Funny 3-way switch

Started by mcasey1, January 31, 2009, 06:59:14 PM

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mcasey1


Focalized

My Epiphone strat had a 5 - way like that.

I figure the center lug is the out.

ashcat_lt

It's meant as a replacement for a Tele switch.  That would normally be a true DP3T switch.  In Tele schemes, though, the two commons are typically connected together.  It looks to me as though this one has done that internally and only presents one common lug.  I'd guess that the 3 lugs to either side connect on a diagonal line across that center lug.

Like this (sort of):
1    3
2 C 2
3    1

A meter (or the "wiring diagram" included) would tell you for sure.

ashcat_lt

BTW, the typical 5-way on a Strat is actually the exact same switch.  At least, it was when Leo started building them.  Apparently, he didn't expect anybody'd want to hear 2 pickups at once on that guitar.  Guitarists, however, found they kind of liked that sound, and that by jamming something into the switch or by filing their own detents they could get the switch to stop between positions.  Eventually Leo figured out that nearly everybody wanted to hear 2 Strat pickups at a time, and modified the switches.

Some Squiers, and many other guitars sourced from Japan, use a newer style 5-way switch where all the lugs are in a straight line.  To perfectly duplicate the Strat switch, these should have 8 lugs altogether.  Many, however, only have 7.  That's because "standard" Strat wiring only uses 7.  In this scheme, the two commons are wired together much the same as the tele, but it's not a common that's missing from the 7 lug Strat switches.  It's actually the "bridge position" lug from the "tone pole" of the switch.

Entrant_21