Tinkercaster
DiMarzio wiring

HSS rail-style singles five-way volume and tone

HSS rail-style singles five-way volume and tone

HSS rail-style singles five-way volume and tone.

Open interactive diagram ↗
HSS rail-style singles five-way volume and toneHSS rail-style singles five-way volume and tone: HSS rail-style singles five-way volume and tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck rail-style singleNeck rail-style singleMiddle rail-style singleMiddle rail-style singleBridge humbuckerBridge humbuckerFive-way switchVolume 500K custom taper · 500k500kTone 500K custom taper · 500k500kOutput jack.022µF · 22nF22nFBridge groundredgreenblackwhitebareredgreenblackwhitebareredgreenblackwhitebareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3tipsleeveabground

Viewed from the back of the controls, as you solder them. Open the interactive diagram to zoom, move components and try the switches.

Parts and values

In the drawingValuePart
Neck rail-style single—Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic
Middle rail-style single—Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic
Bridge humbucker—Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic
Five-way switch—Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part
Volume 500K custom taper500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
Tone 500K custom taper500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
Output jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
.022µF22nFOrange Drop .022µFExample part
Bridge ground—Bridge ground wireExample part

“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

  • Promoted after catalog/engine unlock; switch tags mapped by function where unlabelled.

Connections

In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.

#FromToHow
1Neck rail-style single gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWiregreen
2Neck rail-style single bareVolume 500K custom taper casingWirebare
3Middle rail-style single gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWiregreen
4Middle rail-style single bareVolume 500K custom taper casingWirebare
5Bridge humbucker gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWiregreen
6Bridge humbucker bareVolume 500K custom taper casingWirebare
7Five-way switch T5Volume 500K custom taper casingWireblack
8Volume 500K custom taper lug1Volume 500K custom taper casingWireblack
9Volume 500K custom taper lug1Tone 500K custom taper casingWireblack
10.022µF bTone 500K custom taper casingWireblack
11Tone 500K custom taper casingOutput jack sleeveWireblack
12Bridge ground groundOutput jack sleeveWireblack
13Neck rail-style single hotFive-way switch T2Wirered
14Middle rail-style single hotFive-way switch T1Wirered
15Bridge humbucker hotFive-way switch T3Wirered
16Bridge humbucker blackFive-way switch T7Wireblack
17Bridge humbucker whiteFive-way switch T7Wirewhite
18Five-way switch T4Volume 500K custom taper lug3Wirewhite
19Neck rail-style single blackNeck rail-style single whiteWireblack
20Middle rail-style single blackMiddle rail-style single whiteWireblack
21Volume 500K custom taper lug2Output jack tipWireblack
22Volume 500K custom taper lug3Tone 500K custom taper lug2Wirewhite
23Tone 500K custom taper lug1.022µF aWireblack

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Position 1Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Bridge humbucker (both coils).
Position 2Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle rail-style single (both coils) and Bridge humbucker (split to one coil) in parallel.
Position 3Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle rail-style single (both coils).
Position 4Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck rail-style single (both coils) and Middle rail-style single (both coils) in parallel.
Position 5Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck rail-style single (both coils).

Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.

  • Custom tapers are not reproduced; pots are simulated as linear.
  • Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings are given.

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

    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.