Tonerider wiring

Apex HSS five-way volume and two tones

Apex HSS five-way volume and two tones

Apex HSS five-way volume and two tones. Transcribed from the manufacturer wiring sheet and checked against the engine.

Apex HSS five-way volume and two tonesApex HSS five-way volume and two tones: Apex HSS five-way volume and two tones. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck singleNeck singleMiddle singleMiddle singleBridge humbuckerBridge humbucker5-Way SwitchVolume 500k · 500k500kNeck & Mid Tone 250k · 250k250kBridge Tone 500k · 500k500k.022µF · 22nF22nFOutput jackBridge groundwhiteblackwhiteblackredgreenblackwhitebareT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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 single—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Middle single—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Bridge humbucker—Humbucker (four-conductor, DiMarzio colours)Generic
5-Way Switch—Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part
Volume 500k500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
Neck & Mid Tone 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
Bridge Tone 500k500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
.022µF22nFOrange Drop .022µFExample 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

  • Shared-capacitor Strat tones; neck/mid tone on T5–T6, bridge tone on T7.
  • Bridge humbucker series link colours mapped onto catalog black/white terminals.

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1Neck single gndVolume 500k casingWireblack
2Middle single gndVolume 500k casingWireblack
3Volume 500k casingVolume 500k lug1Wireblack
4Volume 500k lug1Neck & Mid Tone 250k casingWireblack
5Neck & Mid Tone 250k casing.022µF aWireyellow
6Neck & Mid Tone 250k casingBridge Tone 500k casingWireblack
7Bridge Tone 500k casingOutput jack sleeveWireblack
8Bridge ground groundOutput jack sleeveWireblack
9Bridge humbucker gndVolume 500k casingWireblack
10Bridge humbucker bareVolume 500k casingWirebare
11Neck single hot5-Way Switch T2Wirewhite
12Middle single hot5-Way Switch T1Wirewhite
13Bridge humbucker hot5-Way Switch T3Wirered
145-Way Switch T85-Way Switch T4Wireblack
155-Way Switch T4Volume 500k lug3Wiresignal
16Neck & Mid Tone 250k lug25-Way Switch T6Wireblack
17Bridge Tone 500k lug25-Way Switch T7Wireblack
185-Way Switch T55-Way Switch T6Wireblack
19Bridge humbucker blackBridge humbucker whiteWiregreen
20Volume 500k lug2Output jack tipWiresignal
21.022µF bNeck & Mid Tone 250k lug1Wireyellow
22Neck & Mid Tone 250k lug1Bridge Tone 500k lug1Wireblack

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Position 1Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Bridge humbucker (both coils).
Position 2Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle single and Bridge humbucker (both coils) in parallel.
Position 3Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Middle single.
Position 4Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck single and Middle single in parallel.
Position 5Engine reading of the transcribed board; matches the source legend.Neck single.

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

  • Custom-taper pots are 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.