Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Tech => Topic started by: steve gray on May 14, 2008, 12:30:42 AM

Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: steve gray on May 14, 2008, 12:30:42 AM
so i have bought the country boy pickups with the  intention of adding the 4 way switch.. but i just called my local luthier and he told me that in order to do thing, with most pickups  i need to have them custom for in order to use a 4 way switch.. is that true ? or do the country boys come ready to use with a 4 way switch?
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: Twinfan on May 14, 2008, 08:33:32 AM
Custom in what way?

As far as I know, your luthier is talking rubbish.
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: WezV on May 14, 2008, 08:38:39 AM
i havnt done it but isnt it something to do with the common ground with the metal pickup cover and normal ground wire... basically you need to remove the ground from the metal pickup cover (neck) and give it its own ground wire.. i think :?

Alternatively ask tim to do it when ordering pickups
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: Twinfan on May 14, 2008, 08:50:15 AM
Oops - my bad   :oops:
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: badgermark on May 14, 2008, 09:10:07 AM
It's easy. Requires you snipping a wire from the neck pickup, might void your warranty with Tim though.

You have to cut the little piece of wire that goes from the metal case to the black wire, then solder on another wire to the pickup cover and earth to the back of a pot. Not hard- still took me 2 hours to wire up that bloody switch though.
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: Philly Q on May 14, 2008, 10:39:21 AM
Quote from: badgermark
You have to cut the little piece of wire that goes from the metal case to the black wire, then solder on another wire to the pickup cover and earth to the back of a pot.

Agreed.

I wonder if it's something that could be offered as an option when ordering Tele pickups, since the 4-way switch is such a popular mod?
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: WezV on May 14, 2008, 12:16:21 PM
I thought Tim did do it as a seperate wire on request.. if not  - just ask him nicely
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: lulusg on May 14, 2008, 02:20:32 PM
All you have to do is make the request to Tim, you can buy the switch at BKP too.....!
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: Philly Q on May 14, 2008, 02:25:12 PM
I should've known Tim would have it taken care of!  :)

If I ever have a change of heart about those 4-way switches I know where to go.
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: Tellboy on May 14, 2008, 03:24:36 PM
Quote from: WezV
I thought Tim did do it as a seperate wire on request.. if not  - just ask him nicely


Yes - if you let Tim know you will be using a 4 way switch he will supply the neck pickup with the additional wire on the cover. (he did this with my Boss set). It's fairly easy to modify a standard tele neck pickup yourself for 4 way switching - just cut the link of the existing ground wire to the cover and solder a new lead to the cover  and run back to the main earthing point (usually the volume pot). This certainly should not be beyond the capabilities of any luthier !!!!

Ooops ... sorry just read Badgermark has already said this !! And yes I agree the switch is a pig..I had all my connections back to front initially and had to completely redo it.
Title: HELP!! 4 WAY SWITCHING ON A TELE?
Post by: steve gray on May 16, 2008, 03:03:16 AM
thanks guys.. i got my country boys in today, so i am going to contact a diff luthier and see if he can manage it.