Quick question on 3-way Strat switch.

Psean

Hi guys.

In a Strat, is a three-way switch wired the same as a five-way? I'm looking at mine now (planning to change the old 5-way for a 3-way) and the lugs are the same so I assume the only differences is that the 5-way has two extra "notches" to hold it in the 'tween positions. I should be able to do a direct swap then right?

Thanks

AlanRatcliffe

Yup. It's a direct replacement.

Psean

Thanks Alan ?

Psean

BTW, the 3-way is packaged as a DiMarzio. I've hear they're made by CRL. Is this true? I see nothing indicating a manufacturer on the switch.

AlanRatcliffe

Last I looked, their 3- and 5-ways were both CRL and their 4-pole superswitches were Oak-Grigsby. Look for a diamond-shaped CRL logo stamped into the side. Sometimes the letters themselves are indistinct, but the diamond is easy to see..

Psean

Alan Ratcliffe wrote: Last I looked, their 3- and 5-ways were both CRL and their 4-pole superswitches were Oak-Grigsby. Look for a diamond-shaped CRL logo stamped into the side. Sometimes the letters themselves are indistinct, but the diamond is easy to see..

I don't see anything other than the sticker:

Maybe they're not CRL any longer. Feels well made at least. Will see how it lasts. Anyway, it's better than the worn out 5-way I have in there at the moment.

slyd

Psean wrote: Hi guys.
In a Strat, (planning to change the old 5-way for a 3-way)
Thanks

WHY . . . . ? ??? ??

:-\

Psean

slyd wrote:
Psean wrote: Hi guys.
In a Strat, (planning to change the old 5-way for a 3-way)
Thanks
WHY . . . . ? ??? ??

:-\

Necessity

The 5 way is around 15 years old and pretty much shot - sometimes when I flip to the neck pickup it doesn't make proper contact and I get silence. I need it working for a set this weekend and had bought a 3-way to put in another guitar with 2 'buckers that I recently acquired and have stripped to rebuild. I want to put a 5-way superswitch in the strat but I'm still waiting for it so for now the 3-way will have to do ?

Psean

The 3-way is in and working nicely btw. I don't use the in between positions much (they're growing on me though ) so its working perfectly as a temporary measure ?

slyd

Cool, I understand now . . . ?

enjoy

MikeM

slyd wrote:
Psean wrote: Hi guys.
In a Strat, (planning to change the old 5-way for a 3-way)
Thanks
WHY . . . . ? ??? ??

:-\

Also to note, I find a 3 way switch with another pot bring in the middle to be more enjoyable than a 5 way with a neck or bridge on.

Psean

Mike, how does your pot set-up work then? Do you add a fourth or sacrifice a tone pot?

MikeM

Sacrifice a tone pot. It's quite common for people to replace one with a blender. I also happen to prefer master tone controls on strats, but that's because I tune the caps for each position.