TinkercasterParts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck PAF ProSource: Neck pickup PAF Pro DP151 | — | Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic |
| Middle HS-2Source: Middle pickup HS-2 DP116 | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Bridge PAF ProSource: Bridge pickup PAF Pro DP151 | — | Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic |
| 5-way switch EP1104Source: 5-way switch for Strat (EP1104) | — | Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part |
| Volume 500K custom taperSource: Volume 500K custom taper pot (EP1201) | 500k | CTS 500k Audio PotExample part |
| Tone 500K custom taperSource: Tone 500K custom taper pot (EP1201) | 500k | CTS 500k Audio PotExample part |
| .022µFSource: .022µF capacitor (EP1022) | 22nF | Orange Drop .022µFExample part |
| Output jackSource: Switchcraft output jack, 2-conductor (EP1301) | — | Switchcraft #11Example part |
| Bridge groundSource: TO BRIDGE GROUND | — | Bridge ground wireGeneric |
“Example part” means any part with the same value and lugs will do; the source does not name a brand. “Generic” stands in for an unspecified pickup: check your own pickup's lead colours before you solder.
Specific to this wiring
- Source legend: Position 1 = neck; Position 2 = neck (1 coil) & middle; Position 3 = Middle; Position 4 = middle & bridge (1 coil); Position 5 = bridge.
- The catalog five-way numbers position 1 as bridge, so engine positions are the reverse of the source numbers.
- On each PAF Pro, the black and white leads join as the series link and go to the blade's ground pole for auto-split.
- The HS-2 is drawn with red, black and bare only; the board uses a two-conductor stand-in (hot and ground).
- The blade tags are not numbered in the source; they are mapped by what each does on the standard Strat contacts.
- Auto-split leaves the ground-pole common (T8) unwired so positions 2 and 4 bridge each series-link lug to the grounded middle contact (T5).
- The source specifies 500K custom-taper pots. The simulator treats them as linear, so settings between the knob ends are approximate.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.
| # | From | To | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neck green | Volume casing | To a pot casinggreen |
| 2 | Neck bare | Volume casing | Shield or groundbare |
| 3 | Middle black | Volume casingBare is drawn with it; the stand-in has no bare terminal. | To a pot casingblack |
| 4 | Bridge green | Volume casing | To a pot casinggreen |
| 5 | Bridge bare | Volume casing | Shield or groundbare |
| 6 | Blade ground-pole middle contact | Volume casingGround-pole common left unwired. | To a pot casingblack |
| 7 | Volume third lug | Volume casingLug bent to the solder spot. | To a pot casing |
| 8 | Volume casing | Jack sleeve | Wireblack |
| 9 | TO BRIDGE GROUND | Volume casing | Shield or groundblack |
| 10 | Tone middle lug | .022µF capacitor | Wirebare |
| 11 | .022µF capacitor | Tone casing | To a pot casingbare |
| 12 | Tone casing | Volume casing | To a pot casingblack |
| 13 | Neck black/white series link | Blade ground-pole neck-side contact | Wireblack |
| 14 | Neck red | Blade hot-pole neck contact | Wirered |
| 15 | Middle red | Blade hot-pole middle contact | Wirered |
| 16 | Bridge black/white series link | Blade ground-pole bridge-side contact | Wireblack |
| 17 | Bridge red | Blade hot-pole bridge contact | Wirered |
| 18 | Blade hot-pole common | Volume input lug | Wiresignal |
| 19 | Neck black | Neck whiteSeries link. | Joined and insulatedblack |
| 20 | Bridge black | Bridge whiteSeries link. | Joined and insulatedblack |
| 21 | Volume middle lug | Jack tip | Wireblack |
| 22 | Volume input lug | Tone first lug | Wireblack |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge | Source Position 5 = bridge. | Bridge PAF Pro (both coils). |
| Middle & bridge (1 coil) | Source Position 4 = middle & bridge (1 coil). | Middle HS-2 and Bridge PAF Pro (split to one coil) in parallel. |
| Middle | Source Position 3 = Middle. | Middle HS-2. |
| Neck (1 coil) & middle | Source Position 2 = neck (1 coil) & middle. | Neck PAF Pro (split to one coil) and Middle HS-2 in parallel. |
| Neck | Source Position 1 = neck. | Neck PAF Pro (both coils). |
Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.
- The source's 500K custom-taper pots are not reproduced: both pots are simulated with a linear track, so settings between the knob ends are approximate.
- Hum cancelling and phase describe the generic pickup models, not measured DiMarzio pickups.
- Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings are given.
- The HS-2 stacked construction is not modelled beyond the two-conductor stand-in.
Before you solder
Ticks are kept in this browser only, as a reminder. They are not a check of your joints. New to soldering? Read the soldering cheat sheet.
Check before plugging in
- In engine position 1 the meter should read the full bridge humbucker; in position 5 the full neck.
- In positions 2 and 4 the selected humbucker's series link should read to ground (one coil).
- The ground-pole common (T8) is intentionally unwired.
Measure across the output jack with a multimeter on its resistance range. No exact readings are given where the source does not specify the pickups.