The inner workings of a 5-way switch and various wiring options

[@dau2173]

When a person truly knows what he's talking about, this is the result. Simple, clear, understandable explanation. Truly a public service and a positive contribution. Fantastic job.

[@MikeNascimbeni]

And it's in American English, which for some reason is becoming hard to find

[@Whitewolf76802]

Pity more people don't explain things as simply as this. Excellent stuff.

[@Johnmannish]

Grat video! can you do one when you explain the humbuckers coils, the four cables and how to understand the path to do splits in between positions and all that? thanks!

[@MrPnew1]

Great explanation and an actual diagram rather than dodgy camera work that leaves you scratching your head. Thank you

[@pecktox]

Dude I've played all my life but just recently started getting into different pickups etc ..but I never really understood how the switch worked. You have a great presentation voice, easy to understand. Thanks so much. Greg

[@ethostechtalk9230]

Was desperate for some help understanding this and this video definitely did the trick. Thanks so much!

[@HBSuccess]

This was really good and is going to help hundreds of budding modders understand the 5-way. Enjoyed it - and you did a great job with the graphics.

[@gregsmith4406]

Fantastic video! Thank you! I’m going to wire a new 3-humbucker guitar (3 vol/1 tone) with a 5-way switch and use coil splitting to blend the dual and and single coil sounds!

[@SScarnati]

This is what I'm talking about. This guy made what I thought was a soup of wires into a 6yr lego instruction booklet 👌🙌👏

[@RobSinner]

I'm a techinician now after watching all of your videos, I'm fixing my own Strat, let's see if it works!

[@luisbeltran7422]

Perfect explanation of the 5 way switch. NOW I got it! Thank you Sir.

[@Btn1136]

Awesome. Now when I screw up I’ll know exactly why! But more seriously- this is very helpful.

[@lairdherron8202]

thank you so much for this! the switch on my 2015 mexican strat broke at the start of quarantine - guitar still worked, but I couldn't change off of the bridge pickup. finally died completely (no output from the guitar), so I was forced to buy a new switch. was scared to do this, but with a little bit of guidance from my roommate (electrical engineer) and your amazing video - I was able to do this all on my own! also included the mod so that I now have a tone control on my bridge pickup - thank goodness! always wanted that. stoked to tell paps (he's an electrical engineer too lol). THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!

[@ThePanchomack]

Even after all these years that this Video came out, it is still the best around. Thank you so much for doing this series. Very helpful, everytime

[@michaelcrawford6112]

This is amazing. Spent countless hours trying to figure out the wiring with my switch. Bravo.

[@bridgemaker7143]

Tremendously useful video! Thanks. Wanted to share a simple tip for those who are uncertain about the effects of modding their switch - buy some alligator jumper clips and before soldering anything; just clip everything together and test the function. That's saved me some headaches :^)

[@mykylc]

The perfect video on this switch. Thank you!!!!!!

[@Noah-gq7pq]

great job,,no geek gobbledygook ,about time we need more guys like you thankx much !!!!

[@hollnagelc]

Thanks for this! Easy to follow and understand.

[@MatthaeusEbonah]

Bro!!!!!!! You just opened my understanding ALL the way up. I have custom built jazzmaster with tellie pickups. But it has a very dark humbucker in the middle. Now I understanding I can run that middle pickup to an independent 500K pot and run the neck and bridge to the 250k pot. THANK YOU SIR!!!

[@cesarjimenez8112]

SUBSCRIBED! I feel like I just took a paid class on 5 way switches. Thank you for the perfect explanation

[@paulsav40]

This is superb - i now fully understand why i have been confused for so long - great explanation!!

[@devinstark8542]

I have seen a lot of wiring teaching lately because I'm trying to learn it. You explained it way better than enything else I have seen so far. Thank You for making this it's really well presented.

[@carolinastringband]

Thank you for your well executed videos!

[@winstonqi3529]

One of my rare comments, this is such incredible yet useful information. Highly recommend to anybody

[@BluesBrogio]

Thank you very much for this video! I had zero experience with soldering and circuits and I just did the the Scott Henderson wiring on my strat. Thanks again, all the way from Brazil :)

[@kingkobra7745]

Hope you still doing this awesone videos! 2021

[@chrism.6371]

I can’t thank you enough for this, as well as your series/parallel mod instructions for strats. I hope you’re not the only person who’s willing to share greatly pertinent knowledge with the technique of a true educator.

[@kevinkingrey4067]

Hey! Thanks so much for posting. In a world where it can be very frustrating trying to get an answer or explanation, it gives a mental break to get something straight up and devoid of bulls**t. You have truly made the world just a little bit better place.

[@shanewilliams7892]

Perfect. Exactly what I was looking to learn with no tangents about your pet, kids, wife or whatever. Lol. Thank you for sharing!

[@stephennicholson9043]

Very clear and enlightening video, thanks

[@JustinKemp1992]

I've been soldering for days. Thank you, this helps so much!

[@dragonballz2560]

Great video. This was really confusing for me trying to it my own wiring. Your explanation is exactly what I was looking for. Especially the difference in the traditional and the import. I think most guitars I have are installed with the import. This was great stuff.

[@321hellooooo]

Saved this video to favorites!

[@musicpluz7776]

This is the RIGHT source for modding your guitar!

[@IScreamedWolf]

I finally understand the 5 way switch thanks so much

[@phalanger1]

I found this later than I needed it which was a few days ago, already figured it out meanwhile but this is the video I tried to find back then but only got useless ones instead :) So thanks for making this, bookmarking it for reference, subscribing to show some appreciation.

[@SweetSpotSC]

You’re videos have been invaluable in learning how to work on my guitars. Thank you very much for demystifying the inner workings of our favorite instruments!

[@frankmesiti8553]

Beautifully Explained

[@Kept_Crude]

Excellent presentation. Thank you!

[@naveedfaizi674]

Hi sir I love the way you guide and help us to understand this wiring system. God bless you.

[@gordonbusic6264]

This is the best video I've seen so far explaining this! Thank you!!

[@kevinpaul1719]

You are the best! Don I have studied your great work many times and I want to thank you for your help.

[@jerrymckenzie1858]

Thank you for this clear explanation!

[@joeguitargod]

I found this to be your most informative video yet. Really helped me to finally get a good understanding of how the tone controls are integrated into the configuration. Thanks, Don!

[@Alienadin]

That's a fantastic introduction to understanding how a 5-way switch works. Many thanks for that.

[@theoryofthirds]

Such a huge help. These are the best wiring videos on the net.

[@thomabauma4576]

this is the very finest explanation of a strat switch I have ever seen, or had explained to me. thank you breja toneworks!!

[@sodoberman]

Best break down of this I've seen yet

[@KajHeGeHaggman]

Awesome tutorial - thank you for doing this!

[@georgescarlett2320]

This, and U mate, strictly "Top Notch"! Have run into the "Reversed" lug positioning in the past (Lindy Fralin diagrams), and i now "Get It"! Thanx so much. Gb

[@picksalot1]

Wow - that's the best explanation I've ever seen! Clear and concise explanation with perfect, easy to understand diagrams. Very useful. Thanks. I'll be watching more of your videos.

[@runningwithscissors0911]

NOW I understand! Very clear, direct and easy to follow. THANK YOU! So very much appreciated.

[@300PercentFlyingV]

Thanks for the clear, succinct explanation and diagrams!

[@raceface_m2579]

Great explanation! I think that having a shared tone pot on the neck and bridge with the middle being independent is the best. Because they’re all still technically independent of one another- if that makes sense. It is because the neck and bridge are never active at the same time; Therefore acts like an independent tone knob for each.

[@KCroc1]

It’s also cool if you do the telecaster mod and have an additional switch to add either the bridge or the neck pick up to the other essentially it have a strat and telecaster in one guitar

[@deaconpaulbuck4391]

That's a really good idea.

[@PaulJonesy]

Great video, no waffle, clear & precise explanation

[@shaunsanders9164]

Thank you Breja Toneworks! Great tutorial. I will now go rewire to my heart's content.

[@rodrigo329]

Your videos helped me so much to create a custom, independent volume mod. Thank you so much! I'll post the diagram when done so you can give me some feedback.

[@ebeep]

Absolutely fantastic video. Such a definitively clear and concise presentation. Thank you so much for taking the time to do this!

[@waynehughes8297]

Thank you for this, it's a shame KZbin wasn't around 45 years ago. Never too late to learn though I guess.

[@timcastle165]

Just caught your video on wiring a 5 way switch! Thanks, it all makes sense now and now I can do my own mod to tame my bridge pick up!! Great video!!!

[@andrejilievski]

Tim Castle Which two pickups did you combine?

[@robiveevee840]

thank you for your great simple to understand video . before the video i was a little shy to do any wiring on my strat , now i feel i could attempt to do wiring if necessary . thanks again

[@mikedreucci4236]

Bought a new Fender 5 way for my Japanese Strat and the switches were set up totally different. Thanks to you very informative video, I was able to install the new switch wit ease.👍 Thanks!

[@dulla8469]

holy shit i love you, all the companies or anyone else who made wiring diagrams suck, just the first photo showing the labels, C for common and then B M N for both sides made everything make sense

[@rainrichards8068]

This video is everything. Thank you

[@DocHelliday]

7yrs old and still the most concise

[@nicholasflamel1134]

Thanks. Great video. Wish this would have been around 20 years ago when I learned what I know by tearing things up repeatedly.

[@BrejaToneWorks]

+Nicholas Flamel I know... I could have used it 30 years ago. :)

[@darkmaster450]

It truly was simple and easy 🙂

[@balyusri]

Thank you for the explanation 👍🏻👍🏻

[@agateenchantmentrockwizard5969]

Excellent and so helpful

[@milowagon]

Hey, at last! Easy to understand and expertly explained. Many thanks indeed.

[@margiedelay1716]

Very infomative and pleasantly short and simple. Thanks! It's like you did my homework for me.

[@joshuadufresne240]

Thanks for adding in the import switch information, I was having a lot of difficulty figuring out what it was even called

[@lucasbretels]

Excellent explained.

[@4stringkingstf]

As always, Don-theses videos are indispensable! Many thanks for sharing knowledge. 👍🏼

[@Gator198l]

I'm only starting to learn about the electronics in a guitar. This is awesome! Thanks to your great work on the channel.

[@BrejaToneWorks]

+Gator198l :) Thanks. Happy Modding.

[@PhishBanjo]

This was exactly what I needed! Thank you very much. All of your videos are very clear.

[@malcolmrobinson6856]

Thank you so much fantastic video, I've been trying to work this out for a while, such a clear and concise video

[@black73negro88]

With this video now a know how a 5 way switch works, thanks alot.

[@Tiburcio1950]

Best explanation I've seen. Simple

[@6ixstringslave]

Thank you 👍🏻 Amazing videos with invaluable content.

[@24secondsperframe68]

This is just what I needed. Thanks very much :)

[@Jkaterchannel]

Very concise and to the point. At last, a clear explaination. Thank you!

[@ZombyGamr]

You are awesome dude, you described that so easily.

[@SquierStrat72]

I like option number 3, neck and bridge on the neck tone pot. I did that a while back on my strat, along with a neck on switch. In normal switching, each pickup has it's own tone. With the neck on switch active, the new position 1 beocmes neck and bridge with a master tone, tele style. New position 2 becomes all three, with the middle retaining an independent tone. That's the great thing about all these switches is how many things you can come up with.

[@margiedelay1716]

SquierStrat72 The reason I wanted this diagram is to mod my Squire Strat the same way (switch on). I was going to put the bridge and neck pickups on separate tone controls, but now I think I like your idea better. Any regrets?

[@margiedelay1716]

SquierStrat72. Oh yeah, forgot to mention- my bridge pickup is a mini (stacked) humbucker. Any advice or insights would be much appreciated. Thanx!

[@nazmoking3171]

I like these options you described here for positions 1 and 2 very much! How happy are you with the tones this creates? Would love to see how to make this exact mod.

[@waynejohnson6594]

Best wiring video I have seen! Thnx!

[@johnkohlman2428]

Great video. Thank you very much.

[@bungalowbill775]

Outstanding! This is the way to explain things.

[@monchavo]

a most excellent video - well done - thank you for explaining it clearly

[@FretFriendGWaL]

I own/run my own guitar setup/repair shop and this is great information! You just never stop learning so thanks :) Victor...

[@TheForce_Productions]

Would be great a video about the superswitch. Cheers!

[@fabianmallmann4834]

One of the best Explanations out there! Well done!

[@bleikrsound6127]

Check Fender Deluxe Strat with on / off switch to combine bridge PU with the others. Interesting tonal combinations, this model also uses noiseless PUs, a great improvement (although some will prefer the traditional 50 / 60Hz hum).

[@Marzinno]

Really great video.... thanks

[@johnspina318]

Excellent video and thx so much for sharing! I've enjoyed quite a few of your videos!

[@stormman8393]

Thanks for sharing, great vid.

[@Madnote77]

So helpful, very easy to understand. Thanks guys =)

[@paulocarvalho9767]

Man, thank you so much! That helped a lot!

[@patmosher245]

Great tutorial!

[@Chiroyalty]

Thank you, this is just the explanation I was looking for!