So I have this 3 way switch on my stratty strat, but it doesnt sound very stratty strat, it sounds very unstratty strat. Now while I have no plans to change this is the near future I would like to do it some time, but a 5 way switch wont fit, or at least I dont think it will fit. Can anyone with a five way switch be so kind as to measure the slot to make sure?
If I cant fit a five way can I get the two and four positions with a 3 way? Ive tried the inbetween jammed switch method and it sounds nothing like a strat, so I need a cunning plan that doesnt include chopping up my pick guard. Push/pull switch on the tone or volume perhaps?
If needs be I could widen the slot out to meet the screws, thats as far as I would go with modding the puck guard.
https://i.imgur.com/biLB6Qu.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/OTkb3Mg.jpghttps://i.imgur.com/fb2RHZz.jpg
A Deuce , a Tele and a cup of tea.
Comments
Re: getting the in-between sounds with a 3-way switch - if you added a middle-on switch it would allow you to add the middle pickup to either the bridge or neck pickup.
Just out of curiosity, how did it end up with a 3-way switch?
There are 5-way versions but they are extremely rare and can only be found NOS or salvaged from something else, and there is a very poor quality alternative type which will also fit but is almost as rare.
If you don’t want to bother, the easiest way to modify the wiring is to make one tone control a master tone and the other a blend control for the middle pickup.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
@robgilmo - PM sent .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The construction of the switch makes it possible to physically dismantle. There is no need to work on the soldered connections.
The lever portion of the switch will have three "notches" that define the three positions currently selecting the individual pickups.
The physical difference between the three- and five-way variants of the switch are two additional "notches" in the lever to select the "in-between" pickup combinations.
Your mission, should you choose to accept it, is to file out the two additional notches without losing the edges of the original three notches.
This is the second neatest solution.
The third solution is to replace the original Japanese lever selector switch with three mini switches.
EITHER DPDT on/off (or on/ons wired to give on/off) selecting each coil individually.
OR DP3T on/off/on offering on/off/reversed phase
If the guitar steadfastly refuses to sound like a traditional Fender, consider adopting a Brian May Red Special style circuit.
The stock 1Meg and 500k pots were chosen to compensate for the dogbreath pickups. I suspect that the dimensions of the pickup covers and pickguard cut-outs do not conform to Fender specifications.
Luckily I have a better solution for robgilmo .
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein