Tinkercaster
Tonerider wiring

Two P90s with a three-way toggle, one volume and one tone

Two P90s · Three-way toggle · One volume · One tone

Tonerider's 2 P90s, 1 Volume, 1 Tone harness: neck and bridge P90s on a three-way toggle, then a 500kA volume and a 500kA tone with a .022 µF capacitor.

Open interactive diagram ↗
Two P90s with a three-way toggle, one volume and one toneTwo P90s with a three-way toggle, one volume and one tone: Two P90s · Three-way toggle · One volume · One tone. Original Tinkercaster drawing with labelled terminals.Neck PickupNeck PickupBridge PickupBridge Pickup3-Way ToggleVolume 500kA · 500k500kTone 500kA · 500k500k.022µf · 22nF22nFOutput JackGround Wire from BridgewhiteblackwhiteblackT1T2T3T4lug1lug2lug3lug1lug2lug3abtipsleeveground

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 (P90)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
Bridge PickupSource: Bridge Pickup (P90)—Single-coil pickup (two-conductor)Generic
3-Way Toggle—Switchcraft 3-Way ToggleExample part
Volume 500kA500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
Tone 500kA500kCTS 500k Audio PotExample part
.022µfSource: .022µf capacitor (drawn orange)22nFOrange Drop .022µFExample part
Output Jack—Switchcraft #11Example part
Ground Wire from Bridge—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

  • The neck pickup's white lead goes to the toggle's upper outer lug; its black lead and its 'Bare Shield Wire' both go to the toggle's top (frame) lug.
  • The bridge pickup's white lead goes to the toggle's lower outer lug; its black lead and its 'Bare Shield Wire' both go to the same top (frame) lug.
  • The toggle's middle lug runs to the volume's left lug, which also feeds the tone's left lug.
  • The volume's middle lug goes to the jack tip; its right lug has a short link to the volume casing.
  • The tone's middle lug goes through the .022µf capacitor to the tone casing; its right lug is drawn empty.
  • Legend printed on the sheet: the ground symbol means 'Connection to Ground'. The source marks the toggle frame lug, the volume casing, the tone casing and the jack sleeve with ground symbols; here they are all wired to the volume casing. That is a routing choice, not a solder point shown in the source.
  • The 'Ground Wire from Bridge' ends on the volume casing.
  • Pickup series printed on the sheet: ALL P90 PICKUPS.
  • The toggle tags are not labelled in the source, so they are mapped by what each does.

Connections

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

#FromToHow
1Neck black and bare shieldToggle frame lugThe black lead and the bare shield are drawn side by side to the same lug; one ground wire represents both.Wireblack
2Bridge black and bare shieldToggle frame lugThe black lead and the bare shield are drawn side by side to the same lug; one ground wire represents both.Wireblack
3Toggle frame lugGround (Volume casing)The source shows a ground symbol.To a pot casing
4Volume right lugVolume casingShort link.To a pot casingblack
5.022µf capacitorTone casingTo a pot casing
6Tone casingGround (Volume casing)The source shows a ground symbol.To a pot casing
7Jack sleeveGround (Volume casing)The source shows a ground symbol.Wire
8Ground Wire from BridgeVolume casingTo a pot casing
9Neck whiteToggle upper outer lugWirewhite
10Bridge whiteToggle lower outer lugWirewhite
11Toggle middle lugVolume left lugWire
12Volume middle lugJack tipWire
13Volume left lugTone left lugWire
14Tone middle lug.022µf capacitorWire

What each position does

SettingThe sourceEngine result
Neck: P90The neck white lead is on the toggle's upper outer lug.Neck Pickup.
Middle: both pickupsBoth outer toggle lugs join the middle lug.Neck Pickup and Bridge Pickup in parallel.
Bridge: P90The bridge white lead is on the toggle's lower outer lug.Bridge Pickup.

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

  • Each P90 is simulated as a generic two-conductor single coil; hum and phase describe that generic model, not a measurement of any Tonerider P90.
  • The source does not label the toggle positions; they follow the usual neck, both, bridge order.
  • Pickup resistance is not specified, so no numeric meter readings 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 toggle position the meter across the jack reads the neck P90, both pickups in parallel, or the bridge P90.
  • 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.