Super Tele with 5 way switch and two "humbuckers"

[bruunm]

Hi All, (first timer here)

I am upgrading my Satin MIM Tele.

Currently I have a Hot for Tele and Lil59 installed, but I have ordered a STK 1N instead for the neck, to have noiseless operation and being able to split the STK and 59 in various ways.

I saw this harness pre soldered on ebay from a "custom shop"in the US for 116AUD including shipping.

500k CTS brand, audio taper volume control
500k CTS brand linear taper tone control
treble bleed mod to allow all of your highs to pass to your signal when the volume is potted down
Sprague “Orange Drop” poly caps (2 of them) .047mfd & .022mfd values
5-way lever-style twin-pole "Super Switch"
Switchcraft mono input jack
vintage-style cloth-covered wire

Switch Position:

Position 1 (top): Neck humbucker full on
Position 2: Neck humbucker split to inner coil only
Position 3: Neck & bridge humbuckers, both full on
Position 4: Bridge humbucker split to inner coil only
Position 5: Bridge humbucker full on

In then asked to have the switching changed to this (to have noiseless in all five positions) which they will do at no extra charge.

1. Bridge humbucker full
2. Outer coils parallel - Neck (N) & Bridge (S)
3. Both humbuckers full
4. Inner coils parallel - Neck (s) & Bridge (n)
5. Neck Humbucker.


Should I buy the parts separately or is this a good price, compared to time and effort?

Thanks

[WeirdBits]

It depends on your wallet.

If you are confident with your wiring and soldering abilities then parts should be a lot cheaper. If not, how much is your time, effort and possible frustration worth?

[bruunm]

It depends on your wallet.

If you are confident with your wiring and soldering abilities then parts should be a lot cheaper. If not, how much is your time, effort and possible frustration worth?

Well I am ok with the soldering etc. Its is more the time factor,sourcing the parts and so on. Also when I look at just the CTS pot alone i can see they are around 8 dollars, super switch nearly 30 and on, so I don't think I will be saving much.

Pretty much answered my own question here ;-)

Thanks for reply WeirdBits.

[stan]

Welcome mate, sounds like a cool plan, enjoy

[bruunm]

Welcome mate, sounds like a cool plan, enjoy

Thanks Stan, it never ends doesnt it ;-)

[wazkelly]

I reckon the initial Pickup selections would sound better as that would give you each PUP in single coil mode rather than parallel.

Another thought would be to run with the 2nd option and add in a couple of push/pull pots so that you can coil split independent of the 5 way switch.

Cheers, Waz

[bruunm]

I reckon the initial Pickup selections would sound better as that would give you each PUP in single coil mode rather than parallel.

Another thought would be to run with the 2nd option and add in a couple of push/pull pots so that you can coil split independent of the 5 way switch.

Cheers, Waz

Thanks Waz, Yes but then I am dealing with the dreaded hum and I really don't want that. I have a got a single coil Strat and PRS EG (korean) both with great singlecoil tones. Plus the STK is a nice sounding "singlecoil'... also I am not a purist for SC sounds ;-)

/Markus

[wazkelly]

Yes but then I am dealing with the dreaded hum and I really don't want that. /Markus

Hi Markus, I have split Tonerider Alnico IV's in my EX-1 and being HB's there is no hum or unwanted noise when they are reduced down to the one coil. The split SC sound is not as sharp or bright as a Strat or Tele and in your option 2 above that way they should combine reasonably well to provide similar sound to middle position on a Tele. Tend to think it will be hard to pick the difference between positions 2 & 4 though, probably very subtle if any at all.

Cheers, Waz

[bruunm]

Hi Markus, I have split Tonerider Alnico IV's in my EX-1 and being HB's there is no hum or unwanted noise when they are reduced down to the one coil. The split SC sound is not as sharp or bright as a Strat or Tele and in your option 2 above that way they should combine reasonably well to provide similar sound to middle position on a Tele. Tend to think it will be hard to pick the difference between positions 2 & 4 though, probably very subtle if any at all.

Cheers, Waz

Hi Waz,

Yes 2 & 4 will be veeeeery subtle. I used to have a '91 PRS Custom 24 and it had those selections out of (obviously) two full sized buckers. But from my experience I will only be using 1,3,5 and either 3 or 4 whichever sounds better. I just want to avoid hum at all cost, something I never dealt with before moving Aus from Europe, matter of fact I used to be disgusted with people that used noisecancelling pickups at all ;-)

[D.K]

I like your second option, I not long ago YTed the fender blacktop with two humbuckers and a 5 way switch and they were wired the same, I really like the way it sounded and was considering doing my scratchie the same.