TinkercasterParts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pickup | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Middle pickup | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Bridge pickup | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| 5-Way Blade Switch | — | Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part |
| Volume 500k | 500k | CTS 500k Audio PotExample part |
| Tone 250k | 250k | CTS 250k Audio PotExample part |
| .047 µF tone cap | 47nF | Orange Drop .047µFExample part |
| Output jack | — | Switchcraft #11Example part |
| Bridge ground wire | — | 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
- Promoted after catalog/engine unlock; pot values were not printed on the sheet so catalog stand-ins match common Strat practice and are disclosed here.
- Switch tags mapped by function where unlabelled.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path.
| # | From | To | How |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bridge pickup green (ground) lead runs down to the upper solder spot on the volume casing | Bridge pickup green (ground) lead runs down to the upper solder spot on the volume casing | Wiregreen |
| 2 | Middle pickup green (ground) lead runs to the same upper solder spot on the volume casing | Middle pickup green (ground) lead runs to the same upper solder spot on the volume casing | Wiregreen |
| 3 | Neck pickup green (ground) lead runs to the same upper solder spot on the volume casing | Neck pickup green (ground) lead runs to the same upper solder spot on the volume casing | Wiregreen |
| 4 | 5-way switch ground pole common (T8) and tags (T5, T6, T7) all connect to the same upper solder spot on volume casing | 5-way switch ground pole common (T8) and tags (T5, T6, T7) all connect to the same upper solder spot on volume casing | Wireblack |
| 5 | Volume pot right lug (lug1, back view with lugs down) is bent over to the lower solder spot on the casing | Volume pot right lug (lug1, back view with lugs down) is bent over to the lower solder spot on the casing | Wireblack |
| 6 | Capacitor's other leg goes to the lower solder spot on the tone pot casing | Capacitor's other leg goes to the lower solder spot on the tone pot casing | Wireblack |
| 7 | Tone pot casing upper solder point connects to upper solder point on volume casing (ground junction) | Tone pot casing upper solder point connects to upper solder point on volume casing (ground junction) | Wireblack |
| 8 | Volume pot upper solder spot (both pickups' ground and switch ground return) connects to the jack sleeve | Volume pot upper solder spot (both pickups' ground and switch ground return) connects to the jack sleeve | Wireblack |
| 9 | Bridge ground wire runs from the diagram edge to the volume pot upper solder spot on the casing | Bridge ground wire runs from the diagram edge to the volume pot upper solder spot on the casing | Wireblack |
| 10 | Bridge pickup red (hot) lead runs up to the 5-way switch's bridge tag (T3 on pole A) | Bridge pickup red (hot) lead runs up to the 5-way switch's bridge tag (T3 on pole A) | Wirered |
| 11 | Middle pickup red (hot) lead runs to the 5-way switch's middle tag (T1 on pole A) | Middle pickup red (hot) lead runs to the 5-way switch's middle tag (T1 on pole A) | Wirered |
| 12 | Neck pickup red (hot) lead runs to the 5-way switch's neck tag (T2 on pole A) | Neck pickup red (hot) lead runs to the 5-way switch's neck tag (T2 on pole A) | Wirered |
| 13 | 5-way switch common (T4, pole A) runs to volume pot left lug (lug3, back view with lugs down) | 5-way switch common (T4, pole A) runs to volume pot left lug (lug3, back view with lugs down) | Wireblack |
| 14 | Volume pot middle lug (lug2, wiper) runs to tone pot left lug (lug3, tone drawn lugs up at 180°) | Volume pot middle lug (lug2, wiper) runs to tone pot left lug (lug3, tone drawn lugs up at 180°) | Wireblack |
| 15 | Tone pot middle lug (lug2, wiper) connects to one leg of the .047µF capacitor | Tone pot middle lug (lug2, wiper) connects to one leg of the .047µF capacitor | Wireyellow |
| 16 | Volume pot middle lug (wiper) runs to the jack tip (hot output) | Volume pot middle lug (wiper) runs to the jack tip (hot output) | Wireblack |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Position 1 | Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend. | Bridge pickup. |
| Position 2 | Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend. | Middle pickup and Bridge pickup in parallel. |
| Position 3 | Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend. | Middle pickup. |
| Position 4 | Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend. | Neck pickup and Middle pickup in parallel. |
| Position 5 | Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend. | Neck pickup. |
Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.
- Pot values are not printed on the source; catalog audio-taper stand-ins are 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.