Tinkercaster
Seymour Duncan wiring

Telecaster with a tapped lead pickup and push/pull tap volume

Neck single coil + tapped bridge single coil · Three-way blade · Push/pull volume (tap) · One tone

Standard Telecaster switching with a tapped lead (bridge) pickup. The push/pull on the 250k volume picks the lead pickup's full output (down) or its lower, tapped output (up). One 250k tone with a .047 µF capacitor.

Open interactive diagram ↗
Telecaster with a tapped lead pickup and push/pull tap volumeTelecaster with a tapped lead pickup and push/pull tap volume: Neck single coil + tapped bridge single coil · Three-way blade · Push/pull volume (tap) · One tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck pickupNeck pickupTapped lead pickupTapped lead pickup3-Way SwitchVolume 250k (push/pull) · 250k250kTone 250k · 250k250k.047 cap · 47nF47nFOutput JackGround wire from bridgewhiteblackhottapgndT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3sw1sw2sw3sw4sw5sw6lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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 pickupSource: Seymour Duncan neck pickup (white and black leads)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Tapped lead pickupSource: Tapped lead pickup (white, red and black leads)—Tapped single-coil (three-conductor)Generic
3-Way Switch—CRL 3-Way BladeExample part
Volume 250k (push/pull)250k250k Push-Pull DPDTExample part
Tone 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
.047 capSource: .047 cap (drawn green)47nFOrange Drop .047µFExample part
Output Jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
Ground wire from bridgeSource: 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

  • Source legend (Push/pull Settings): Down = full output; UP = lower, tapped output.
  • The lead pickup's white and red leads go to the push/pull's outer left lugs; the blade's bridge-side common goes to the push/pull's middle left lug. The right column of the push/pull is drawn empty.
  • Lead colours are drawn, not printed: the sheet prints no lead names or colour words. It draws the lead pickup's three leads in white, red and black, and the neck pickup's two leads in white and black.
  • Lead roles inferred by function, not stated on the sheet: lead pickup white = full-coil hot, red = tap, black = ground; neck white = hot, black = ground. The black leads go to the ground Solder spot. Red is on the push/pull lug nearest the pot, which joins the middle row when pulled; the legend says UP = lower, tapped output. White is on the opposite lug, the down contact (Down = full output).
  • The blade lugs are not numbered on the sheet; they are mapped by what they do (neck, both, bridge), as on the standard Tele sheet.
  • Source legend: the grey 'Solder' spot = location for ground (earth) connections.
  • The volume's right lug is drawn bent up onto the casing under the Solder spot.
  • The volume and tone Solder spots are joined by a line drawn dashed.

Understand this wiring

All Seymour Duncan wiring guides →

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1Neck blackVolume casing (Solder)To a pot casingblack
2Lead pickup blackVolume casing (Solder)To a pot casingblack
3ground wire from bridgeVolume casing (Solder)Shield or groundblack
4Volume right lugVolume casingLug bent onto the casing.To a pot casing
5.047 capTone casing (Solder)To a pot casingblack
6Tone casing (Solder)Jack SleeveWireblack
7Volume casing (Solder)Tone casing (Solder)Drawn dashed in the source.To a pot casing
8Neck whiteSwitch right row, top lug (common)Wirewhite
9Switch left row, bottom lug (common)Push/pull left column, middle lugWireblack
10Switch left row, top lugSwitch left row, second lugJumperblack
11Switch left row, second lugSwitch right row, third lugJumperblack
12Switch right row, third lugSwitch right row, bottom lugJumperblack
13Switch right row, bottom lugVolume left lug (input)Drawn hopping over the bridge ground wire and the volume middle-lug wire.Wireblack
14Lead pickup whitePush/pull left column, top lugWirewhite
15Lead pickup redPush/pull left column, bottom lugWirered
16Volume middle lugJack TipWireblack
17Volume left lugTone left lugWireblack
18Tone middle lug.047 capWireblack

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Neck—Neck pickup.
Neck (push/pull has no effect)—Neck pickup.
Neck + lead pickup (full output)Down = full outputNeck pickup and Tapped lead pickup (both coils) in parallel.
Neck + lead pickup (tapped)UP = lower, tapped outputNeck pickup and Tapped lead pickup (split to one coil) in parallel.
Lead pickup (full output)Down = full outputTapped lead pickup (both coils).
Lead pickup (tapped)UP = lower, tapped outputTapped lead pickup (split to one coil).

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

  • The tapped single coil is modelled as two coil sections; the tap point's turns ratio and output level are not specified.
  • Pickup resistance and magnet polarity are not specified, so no numeric meter readings or hum-cancelling claims 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 blade position with the knob down, the meter across the jack should read the neck, both in parallel, or the full lead pickup.
  • Pull the knob in the middle and bridge positions: the lead pickup's reading should drop to the tapped section.
  • With the volume at zero, tip and sleeve should read as a short.

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.