The Steel Guitar Forum

This isn't exactly "steel" related, but I thought someone here may be able to help.

I want to re-wire my Stratocaster from it's standard configuration to something different. Here's what I want:

Replace the 5 way switch with a 3 way switch, wired like a Telecaster (totally ignoring the middle pickup).

Position 1 - neck pickup only
Position 2 - both neck & bridge pickups
Position 3 - bridge pickup only

Highest knob - master volume
Lowest knob - master tone
Middle knob - a "Blend" control a'la Stringmaster for the middle pickup. . . basically an independent volume knob for the middle pickup.

I have no idea how to wire the guitar to make it do this. I have the soldering iron, solder, etc., I just lack the knowledge of "what wire goes where".

This arrangement will allow me to get all the current "Strat" sounds, while also giving me 2 sounds currently not available on a standard Strat.

1. Neck + Bridge (the Tele sound)
2. All 3 pickup on at the same time

Any suggestions? Here's a picture.

What you want is easy. Wire it like a Tele... then put the middle pickup ground to the main ground and the middle pickup hot to the wiper of the blend pot. Put the top contact of the blend pot (the one that's connected to the wiper when the knob's all the way 'up') to the jack tip (output of the tele switch). Now you've got a Tele with a blendable middle pickup... and you can get all three pickups if you want!

Leave the 'bottom' contact of the blend pot open, you don't need more load on your signal and I'm pretty sure 250K is enough to keep it out of the mix.

Seymore Duncan, has all kinds of wiring diagrams, on his Web-Site.

Lindy Fralin pickups sells a blender pot and has various wiring configs.