the best way.

 

[Kac]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

Christopher, I like that. If anyone wants to confirm I’d love to go with something like that. I’d rather not use a super switch.


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[beaubrummels]

Re: What if? Strat switch question

5-way switch doesn't work like guys are thinking. 1 would be no cap. 2 would be the cap on three and 3 would be the same cap on three, 4 would be caps on 3 and 5 combined and 5 would be the cap on 5 by itself. So it would go bright dark dark darkest darker.