Four-way switch on a three pickup guitar?

[Power_13]

I'm finally beginning to wrap my head around guitar wiring for my project Tele. I was about to buy a new three-way switch but I thought about this. The middle pickup will be on a blend volume control, not part of the switching. In this case, would it interfere with a 4-way's parallel switch position? From what I've picked up in the past few days it wouldn't, as the middle pickup is separate to the 4-way wiring, but I want to make sure I'm right before spending the extra money.

[boobtube21]

Can you post a schem/drawing of the wiring scheme? (not that it's an extremely complicated circuit, but you know...pictures make it easier! ha ha)

[Power_13]

Here ya go :)

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support...kup_tele_blend

[boobtube21]

Well according to that drawing the middle pickup is totally seperate...but that'a a 3-way switch? How does a 4 way switch factor in there?

[Power_13]

Yeah, the diagram is for a 3-way, while I was looking at parts to buy I wondered whether a 4-way would work in its place and still be able to do the extra switch position. I'm very new to the electronics side of things, so I don't even know if it's possible or whether anyone's done it before.

[boobtube21]

I'm a little thick, I still can't fathom what a 4 way switch would do with 3 pickups (if one is seperate...) Like what would each position do?

1-neck
2-neck/bridge?
3-???
4-bridge

But yeah as long as you don't run the middle pickup through the switch, just its own dedicated pot-->right to the jack, it will stay independent of the switch.

[boobtube21]

Although I guess if you wanted, you could make one position "middle only", but in that case you wouldn't even have to connect anyhting to that pole on the switch, just leave it blank. The middle pickup is basically always "on" anyway (with its volume turned up).

[Power_13]

I'm a little thick, I still can't fathom what a 4 way switch would do with 3 pickups (if one is seperate...) Like what would each position do?

But yeah as long as you don't run the middle pickup through the switch, just its own dedicated pot-->right to the jack, it will stay independent of the switch.

It's not you being thick, it's me being a newbie at this and having trouble explaining it I appreciate the feedback.

You've got it mostly right with your description. The 4-way will have the bridge, bridge & neck, neck, neck & bridge in parallel positions. These will go to the master volume. Then there'll be a separate volume pot attached to the middle pickup. That'll go to the master volume too. So there are two inputs going into the master - the bridge and neck, then middle pickup.

I might try drawing up a wiring diagram tomorrow.

[Power_13]

Here's my go at a wiring diagram.



Uploaded with ImageShack.us

[boobtube21]

Gotcha...looks like a plan!

[jpap]

The 2nd position on a Tele 4-way, puts (if properly wired - requires separation of grounding of the bridge pup and the bridge) neck and bridge in SERIES. In that case, the middle pup will blended in parallel to both pickups-in-series.

[KYChucky]

jumping in with my o2... i put a 4way in my 2 pu tele and almost never use the odd position. to me it does not sound that good. I only use it with heavy distortion or with head phones through the pod to warm the tone.

[Power_13]

Thanks :)

If ther bridge pickup can't be grounded to the bridge itself, which other point should I use to ground it? If I were to change my mind and want to lose the extra switch position (as KYChucky did), would it be safe to just ground the bridge pickup to the bridge again and ignore the extra switch position on my 4-way?