PRS 5-way switch 2016 wiring diagram?

Jonathanthomas83

Last year I had a tech change my 85/15s to a set of Bare Knuckle’s and change the switch to a 3-way with a push/pull tap instead. Now I have a Suhr Strat I’m more comfortable with a 5-way nowadays and as I have the original parts, I’d like to restore everything as it was, but keeping the Bare Knuckles.

However, the only diagram I can find is a 5-way rotary which says “pre-2007” on it, which isn’t helpful for a beginner like me. Anyone have any ideas?

Funkfingers

What were the original coil permutations on the rotary selector?

If it was Bridge HB Only, Inside Coils (parallel), Inside Coils (series), Outside Coils (parallel), Neck HB Only, the pre-2007 schematic diagram is still valid.

If you had the modern circuit where positions 2 and 4 are one full HB in parallel with one coil of the other humbucker, both the diagram and the jumper connections on the rotary selector switch will not match up. 

Further, the PCB type five-way rotary selector switch is stuck as it comes. The older, wafer type switch can be reconfigured but it is a major undertaking.

Do you desire a five-way selector or access five sounds? In your position, I would rewire the PRS using a Freeway 3x3-03 toggle switch. The schematic diagrams are complex but, in my opinion, the end results justify the effort.


P.S. For the pre-2007 circuit to preserve all phase and noise-cancellation relationships, it may be necessary to flip the bar magnet in one of the humbuckers.

Jonathanthomas83

I still have the original 5-way blade so it should work as it used to in that configuration, I guess?

The PRS website says it was the second example you used...

- Uncovered 85/15 Humbuckers
- 5-Way Blade Switch, Master Volume and Tone

BLADE POSITIONS

• Position 1: Bridge humbucker
• Position 2: Bridge humbucker with neck singlecoil
• Position 3: Bridge and neck humbuckers
• Position 4: Neck singlecoil with bridge singlecoil
• Position 5: Neck humbucker

Bare Knuckle have advised me that I need to get the neck magnets reversed, you’re spot on there @Funkfingers, I’ve removed the pickups and they’re going back to them for that change and new black pickup covers.

I also found this, which is helpful...

Do you think this looks correct? (I’m a noob to all this and can’t tell!)
https://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2017/customs_2017.pdf

Many thanks for your help!!

Jonathanthomas83

Does anyone know which single coil is used in each of positions 2 and 4?

Funkfingers

Jonathanthomas83 said:
Do you think this looks correct? https://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2017/customs_2017.pdf

Yes ... because it is.

 The only caveat is to fit the switch into the guitar the correct way around. i.e. With the terminals facing in from the edge of the control cavity.

Jonathanthomas83

Awesome, thank you, @Funkfingers, really appreciate that!