Tinkercaster
Parts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pickupSource: Neck pickup (BARE, GREEN, RED, BLACK, WHITE) | — | Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic |
| Bridge pickupSource: Bridge pickup (BARE, GREEN, RED, BLACK, WHITE) | — | Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic |
| 3-way blade switchSource: Three-way switch for Tele (EP1105) | — | CRL 3-Way BladeExample 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 |
| Output jackSource: Switchcraft output jack, 2-conductor (EP1301) | — | Switchcraft #11Example part |
| .022µFSource: .022µF capacitor (EP1022) | 22nF | Orange Drop .022µFExample 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
- Position 1 = neck; position 2 = neck and bridge; position 3 = bridge.
- On each pickup, the black and white leads are joined and insulated.
- The switch tags are not labelled in the source, so they are mapped by what each does.
- The tone signal enters at the tone pot's middle lug (wiper); the capacitor sits on an end lug.
- The source specifies 500K custom-taper pots. The simulator uses the stand-in audio taper, so settings between the knob ends are approximate.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path. Choose Show to highlight a connection in the drawing.
| # | From | To | How | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neck GREEN | Volume casing | To a pot casinggreen | |
| 2 | Neck BARE | Volume casing | Shield or groundbare | |
| 3 | Bridge GREEN | Volume casing | To a pot casinggreen | |
| 4 | Bridge BARE | Volume casing | Shield or groundbare | |
| 5 | Volume top lug | Volume casing | To a pot casingblack | |
| 6 | Volume top lug | Tone casingThe tone casing also carries a ground symbol. | To a pot casingblack | |
| 7 | .022µF capacitor | Tone casing | To a pot casing | |
| 8 | Tone casing | Jack sleeve | Wireblack | |
| 9 | TO BRIDGE GROUND | Jack sleeveThe jack sleeve also carries a ground symbol. | Shield or groundblack | |
| 10 | Neck RED | Switch upper-left tag | Wirered | |
| 11 | Bridge RED | Switch lower-right tag | Wirered | |
| 12 | Switch lower-left tag | Switch second lower tagShort jumper. | Jumper | |
| 13 | Switch second lower tag | Switch third upper tagShort jumper between the rows. | Jumper | |
| 14 | Switch third upper tag | Switch upper-right tagShort jumper to the output tag. | Jumper | |
| 15 | Switch upper-right tag | Volume bottom lug (input) | Wire | |
| 16 | Neck BLACK | Neck WHITEJoined and insulated. | Joined and insulatedblack | |
| 17 | Bridge BLACK | Bridge WHITEJoined and insulated. | Joined and insulatedblack | |
| 18 | Volume middle lug | Jack tip | Wire | |
| 19 | Volume bottom lug | Tone middle lug (wiper) | Wire | |
| 20 | Tone bottom lug | .022µF capacitor | Wire |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Neck | Position 1 = neck. | Neck pickup (both coils). |
| Neck and bridge | Position 2 = neck & bridge. | Neck pickup (both coils) and Bridge pickup (both coils) in parallel. |
| Bridge | Position 3 = bridge. | Bridge pickup (both coils). |
Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.
- The source's 500K custom taper is not reproduced: both pots are simulated with the stand-in's audio taper, 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.
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 each switch position, the meter across the jack should read the selected pickup, or both in parallel in the middle.
- The four jumpered switch tags and the volume input lug should always read as one connection.
- Each taped black–white joint should read open to ground.
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.