Seymour Duncan wiring

Two singles and a humbucker, five-way, volume and tone

HSS · Five-way · One volume · One tone

Two singles and a humbucker, five-way, volume and tone. Transcribed from the manufacturer wiring sheet and checked against the engine.

Two singles and a humbucker, five-way, volume and toneTwo singles and a humbucker, five-way, volume and tone: HSS · Five-way · One volume · One tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck pickupNeck pickupMiddle pickupMiddle pickupBridge humbuckerBridge humbucker5-Way Blade SwitchVolume 250k (or 500k) · 250k250kTone 250k · 250k250k.047 cap · 47nF47nFOutput jackBridge groundwhiteblackwhiteblackblackgreenwhiteredbareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Middle pickup—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Bridge humbucker—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
5-Way Blade Switch—Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part
Volume 250k (or 500k)250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
Tone 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
.047 cap47nFOrange Drop .047µFExample part
Output jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
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

  • Volume printed as 250k (or 500k); tone value is not printed so a 250k audio stand-in is used (common Strat practice) and disclosed in simulationScope.
  • On the humbucker, red and white wires get soldered together and taped off.
  • Solder = location for ground (earth) connections.
  • Switch tags mapped by function where unlabelled.

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1w2 as drawnw2 as drawnWiregreen
2w3 as drawnw3 as drawnWirebare
3w7 as drawnw7 as drawnWireblack
4w8 as drawnw8 as drawnWireblack
5w10 as drawnw10 as drawnWireground
6w12 as drawnw12 as drawnWireblack
7w13 as drawnw13 as drawnWireblack
8w16 as drawnw16 as drawnWireblack
9w17 as drawnw17 as drawnWireblack
10w4 as drawnw4 as drawnWireblack
11w5 as drawnw5 as drawnWirewhite
12w6 as drawnw6 as drawnWirewhite
13w9 as drawnw9 as drawnWireblack
14w1 as drawnw1 as drawnWirered
15w11 as drawnw11 as drawnWireblack
16w14 as drawnw14 as drawnWireblack
17w15 as drawnw15 as drawnWireblack

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
BridgeEngine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Bridge humbucker (both coils).
Bridge + middleEngine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle pickup and Bridge humbucker (both coils) in parallel.
MiddleEngine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle pickup.
Middle + neckEngine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck pickup and Middle pickup in parallel.
NeckEngine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck pickup.

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

  • Tone pot value is not printed on the source; a 250k audio-taper stand-in matching common Strat practice is used and treated as linear by the simulator.

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.