Tinkercaster
Tonerider wiring

Four-way Telecaster wiring

Two single coils · Four-way blade · One volume · One tone

Tonerider's four-way Tele harness: bridge, both pickups in parallel, neck, and both pickups in series. It uses a four-way blade, a 250k volume, a 250k tone with a .022 µF capacitor and a mono jack.

Open interactive diagram ↗
Four-way Telecaster wiringFour-way Telecaster wiring: Two single coils · Four-way blade · One volume · One tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck pickupNeck pickupBridge pickupBridge pickup4-Way SwitchVolume 250k · 250k250kTone 250k · 250k250k.022 cap · 22nF22nFOutput JackFrom Bridge GroundwhiteblackwhiteblackT1T2T3T4T5T6T7T8T9T10lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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: Neck Pickup (yellow, black and green leads)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Bridge pickupSource: Bridge Pickup (white and black leads)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
4-Way SwitchSource: 4-way blade—4-Way Tele Mod SwitchExample part
Volume 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
Tone 250k250kCTS 250k Audio PotExample part
.022 capSource: .022µf cap (drawn orange)22nFOrange Drop .022µFExample part
Output JackSource: Output jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
From 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

  • Switch positions printed on the sheet: 1. Bridge; 2. Neck + Bridge (Parallel); 3. Neck; 4. Neck + Bridge (Series).
  • Printed on the sheet: to complete this mod you will need to disconnect the cover of the neck pickup and run a separate ground for it as shown in the picture (indicated in green).
  • The neck pickup's green cover ground runs to the solder spot on the volume casing. It is not drawn as a lead on the board because the generic single coil has no cover terminal and the cover carries no signal.
  • The neck pickup's black lead goes to the switch, not to ground. The switch grounds it in the neck and parallel positions and uses it to link the pickups in series.
  • The switch L3 lead, the bridge black, the neck cover ground and the wire from the bridge ground all end on one solder spot on the volume casing.
  • The source does not number the switch lugs; they are named here by column and row from the top.

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1Neck blackSwitch L5 (common)Wireblack
2Switch L3Volume casingTo a pot casingblack
3Bridge blackVolume casingTo a pot casingblack
4Volume right lugVolume casingLug bent onto the casing.To a pot casing
5Tone middle lug.022µf capWire
6.022µf capTone casingTo a pot casing
7Volume casingTone casingRuns from the volume's bent-over lug down the right side.To a pot casingblack
8Tone casingJack sleeveWireblack
9From Bridge GroundVolume casingShield or groundblack
10Bridge whiteSwitch R1 (common)Runs up the left of the control plate and over the top.Wirewhite
11Neck yellowSwitch R2Wireyellow
12Switch R2Switch R3Jumperblack
13Switch R3Volume left lug (input)Routed down the right of the switch, over the volume and down its left edge.Wireblack
14Switch L4Switch R5Jumperblack
15Switch L2Switch L3Jumperblack
16Volume middle lugJack tipWirewhite
17Volume left lugTone left lugWireblack
18Neck cover ground (green)Volume casingSeparate cover ground; no board lead for the cover.Shield or groundgreen

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Bridge1. BridgeBridge pickup.
Neck + bridge (parallel)2. Neck + Bridge (Parallel)Neck pickup and Bridge pickup in parallel.
Neck3. NeckNeck pickup.
Neck + bridge (series)4. Neck + Bridge (Series)Neck pickup and Bridge pickup 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.
  • Hum cancelling in the parallel and series positions depends on the pickups' magnet polarity, which the source does not state.

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

  • Position 1: continuity from jack tip to sleeve through the bridge pickup only.
  • Position 3: continuity through the neck pickup only.
  • Position 4: the reading should be higher than either pickup alone, because the two coils are in series.
  • With the volume at zero, tip and sleeve should read as a short in every position.

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.