Seymour Duncan wiring

Three stacked pickups, five-way, volume and two tones

3 stacks · 5-way · 1V · 2T

Three stacked pickups, five-way, volume and two tones. Transcribed from the manufacturer wiring sheet.

Three stacked pickups, five-way, volume and two tonesThree stacked pickups, five-way, volume and two tones: 3 stacks · 5-way · 1V · 2T. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck pickupNeck pickupMiddle pickupMiddle pickupBridge pickupBridge pickup5-Way Blade SwitchVolume 250k · 250k250kTone 1 (neck) · 250k250kTone 2 (middle) · 250k250k.047 cap · 47nF47nFOutput jackBridge groundblackgreenwhiteredbareblackgreenwhiteredbareblackgreenwhiteredbareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
Middle pickup—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
Bridge pickup—Humbucker (four-conductor, Seymour Duncan colours)Generic
5-Way Blade Switch—Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part
Volume 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
Tone 1 (neck)250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
Tone 2 (middle)250kCTS 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

  • Stacked / rail-style pickups use generic four-conductor humbucker stand-ins; hum-cancelling stack construction is not modelled beyond the transcribed lug map.
  • Two Strat tones share one .047 µF capacitor via a jumper between tone-2 wiper and tone-1 capacitor lug; passive tone analysis is topology-only (toneReachesSignal).

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1Neck pickup gndVolume 250k casingWiregreen
2Neck pickup bareVolume 250k casingWirebare
3Middle pickup gndVolume 250k casingWiregreen
4Middle pickup bareVolume 250k casingWirebare
5Bridge pickup gndVolume 250k casingWiregreen
6Bridge pickup bareVolume 250k casingWirebare
7Volume 250k lug1Volume 250k casingWireground
8Volume 250k casingOutput jack sleeveWireblack
9Bridge ground groundVolume 250k casingWireblack
10.047 cap bTone 1 (neck) casingWireblack
11Tone 1 (neck) casingVolume 250k casingWireblack
12Tone 2 (middle) casingTone 1 (neck) casingWireblack
13Bridge pickup hot5-Way Blade Switch T3Wireblack
14Middle pickup hot5-Way Blade Switch T1Wireblack
15Neck pickup hot5-Way Blade Switch T2Wireblack
165-Way Blade Switch T45-Way Blade Switch T8Wireblack
175-Way Blade Switch T8Volume 250k lug3Wireblack
185-Way Blade Switch T45-Way Blade Switch T8Wireblack
195-Way Blade Switch T4Volume 250k lug3Wireblack
205-Way Blade Switch T7Tone 1 (neck) lug3Wireblack
215-Way Blade Switch T5Tone 2 (middle) lug3Wireblack
22Neck pickup blackNeck pickup whiteWirered
23Middle pickup blackMiddle pickup whiteWirered
24Bridge pickup blackBridge pickup whiteWirered
25Volume 250k lug2Output jack tipWireblack
26Tone 1 (neck) lug2.047 cap aWireblack
27Tone 2 (middle) lug2Tone 1 (neck) lug2Wireblack

What each position does

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

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

  • Stacked / rail-style pickups use generic four-conductor humbucker stand-ins; hum-cancelling stack construction is not modelled beyond the transcribed lug map.
  • Two Strat tones share one .047 µF capacitor via a jumper between tone-2 wiper and tone-1 capacitor lug; passive tone analysis is topology-only (toneReachesSignal).

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.