TinkercasterParts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck single coil | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Bridge Tele stack | — | Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic |
| 4-Way Switch | — | 4-Way Tele Mod SwitchExample part |
| Volume 250k | 250k | CTS 250k Audio PotExample part |
| Tone 250k | 250k | CTS 250k Audio PotExample part |
| .047 cap | 47nF | Orange Drop .047µFExample part |
| Output Jack | — | Switchcraft #11Example part |
| Ground wire from bridge | — | 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
- The bridge Tele stack is a four-conductor stand-in (generic Seymour Duncan humbucker colours); red & white are joined and taped off.
- The neck pickup's black lead goes to the switch, not hard ground, so the four-way can put the pickups in series.
- 4-way switch settings printed on the sheet: 1. bridge pickup; 2. bridge & neck pickups parallel; 3. neck pickup; 4. bridge & neck in series (higher output and beefier tone).
Understand this wiring
- Seymour Duncan humbucker wire colors
See the pickup, recognise its two halves, and learn where each coloured wire goes.
- Seymour Duncan series, split and parallel wiring
Two coils can work in a chain, side by side, or one at a time. See the difference before choosing a switch.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.
| # | From | To | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neck single coil gnd | 4-Way Switch T5 | Wireblack |
| 2 | 4-Way Switch T3 | Volume 250k casing | Wireblack |
| 3 | Bridge Tele stack gnd | Volume 250k casing | Wiregreen |
| 4 | Bridge Tele stack bare | Volume 250k casing | Wirebare |
| 5 | Ground wire from bridge ground | Volume 250k casing | Wireblack |
| 6 | Volume 250k lug1 | Volume 250k casing | Wireground |
| 7 | .047 cap b | Tone 250k casing | Wireblack |
| 8 | Volume 250k casing | Tone 250k casing | Wireblack |
| 9 | Tone 250k casing | Output Jack sleeve | Wireblack |
| 10 | Bridge Tele stack hot | 4-Way Switch T10 | Wireblack |
| 11 | Neck single coil hot | 4-Way Switch T6 | Wirewhite |
| 12 | 4-Way Switch T6 | 4-Way Switch T7 | Wireblack |
| 13 | 4-Way Switch T7 | Volume 250k lug3 | Wireblack |
| 14 | 4-Way Switch T4 | 4-Way Switch T9 | Wireblack |
| 15 | 4-Way Switch T2 | 4-Way Switch T3 | Wireblack |
| 16 | Bridge Tele stack black | Bridge Tele stack white | Wirered |
| 17 | Volume 250k lug2 | Output Jack tip | Wireblack |
| 18 | Volume 250k lug3 | Tone 250k lug1 | Wireblack |
| 19 | Tone 250k lug2 | .047 cap a | Wireblack |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge | 1. bridge pickup | Bridge Tele stack (both coils). |
| Bridge and neck in parallel | 2. bridge & neck pickups parallel | Neck single coil and Bridge Tele stack (both coils) in parallel. |
| Neck | 3. neck pickup | Neck single coil. |
| Bridge and neck in series | 4. bridge & neck in series (higher output and beefier tone) | Neck single coil and Bridge Tele stack (both coils) in series. |
Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.
- Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings are given.
- Stacked single-coil construction is not modelled beyond the two-coil series link.
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.