Tinkercaster
DiMarzio wiring

HSS standard singles five-way volume and tone

HSS standard singles five-way volume and tone

HSS standard singles five-way volume and tone.

Open interactive diagram ↗
HSS standard singles five-way volume and toneHSS standard singles five-way volume and tone: HSS standard singles five-way volume and tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck pickup (north polarity)Neck pickup (north polarity)Middle pickup (south polarity)Middle pickup (south polarity)Bridge humbuckerBridge humbuckerFive-way switchVolume 500K custom taper · 500k500kTone 500K custom taper · 500k500kOutput jack.022µF · 22nF22nFBridge groundwhiteblackwhiteblackredgreenblackwhitebareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3tipsleeveabground

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 pickup (north polarity)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Middle pickup (south polarity)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)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 pickup (north polarity) gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWirewhite
2Middle pickup (south polarity) gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWirewhite
3Bridge humbucker gndVolume 500K custom taper casingWiregreen
4Bridge humbucker bareVolume 500K custom taper casingWirebare
5Five-way switch T5Volume 500K custom taper casingWireblack
6Volume 500K custom taper lug1Volume 500K custom taper casingWireblack
7Volume 500K custom taper lug1Tone 500K custom taper casingWireblack
8.022µF bTone 500K custom taper casingWireblack
9Tone 500K custom taper casingOutput jack sleeveWireblack
10Bridge ground groundOutput jack sleeveWireblack
11Neck pickup (north polarity) hotFive-way switch T2Wireblack
12Middle pickup (south polarity) hotFive-way switch T1Wireblack
13Bridge humbucker hotFive-way switch T3Wirered
14Bridge humbucker blackFive-way switch T7Wireblack
15Bridge humbucker whiteFive-way switch T7Wirewhite
16Five-way switch T4Volume 500K custom taper lug3Wirewhite
17Volume 500K custom taper lug2Output jack tipWireblack
18Volume 500K custom taper lug3Tone 500K custom taper lug2Wirewhite
19Tone 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 pickup (south polarity) and Bridge humbucker (split to one coil) in parallel.
Position 3Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle pickup (south polarity).
Position 4Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck pickup (north polarity) and Middle pickup (south polarity) in parallel.
Position 5Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck pickup (north polarity).

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.