# Four-way Telecaster wiring Canonical page: https://guitarwiring.app/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/four-way-telecaster 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. Drawing: https://guitarwiring.app/wiring-diagrams/tonerider/four-way-telecaster.svg (back of controls) ## Parts and values - Neck pickup: Neck Pickup (yellow, black and green leads); generic (Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)) - Bridge pickup: Bridge Pickup (white and black leads); generic (Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)) - 4-Way Switch: 4-way blade; compatible example (4-Way Tele Mod Switch) - Volume 250k: Volume 250k; 250k; compatible example (CTS 250k Audio Pot) - Tone 250k: Tone 250k; 250k; compatible example (CTS 250k Audio Pot) - .022 cap: .022µf cap (drawn orange); 22nF; compatible example (Orange Drop .022µF) - Output Jack: Output jack; compatible example (Switchcraft \#11) - From Bridge Ground: From Bridge Ground; generic (Bridge ground wire) ## 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 1. Neck black → Switch L5 (common) (wire, black) 2. Switch L3 → Volume casing (case, black) 3. Bridge black → Volume casing (case, black) 4. Volume right lug → Volume casing (case): Lug bent onto the casing. 5. Tone middle lug → .022µf cap (wire) 6. .022µf cap → Tone casing (case) 7. Volume casing → Tone casing (case, black): Runs from the volume's bent-over lug down the right side. 8. Tone casing → Jack sleeve (wire, black) 9. From Bridge Ground → Volume casing (shield, black) 10. Bridge white → Switch R1 (common) (wire, white): Runs up the left of the control plate and over the top. 11. Neck yellow → Switch R2 (wire, yellow) 12. Switch R2 → Switch R3 (bridge, black) 13. Switch R3 → Volume left lug (input) (wire, black): Routed down the right of the switch, over the volume and down its left edge. 14. Switch L4 → Switch R5 (bridge, black) 15. Switch L2 → Switch L3 (bridge, black) 16. Volume middle lug → Jack tip (wire, white) 17. Volume left lug → Tone left lug (wire, black) 18. Neck cover ground (green) → Volume casing (shield, green), listed, not drawn: Separate cover ground; no board lead for the cover. ## What each position does - Bridge: Bridge pickup. Source: 1. Bridge - Neck + bridge (parallel): Neck pickup and Bridge pickup in parallel. Source: 2. Neck + Bridge (Parallel) - Neck: Neck pickup. Source: 3. Neck - Neck + bridge (series): Neck pickup and Bridge pickup in series. Source: 4. Neck + Bridge (Series) - 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. ## 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. ## Source Tinkercaster's own drawing of the Tonerider diagram WD\_SS\_11L4, revision 1. Not the manufacturer's artwork and not endorsed by Tonerider. See also [all wiring diagrams]().