Tinkercaster
Parts and values
| In the drawing | Value | Part |
|---|---|---|
| Neck pickupSource: Neck Pickup (yellow and black leads) | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Middle pickupSource: Middle Pickup (yellow and black leads) | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| Bridge pickupSource: Bridge Pickup (white and black leads) | — | Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic |
| 5-Way BladeSource: 5-way blade | — | Oak Grigsby 5-WayExample part |
| Volume 250k | 250k | CTS 250k Audio PotExample part |
| Tone 250k | 250k | CTS 250k Audio PotExample part |
| .022 capSource: .022µf cap (drawn orange) | 22nF | Orange 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
- Only the four lugs on one side of the blade are used: from the top, the bridge white, the middle yellow, the neck yellow and the output to the volume. The other side stays empty.
- All three pickup black leads and the wire from the bridge ground end on one solder spot on the volume casing.
- The source does not label the switch lugs or number the positions; the lugs are mapped by what they do, with position 1 as the bridge.
Connections
In soldering order: grounds first, then the switch, the pickups and the signal path. Choose Show to highlight a connection in the drawing.
| # | From | To | How | Drawing |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Neck black | Volume casing | To a pot casingblack | |
| 2 | Middle black | Volume casing | To a pot casingblack | |
| 3 | Bridge black | Volume casing | To a pot casingblack | |
| 4 | From Bridge Ground | Volume casing | Shield or groundblack | |
| 5 | Volume right lug | Volume casingLug bent onto the casing. | To a pot casing | |
| 6 | .022µf cap | Tone casing | To a pot casing | |
| 7 | Volume casing | Tone casingRuns from the volume's bent-over lug down the right side. | To a pot casingblack | |
| 8 | Tone casing | Jack sleeve | Wireblack | |
| 9 | Bridge white | Switch top lug | Wirewhite | |
| 10 | Middle yellow | Switch second lug | Wireyellow | |
| 11 | Neck yellow | Switch third lug | Wireyellow | |
| 12 | Switch bottom lug (common) | Volume left lug (input) | Wireblack | |
| 13 | Volume middle lug | Jack tip | Wirewhite | |
| 14 | Volume left lug | Tone left lug | Wireblack | |
| 15 | Tone middle lug | .022µf cap | Wire |
What each position does
| Setting | The source | Engine result |
|---|---|---|
| Bridge | — | Bridge pickup. |
| Bridge + middle | — | Middle pickup and Bridge pickup in parallel. |
| Middle | — | Middle pickup. |
| Middle + neck | — | Neck pickup and Middle pickup in parallel. |
| Neck | — | Neck pickup. |
Checked with the Tinkercaster wiring engine against the switching the source describes.
- Pickup resistance and magnet polarity are not specified, so no numeric meter readings or hum-cancelling claims are given.
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
- In each blade position, the meter across the jack should read the selected pickup, or two pickups in parallel in positions 2 and 4.
- With the volume at zero, tip and sleeve should read as a short.
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.