5 way 4 pole lever switch

[Dmoney]

Has anyone got experience with these big lever switches?

was just looking at this wiring setup. looks cool but I wonder about the longevity of complex switches.

[Philly Q]

Haven't tried that particular wiring scheme - although it looks interesting!  I have done one which uses the inner and outer coils of the humbuckers in positions 2 and 4.

I wouldn't worry about the longevity of the switch - the construction is just like a normal US-made 5-way, just with a second "wafer" and a load of extra poles.  It's fiddly to do the wiring, but once it's done.... it's done. 

I'd be more concerned about something like a Fender S-1 switch, that seems very flimsy.

[Frank]

I'm planning a massive 6-guitar rewiring project soon, replacing crackly pots and intermittent switches so I might give that one a go.

My hatred of Fender S-1 switches knows no bounds. £1000 for a guitar and they stick a button on it that looks like it fell off a 1970s cassette player.

[Philly Q]

Just noticed position 3 is both humbuckers in series, rather than parallel.  Wonder how that sounds?


(Unless it means they're both individually wired in series, but in parallel with each other, as normal)

[darkbluemurder]

Indeed it's not worded very clearly - could be both really. My guess however is that the humbuckers are individually wired in series, and together in parallel like in about 95% of all dual humbucking pickup wirings. Both humbuckers individually in series and together in series would probably sound very muddy.

Cheers Stephan

[Dmoney]

looking at that diagram, the whole pups are always in parallel with each other since they both are always kind of attached to the volume pot at the 'north finish' wire. In the 3rd position, you get a normal les paul style 3 way toggle middle position setup.

If someone can confirm... In position one, the bridge pup 'north finish' and 'south finish' wires are joined, while on the neck, 'south finish' becomes grounded along with the 'south start' and shield, and the 'north start' and 'north finish' wires get joined, which I guess in effect turns the pup off, even though it is still connected to the volume pot.

[Philly Q]

Sorry for resurrecting this thread, but I was just curious if you did try the wiring scheme in the end? 

I'm intrigued by the idea of series/parallel switching without having to use any push-pull pots or mini-switches.

[Dmoney]

I didn't in the end. Still using mini toggles. soz

[Philly Q]

I guess I'll have to try it myself then!  :lol:

Only slight problem is that it's a choice between two five-way wiring schemes, one of which needs a PRS-style "flipped magnet" in one pickup, the other doesn't.  But I must have some old pickups I can experiment with before ordering any new BKPs.  :)