10 way Strat wiring: How to wire a Free-Way Blade Switch

[@Krabin_]

This is one of the easiest-to-follow wiring videos I've ever seen! Thanks!

[@jen3800]

i'm having this. i cannot imagine why anyone wouldn't want this! it retains the original tone and adds 5 more! genius!!

[@stevenclarke5606]

I love the way that the switch is so discreet it makes it look totally clean, nice job on the installation.

[@heycisco]

Fantastic instructions, great switch but also great service from Six String Supplies. They delivered it really fast and answered all of my questions without any fuss. The device gave a new life to my Strat. The best upgrade out there. If you want to buy it in the UK, Six String Supplies is the place to go.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Our pleasure! And thanks for watching and for your kind words. Have a great weekend.

[@benner-iw8rx]

Just completed this swap with the help of this video add the Free-Way website schematic. The switch just turned 1 guitar into 2 guitars. Awesome product !!!

[@ZL1LoVeR]

I must say, how clean you do your wiring is very satisfying! It’s an art form indeed 😌

[@IcanhearClemFandango]

I installed mine last night in the B configuration. I chose it so I could have the "all three in series" option. Immediately, positions 6 and 10 became my new favorites.

[@S1apchop]

This video really helped me out a lot. Soldiering has never been my specialty, but there were a lot of little tricks and technique caught on camera that I picked up on. I'm pretty happy with the results and looks almost identical minus the difference in pots/capacitors and the pickups used. I didn't have an aluminum plate so I soldered a bare fluxed wired across all 3 pots.

[@gilwe]

Have this switch installed in 3 of my starts already and I can't imagine not having them, what an upgrade!

[@mafronverizonnet]

Thank you very much. Before wiring, I watched this video which gave me a lot more confidence undertaking what originally looked like a complicated task. Your shielding video is my absolute favorite. I have shared it to many Facebook modding groups and get very good feedback on them. Your videos are very much appreciated! Cheers!

[@FretFriendGWaL]

I love watching you work Ed. It's because of you that I am so good at soldering now :) Victor...

[@stephenh.litman2684]

Hello - I hope you're all well. I just finished wiring up a Free-Way switch for a guitar I'm assembling from parts. In spite of electronics not being my strong point, everything worked exactly as it should on the first test. I was able to follow your tutorial connection-by-connection, and give it much of the credit for a successful job. Many thanks!

[@mish7002]

Thanks so much for your video. Your tutorial is absolutely brilliant and to be honest, watching you soldering is quite relaxing. I did the mod following your instructions. I wouldn't have managed without this video. It works but the look of my work is laughable, it looks more like a scene from Apocalypse now than a neat wiring work. Thanks again.

[@michaeltihon3485]

I plan to install a freeway switch in the strat soon, definitely very useful particularly for the order. This helps to keep it clean. Thanks for sharing !

[@mafronverizonnet]

I wired my Strat up exactly as you did here. Although it has a good sound, I noticed that something may not be correct. According to the diagram from Freeway, there should be two wires going to the first spot on the left. One going to Bridge Hot, the other going to the middle lug on T2. I’m going to change it because that seems to be for tone control on the bridge only, and the other tone control is for the neck. I still very much appreciate your video, your tips and techniques were very helpful. Check out the diagram and please correct me if I am incorrect.

[@JimsevenFrankenstein]

Thank you for the video! You made it soo easy to get that freeway switch knocked out!

[@w.english5368]

Fantastic how to video. I did mine last night and had absolutely no issues. I run Fat 50s pickups and also installed a Kingtone Classic switch, 500k master tone pot. The guitar is incredibly versatile now. My only issue is the pickup switch end keeps falling off...lol... It doesnt snap into place, but I'll find a way to make it work. You guys put the best how-to soldering videos on youtube in my opinion. Thank you!

[@wjniemi]

Terrific video, I just went through it and replaced the switch in a 2017 American Special. The video was invaluable, thanks. A couple of comments... I know you had to film, and it might have been confusing, but it's very easy to solder the wires on the opposite side of the circuit board and then clip them off. Also, the tone control bleed caps change the wiring to the tone pots. Great job on your soldering and very nice to have clear graphics in the picture.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Glad it helped. Thanks for the feedback!

[@turtletracks7657]

Awesome. Thanks! Will be looking to be one of your customers!

[@f1s2hg3]

Your Strat loaded pick guard is excellent quality!

[@acecomet]

I just ordered a freeway switch because of this video that convince me i could wire this 🤙

[@thseed7]

Very nicely done. Do a Freeway 5-Way/10-Position install on a Nashville Style Telecaster SSS 1 Volume, 1 Tone and you'll be my hero. Great video and beautifully finished wiring job.

[@leinadatidumarp]

Yes, also waiting for that!

[@50kal44]

You have to get the 6 way switch for tele (I think) they have a wiring scheme on freeway website. 3b3-01 model and they have a wiring diagram for tele sss w 2 pots. They also have the 5 way sss w 2 pots wiring diagram but I don’t know if the switch will fit in your guitar physically otherwise to answer your question yes you can and there is a diagram for you. Go to www.freewayswitch.com/schematics-blade/

[@50kal44]

@@leinadatidumarp read my reply

[@thseed7]

@@50kal44 I contacted Freeway and ended up doing the 5-way/10 position in my Nashville Tele. Switch fits well, just a little hard to fit all wires in the cavity, they told me to ground the bridge with the cavity screw. Guitar is being set up now, bought a new Rosewood neck and I need to cut the nut, but all of the switching worked appropriately when I tested it the other day. Should be able to get her finished over the next couple of days. I'll let you know how it turns out, if you're interested

[@leinadatidumarp]

@@50kal44 thank you

[@sorenahlback]

This is a great switch and I can strongly recommend the Page 1 scheme where you use Middle and Bridge pickup seriell instead of all three together. I tried that first but the three single could together creates a muddy mess while Middle and Bridge together can be useful for some gain/overdrive. What I would like to do is to use the Second tone control for both Middle and Bridge but I haven't found a way. I tried a cable from MH to the tone second tone pot but that didn't work.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yes we use the page 1 scheme in our prewired kit as all three pickups in series is pretty underwhelming! We have a way, so feel free to email us and we can send the diagram

[@sorenahlback]

@@SixStringSupplies Thanks. I got a scheme from Freeway and a Bourne Dual Gang Pot from RS and it seems to work fine. I have never used a Dual Pot before, half the turn for middle and half for bridge. I thought it would control both at the same time, but this will work too. And thank you for an excellent channel!!

[@sidweazel2883]

Nice job, clear explanation and clean work. Thanks for sharing, with this video by my side there’s no excuse for getting it wrong

[@davidm4275]

Amazing helpful, installation was a success, with joy and serenity : thank you! My Strat just reached the sky

[@xbob]

Excellent soldering guide for the 10-way switch. I'm waiting for mine to arrive.

[@paintbox48]

Hi I've watched a lot of your videos, and find them impressive and very helpful. I've just finished wiring up one of these Freeway switches and found it reasonably straightforward. However, I found it much easier to feed the wire in from the front as you show then solder from the back. I found the 'fluff' on the wire a nuisance to get around! These cloth wires seem to vary a lot depending on supplier, and description they give - the best ones have a fully soldered core and tight cloth, some I bought have separate core wires and fluffy cloth surround. Cheers.

[@Burnroses]

How can i use bridge tone pot not as the midde tone but as standard? And it's possible to wiring like 50's? Or Better use a treble bleed on volume pot?

[@RaptorV1USA]

Brilliant.. I just wired mine in finally after sitting on it for 4mo. Lol... Can't wait to get it strung up and howling again.. thanks so much for this video..

[@bill.clifford.59]

Thanks for theses videos! I want to wire up a 3 pickup (P90's) 1 volume 1 tone to a 5 way superswitch, can't find any diagrams! Can you help?

[@ChrisM541]

Huge thanks for this! I have a Suhr 'strat' HSS set up and standard fender strat guitars. I think Free-Way also covers the HSS option, though there's a bunch of soldering options also - hopefully a bridge humbucker split option will allow S, -, S in parallel (there's a fantastic 'Tele' tone here!) I really think they should do, as well as a 2 x 5 option (as seen here), they should expand this for a 3 x 5 option, giving us an extra bank to cover missing options. Same applies for the Les Paul 3-way toggle selector (they do a 2 x 3, a 3 x 3 would add further sounds). If they can bank those additional connections to one side of a standard selector switch, I'm hoping they can bank to the other side also.

[@MyStarPeopleExperiences]

Glad you said which pickup wire goes where. I was a bit confused by the color coding.

[@Bob-Whiting]

Great Job! I see you have greatly improved your technique, as the viewer can now Easily See what and how you are soldering. Really good vid, and aren't the Freeway switches great?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thank you very much! Yeah they are superb

[@ljdellar]

BT = Bridge Tap (Useful if you have a 3 or 4-conductor humbucker in bridge position.

[@alexandre8014]

I love your channel, I learned a lot....a hug here from Parana Brazil....

[@thoughtprovoking001]

This is a really clear and informative video. I'm very keen to try this in one of my partscasters. I only have one tone pot though. Can this be wired to the one tone pot only?

[@finnambers]

Good vid, thanks. Was wondering...I don't want to get the installation of the switch the wrong way round. If the lever is closest to the BH terminal side, presumably that will turn on the Bridge pickups? And if the lever is over to the NG terminal, that's going to switch on the neck pickup - is that right - have i got it the right way round?

[@f1s2hg3]

Excellent pictures of the completed work Good 👍 job!

[@IshMail-cx6dv]

Would you have any idea how to do a 15 way HSH Strat?

[@MyStarPeopleExperiences]

Totally professional tutorial. Thanks. Subbed.

[@Listener555]

how do I route my 2nd tone knob to both the middle and bridge pickups using this schematic?

[@SixStringSupplies]

You’ll need a stacked pot and a third capacitor. If you email us we can send you the diagram

[@hardyputl1388]

Thank you for these clear steps in assigning the soldering lugs! After this detailed video, I ordered the switch ;-) One of the best instructions here!!

[@paulroden9942]

I like the second tone pot to control the bridge pickup. How would you do that?

[@bahed1]

Thinking about installing a 5-Way/10 Position switch into a Strat S-S-S guitar I have. Does the wiring you demonstrated produce a Master Volume, Master Tone and a Blend Volume?

[@tseligas2000]

Very nice video. Why did you use the capacitors ? are they nessesery?

[@Markcio182]

Can you control the tone on the bridge pickup

[@SkyGandalf]

Any idea if I could wire a split volume on this? I was going to add a blender pot for my bridge pickup.

[@ricardohollisio]

Great video. Thank you. But how would you wire it so the middle tone pot works on the bridge pickup as well. On a normal switch you can just add a bridging wire but how would you do it on this switch? Thank you.

[@ssiowi]

Hi from Spokane, WA USA and thanks very much indeed for this post. Please, if you would, add the 'Thanks $' link so we might compensate you and show our appreciation. Cheers for a happy, safe, and profitable year of *tone chasing* in 2023! d.t.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thanks - happy new year to you too!

[@iebah1]

Is it necessary to use 2 capacitors, one on each tone knob, with this switch? I just bought 1 with the switch, but then I saw this video. Thanks for any advice.

[@jamesspiteri5090]

I have just purchased the 10 way strat switch and in preparation to install, I have noticed my current 5 way switch setup has 2 capacitors that are not shown in the 10 way switch setup. I just want to double check whether i leave them as they are or remove them from the board? Basically there is an additional capacitor on each tone knob that bridges 2 of the points on the same capacitor...if that makes sense...

[@jordanritkes]

Do you have any tips on making this setup have bridge tone control?

[@ctld5266]

in the case of pu in serial mode, is it possible to directly wire the neck pu out phase (to have the out phase combination with neck and middle ala brian may) ?

[@Rockstarofrust]

Wow! Great tutorial. I need help please wiring a SD classic stack to the 5B5 01. The neck pick up has three wires, white, black and red, plus shield wire. I know the white goes to NH and black and shield wire go to ground. Please where does the red wire go if I want to split between true single coil and hum canceling? Thanks for any help!

[@rogerrussian9750]

Great Video ! Just what I need as I've just received mine in the mail. I will now subscribe & hit "all". Is it possible to mod this switch like a normal 5 way is modified to add tone control to the bridge pickup ?

[@davross20]

I have a Strat with a vintage Style wiring so I only have one capacitor how do I get around this

[@rodrigohitta1250]

Hello, I have a problem with the bridge capacitor. When I move the bridge potentiometer it acts on the middle pickup. I did the installation as shown in the diagram.

[@keenaheaton8853]

Thanks for doing these videos!

[@SixStringSupplies]

Glad you like them!

[@trevblackmore]

Great video. I'm keen to try it. On the PDF it says Terminal A is not used. Is that correct or did I miss something. I noticed you used it.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Different diagram - there are two options

[@dnc307]

Excellent video! Super easy mod, sounds great!

[@JEF613]

Thanks for the video. If I wanted to add my bridge pickup to be controlled with the neck tone knob (middle tone knob for middle pu only and the neck tone knob to adjust both neck and bridge tone then where should I add a bridge wire to this wiring diagram to accomplish this ? Thanks so much for any help

[@gulaschgunther2336]

I've got a Question: I got a Fender Deluxe Nashville Telecaster about a year ago. From the Factory it came with a normal Strat Switch. I resoldered it so i got this: 1. Position Middle 2. Position Middle+Bridge 3. Position Bridge 4. Position Neck+Bridge 5. Position Neck. Now my Question: Can i Install this Switch in my Tele and Set it like this: Normal Roe: 1. Position Bridge 2. Position Bridge+Neck 3. Position Neck Upper Roe: 1. Position Middle+Bridge 2. Position Middle 3. Position Middle+Neck Or do i have to do the whole in Series, Out of Phase Wiring?

[@josephtremblay6562]

Hi, and thanx for awesome tutorials. I can't find 0.7 mm solder wire, but have, some 0.8 is it still doable, or should I order, and wait for 0.7. Thanx

[@SixStringSupplies]

0.8mm is fine honestly! enjoy the project!

[@bluwng]

Do these fit a non strat guitar with a 5 way switch

[@cobowe]

Yes it dropped into my Parker nite fly with no trouble.. Of course all guitars are different!

[@alexparker5316]

Super helpful video! I have a quick question about wiring up this switch with specific pickups. I'm curious about getting some Fender noiseless strat single coil pickups, which have 3 wires coming from each pickup instead of 2 like with regular single coils. Would it be possible to get some of these noiseless single coils and wire them up with this 10 way switch?

[@bluwng]

Very smart to use a PC board to avoid a cluster of wires, simple and genius. Over engineering I using a pc board with programmed configurations, this requires a small populated board with both passive and active electronics, programming ( increases risk of failure) and a power source ( battery).

[@fabioonano8591]

hello, I scrupulously followed the wiring plan and your video, the microphones work very well, but I have problems with my tones it no longer works, or not well or are reversed?? could you enlighten me?

[@lw7611]

Super video, super explained! I still have one question. Do capacitors with the same capacitance have to be soldered in this circuit? I have one 0.047 and one 0.022. To which potentiometer do I have to solder which capacitor?

[@francisturgeon3333]

How did you decide it was those capacitor 0.047 600 v ? Did have any change of something? Mine a re regular 0.022 ???? Help :)

[@noahwright3274]

hey can you make a video on how to solder this but with only 1 volume and 1 tone

[@Camspam100]

Hi , do you know if I could add a resistor between BT and BH to lessen the coil split volume drop and liven up position 2 ? I have a 4 wire humbucker in the bridge and position 1 and 2 is a bit weak . Great vids by the way ...thanks

[@philipcochenour5223]

Could you be able to use that switch with 3 humbuckers

[@yach1d]

Could you please demo a wiring similar to the Charvel DK24 HH version. Where they have a 5 way switch and a on-on switch (4pdt I believe) to select weather the pups are in series or in parallel. Giving a total of 10 different sounds. Appreciate it, awesome content.

[@Stratamania]

BT is used with a Bridge Humbucker if a 5B5-01 is used in an HSS set up. With Seymour Duncan wiring codes the red and white wire would be soldered to BT. So I suppose BT is for Bridge Tap for what is technically a coil split in the relevant switch positions.

[@SixStringSupplies]

good knowledge, thanks for sharing. Free-Way to have a specialist switch specifically designed for HSS setups too 5B5-02 www.freewayswitch.com/products/

[@Stratamania]

@@SixStringSupplies No problem I spend too much time looking at wiring and guitar stuff. I have seen the diagrams for the 5B5-02 and emailed Freeway a little while ago but at that time they weren't available yet. Looks they are starting to become available.

[@SixStringSupplies]

They are available now at various dealers - we expect to have them in stock for our next order which will be February.

[@erlgro]

Hello, ; How do I wire this for the 10th pos- to be bridge/middle in series?! :/ thanks, -Erlend, Norway

[@brianploss8372]

Can this be put on a clapton signatur?? It only has 1 tone (upper tone) with the lower being used for the 25db boost. I am goona to assume your bottom tone connection is going to the upper tone control.

[@brianploss8372]

I tried installing and didn't work right at all. I contacted their tech support and they sent me hand drawn schematics (as they do not have official ones for tbx models) that they sent to others wiring tbx guitars. Main difference seemed to be their OP went to tbx tone pot instead of vol. Still not correct as pickups don't function, even when they do, according to the switch location. Is there anyway to check if switch isn't damaged? Can someone that wired one of these to a tbx guitar please assist. She is my primary guitar.

[@EmirValladares]

Clean job! Thanks for the step-by-step soldering tutorial. I’m wondering... Where can I buy those caps? Or at least kind of the type

[@tommyburnhamsmusic]

Can you do this with Seymour Duncan stacked humbuckers ? Like have the top rail all humbuckers in series then bottom rail all humbuckers in Paralel??

[@Jack671975]

What part of the guitar directly uses mains power... Caps are so overkill. Great video btw.

[@kennethward5841]

The Free-Way switch diagram has a capacitor on both tone pots. Typical wiring only requires the one, but it's connected to both pots. Does the Free-Way require two capacitors to function properly?

[@alexandre8014]

How to use this key in the hss version?

[@RosarioBellassai]

Great video! It helped a lot! Thanks again!!!

[@xlele81x]

Amazing video as usual, so helpful. Just one question, how would you add the mini switch as in the gilmour wiring to this?

[@cobowe]

No need

[@harisuno3295]

Bellissima presentazione molto utile. Grazie

[@SixStringSupplies]

grazie

[@cugir321]

You need to do a video on how to wire a 6 way rotary switch on a strat. Pull the 5 way switch and put the 6 way 6t/2 poll rotary in a tone slot. You can cut the post with a dremel or hack saw if it's too long. Takes 30 seconds with a dremel. Took me a day to figure out the wiring on it. It gives you an added position. Bridge/neck. And it gets the switch out of the way so you don't hit it while chording hard.

[@ToneSpectra]

Hello. Just wondering. Why solder from the front? Surely the connections are stronger when soldered from behind? Cheers.

[@Bowl1992]

Can a treble bleed mod be done with a freeway switch installed? Would the different kinds of pickup wirings vs. the standard need to be considered / have any influence on which capacitor/resistor to choose? Any experience here? :)

[@wolf.friends]

Hello, thank you very much for the professional guide to soldering the Freeway Switch 5B5-01. I just installed the device in my Harley Benton ST-20 BK. Everything went well, all positions work - only position 6 (bridge + middle in series) remains "dead" 🙁 Also the tone knobs are working not as they should. Do you have an idea what is wrong?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi - does your bridge pickup have a baseplate? If so, this will be the issue - you need to ground it to the switch as directed by the diagram (or remove it entirely)

[@wolf.friends]

@@SixStringSupplies Hello, thank you very much for your answer. No, my bridge pickup doesn't have a metal baseplate. I have now soldered everything again as the instructions for the SSS Parallel Series Sheme A1 / V2 T show. Result: The same error - position 6 in series remains dead. Perhaps the switch itself is defective. I asked the seller to send me a replacement. I'll get in touch when the new switch is soldered. So long, Wolf

[@noahwright3274]

do you need different volume pot's for your tone or do you just pout capacitors on them?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Refer to latest video 👍 it’s the way a lot is wired than makes it function as either a volume control or tone control

[@noahwright3274]

@@SixStringSupplies thankyou

[@LuvhandleR]

Great video. You're absolutely right the PCB holes are too small. I wired one up a few months ago , but then the tone controls stopped working in all positions except the neck. Any suggestions I can try to remedy this?

[@bananarobotoverlord]

Sounds like your connection to the bottom tone knob is broken at some point. Check the solder joints for the wire that runs from the switch to that pot.

[@rogerlawson4516]

Where do you get the aluminum ground plates?

[@SixStringSupplies]

sixstringsupplies.co.uk/collections/wire

[@TribalGuitars]

Would like to see this done with an HSS pickup array.

[@SixStringSupplies]

That video is in process of being edited - so will be online by the weekend

[@noahwright3274]

is it important to have a 600v capacitor for this 10 way switch or is it ok to have a lower voltage?

[@SixStringSupplies]

not at all - 600v is excessive - 100v is absolutely fine.

[@noahwright3274]

@@SixStringSupplies thank you🙂

[@joek81981]

Middle hot goes to A and not MH. That's correct?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Either. A is connected to MH anyway. The diagram has it going to A. But it doesn't matter which one, whichever has most space!

[@joek81981]

Ah. Hey, your vids really helped. I combined your 4 way mod with the reorder mod and the "Gibson" wiring (I think that's the name) mod. Good pacing in your videos. You can even see my dogs**t soldering in my channel.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thanks! Thanks for watching and glad you like the videos and find them useful. Have a good weekend

[@avaratz7879]

Amazing video. Wired mine up with little to no soldering experience (bought a practice kit off ebay) thanks to your video. I did follow the alternate wiring diagram because I wanted the "humbucker" in position 6. Minor change and easy enough to figure out after watching this video. Thank you!

[@sashguitars_com]

Subscribed after watching this

[@musicmaster7350]

That's amazing video very helpful thank you very much

[@smokepeddler]

Thank you! Stellar tutorial.

[@radajamesjavelosa]

Hi sir and good, I know this video is a little to old , but maybe help me and that will be great, it's just one problem I noticed is I lost the tone control on middle pickup number 3 on position, but the rest is good up to 10 position , hopefully for response thanks.

[@rubensalvador2121]

Hi SSS! This is 3 coil parallel/series mode, right? Do you prefer it over the Middle Bridge humbucker Version for anything in special? Thanks and keep doing that excellent work! ;)