3 Way Stratocaster Wiring (with Blend Control for Middle Pickup)

[@Philc231]

One of the best demonstrations I’ve seen on wiring. Good job .

[@littlephoenix1115]

Also known as Ibanez talman wiring, honestly such a great schematic.

[@acclaim1874]

This mod was introduced to GuitarPlayer readers in the early 70s by Skunk Baxter.

[@joeguammusic]

Thanks for doing this video - wired up my strat with this mod and it’s perfect. I love it, thanks!

[@joythemountisland]

Great knowledge for strat user

[@richie780]

I love the intro guitar riff, did you played it yourself?? It's very cool!

[@SixStringSupplies]

thanks! Yeah that's me!

[@matzeschmidt1991]

Yeah nice man! At the moment I'm a bit humbling because my master vol. is equipped with a pushpull treblebleed and the second vol. for middle is a no load blender pot. Prob is, that if I turn down the second vol. down everything is muted and the middle pickup is dead anyways. Guess you show me the solution..hope so:D

[@danterosales6985]

I FUCKING KNEW IT COULD BE DONE THIS IS THE ARMSTRONG MOD WITH A 3 WAY YES!!! Wait no nevermind lol, but it just makes me think itd work so much more now

[@Philc231]

I like to puta spot of solder on the pots first so you know there’s not a cold solder joint .

[@JustinZak7]

How would you wire the middle to an mini toggle for an on/off? Thinking of making an HSH with that setup.

[@Αδιάφθορος]

I'd like that too, was searching for this!!

[@Pgcmoore]

outstanding!!!

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

I figured the "parking the 3 way strat switch out ca '65. Now I'd like to try this with my Strat with EMG SV pickups that I put in it around '95. I can understand the 3 switch, but have to sort out the battery power to the 3 pickups......

[@Vern859]

I like that mod but i want to be able to have middle pickup by it's self, how would id that??

[@alanknott363]

You wouldn't be able to do that with this method. This is only really for players who use a blended middle pickup, but never middle on it's own.

[@Vern859]

@alanknott363 I always liked the middle pickup on its own..👍

[@alanknott363]

@@Vern859 Me too, it's my middle ground tone I use a fair amount. I would wire a 3 way switch in the standard old way and just install a separate switch to add neck pickup (Gilmore mod?) if I needed this.

[@Αδιάφθορος]

Excellent!! So the 3 way switch is a standard tele switch you just put it in the strat?

[@jaysison6987]

Is if just a stabdard log pot not an actual blend pot? If I may have touched jargons please pardon. Im new.

[@danvelgtr]

Great video , I want to wire my guitar ( 3 way switch ) for ONE volume pot only ( i.e. no tone controls ) , two pickups Bridge and Middle . Where does the middle pickup get connected to ? and are there any other differences on the wiring for my configuration ? many thanks.

[@25inbomeportland]

Could one simply wire the hot wire of the neck to the connector that was previously connected to the hot of the middle pickup? That would give you access to the neck solo, bridge solo, and neck + bridge...

[@johnulrich5572]

Super neat work. I'm upgrading my soldering rig. What do you use? Recommend? That's an interesting strat mod that I haven't seen before.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thanks John. Depending on your budget I would recommend the hakko fx-888d for guitar work. You'll need 60w as a minimum for pots/pickups.

[@johnulrich5572]

@@SixStringSupplies Thanks for the suggestion. I was considering the hakko and it's easily in my budget. I like the way it heats up quickly so you can get off the components without overheating them.

[@abegutti6024]

Great video! I did have a dilemma with my mod. My bridge pick up output seems really low. I’ve adjusted pick up height but I can only get to sound slightly louder by dialing up the tone knob (middle). Is this how the mod is or do you believe I am need to correct something?

[@christopherhollick1427]

Very neat job and easy to follow, great work. I’m planning a HH Strat and want to use the three knobs and have a three way switch ordered, could I use this wiring set up to blend in a humbucker split on one or both humbuckers? Thanks.

[@mamstutz8309]

Excellent, easy to follow video. I'm just curious if there is a difference in the tone of the bridge pickup with this setup and master tone set at 10 vs traditional strat wiring.

[@pvdguitars2951]

I prefer an independent vol for middle + independent vol for the 3 way switch output ( + 1 master volume). More versatility + possibility to have middle alone ( vol of 3/w put on zero). But that just personal taste.

[@matthiaslewandowski5245]

Hi very cool mod. But how is I possible to blend the middle only in the neck position and in the middle position and let the bridge position alone

[@RubenYaniero]

Hi, very good your video, I wanted to ask you how to install a pickup on a telecaster using a 3 way switch plus one to connect the third pickup. it also has no tone. The second switch in place of the tone. Thanks...

[@byronmakesnoise]

quick question, do you need to upgrade the pots to do this or could you do it with standard pots?

[@SixStringSupplies]

As long as the pot works, any pot will do :) (pretend that hasn't been said by a high school teenager behind the bike sheds!)

[@byronmakesnoise]

@@SixStringSupplies lol, nice!

[@tiberiussun2]

The good thing is it works. The bad thing is the blend control doesn't work, means there's no difference. Any ideas?

[@tiberiussun2]

The answer: You need a blender pot - no load. Alright. Thank you.

[@ts587]

How do manage to solder tha cables to the sides of the pots? I just cannot get it done. The tin just won't adhere to the surface of the pots. It always comes off again with the cables. What am I doing wrong? Please any help is appreciated

[@neilrobinson7615]

Make sure your soldering tip is very clean and tinned. If its black colour it means its oxidized and will not conduct heat very well. Then put the tip to the pot and touch your solder on both sides of the tip where it touches the pot. For good conductivity, your tip must be clean and well tinned. I use brass shavings to clean the tip. Some people use a wet sponge.

[@alanknott363]

You need to scratch a small area of the silver coating from the pot casing down to bare metal for it to take solder.

[@Michael-o5k5l]

The 5 way switch became standard on fender Strats in 1977

[@sekigan8854]

I want to mod my strat to fully remove the middle pickup, so if I wanted to just install the 3 way switch without the blend control, can I follow along the video and just skip the blend control section?

[@BlackHoleForge]

I'm still trying to figure out why the blend pot doesn't get grounded.

[@johnbernau5438]

I have the same question

[@xavibsa]

It's grounded. See 4:49

[@ghostgunholster6957]

I see a ground wire connecting all 3 pot bodies. One of the 1st things he did.

[@djgaryowens]

In 1977 the 5 way switch was introduced as the new standard.

[@djgaryowens]

I think this is called Nashville wiring, super video anyway killer sound the neck and bridge together, I love it.

[@johnb4024]

Can you do this wiring with a 5-way instead of a 3-way switch?

[@scottrandall7563]

Can I use a 5 way blade switch as a 3 way

[@kurtschneider4348]

is it possible to wire instead of a blender pot a 2nd vol pot for the middle? i like this wiring but i like also my middle pup too

[@shoestringplayer106]

Can you please show how to wire a double neck Gibson sg

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi, it’s on the list to do but it’s a long way off, unless you fancy sending me a double neck SG 😜

[@PS-ww4zg]

Can you help with a HSS with a 3way switch? Cheers

[@Franklloyd65]

hi nice work, but tone doesn't work can you help me?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Check the capacitor is grounded properly. You might have also cooked the cap with too much heat

[@Franklloyd65]

@@SixStringSupplies hello sorry again, but I'm in trouble, I have done the procedure 100 times, but I can't get the three pickups to play together. Can you help me, I can't understand where I'm wrong, I have a Japanese three-position selector, can it be wired differently?

[@ghaussydreams]

​@@Franklloyd65 did you find a solution? I have different 3-way switch as well

[@the_nondrive_side]

All I want is neck-middle in Parallel. middle bridge parallel and series. Nothing else. lol oh yeah I don't play strats

[@mariorossi1802]

What about tuning your guitar first??? 😂😂😂

[@Alfredo78666]

No teeth, that's a must

[@Victorl3363]

Honestly not so cool