4-way toggle switch, is there such thing?

[addicted]

Would like to know if there is a 4-way toggle switch? Hopefully in the size of a 3-way DPDT toggle switch. So far I cannot find a 4-way switch. There are 3-way toggle switch, 5-way lever switch, 5-way rotary switch, or a 6-way Free-way toggle switch which is overkill (and expensive too!).

Appreciate the responses.

 

[dnp41]

yes there are. At least I know there is a very common mod done on Tele's to include a 4 way toggle that puts the pickups in series instead of parallel or visa versa. I know my local luthier makes teles with these mods and he has a switch on his (Dutch) website, but I'm sure there are many others: Tele 4-way switch CRL/USA

 

[addicted]

yes there are. At least I know there is a very common mod done on Tele's to include a 4 way toggle that puts the pickups in series instead of parallel or visa versa. I know my local luthier makes teles with these mods and he has a switch on his (Dutch) website, but I'm sure there are many others: Tele 4-way switch CRL/USA

I want to do a versatile coil tap/select (sorry if im not referring the tap vs split thing properly) on a dual coil humbucker pickup by selecting neck section, bridge section, and both in series or parallel.

I have seem that Tele but seems like it wont fit in conventional toggle switch hole.

 

[Crater]

Well, there's a crazy six-way toggle switch. Crazy price too....

http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts/Switches/Free-Way_Ultra_Switch.html

Another alternative would be a 4-position rotary switch. As far as I know, there is not a 4-way Les Paul type pickup switch.

 

[LoveThatBass]

Well, there's a crazy six-way toggle switch. Crazy price too....

http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts/Switches/Free-Way_Ultra_Switch.html

Another alternative would be a 4-position rotary switch. As far as I know, there is not a 4-way Les Paul type pickup switch.

Amazing switch if you can afford it. Here is all the wiring diagram possibilities you can use this switch for

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-0072/free-wayultradiagrams.pdf

 

[honeyiscool]

Amazing switch if you can afford it. Here is all the wiring diagram possibilities you can use this switch for

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-0072/free-wayultradiagrams.pdf

Not only that, if you email them with what you want to accomplish, they'll draw a new one up for you.

 

[honeyiscool]

Well, there's a crazy six-way toggle switch. Crazy price too....

http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts/Switches/Free-Way_Ultra_Switch.html

Another alternative would be a 4-position rotary switch. As far as I know, there is not a 4-way Les Paul type pickup switch.

There used to be some people who made them. However, it seems like you can only get a 5-position rotary switch these days.

 

[Will_White]

There used to be some people who made them. However, it seems like you can only get a 5-position rotary switch these days.

https://www.amazon.com/gp/aw/d/B00W...ary+switch&dpPl=1&dpID=51XanVqXJYL&ref=plSrch

 

[addicted]

Well, there's a crazy six-way toggle switch. Crazy price too....

http://www.stewmac.com/Pickups_and_...and_Parts/Switches/Free-Way_Ultra_Switch.html

Another alternative would be a 4-position rotary switch. As far as I know, there is not a 4-way Les Paul type pickup switch.

Amazing switch if you can afford it. Here is all the wiring diagram possibilities you can use this switch for

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/i-0072/free-wayultradiagrams.pdf

Yeap, fully aware of the 6-position toggle switch from Stewmac called Free-way. But again, this is expensive and overkill for what I am looking for. Probably with correct wiring, I could achieve what these 6-position toggle switch does with two 3-position toggle switch. Then again, what I am looking for is 4-position toggle switch which now begins to seem like a unicorn. I have never seen a 4-position toggle-type switch. There are lever-type, rotary-type, but not toggle.

4-position Tele lever switch seems perfect but I need to drill wider cavity on my bass. I guess if there is no toggle-type, I would have to opt for rotary switch as an alternative. Do I have to drill bigger hole for a 4-position rotary switch compared to toggle switch?

 

[RobbieK]

Before you go searching for a switch that doesn't exist, and before you drill (and possibly chisel) for a chunky rotary switch, you should do this: Get a cheap and common two-way mini toggle, and wire it so you can directly compare the sound of one coil of your humbucker to the other. Then be honest with yourself. Can you really hear much of a difference in tone? In a pub band with drums and a couple of guitars, will you really use both of those sounds? IOW, is it really worth having that extra position?

If you still must have four positions, a rotary switch is probably your best bet. My local sells them for a few bucks. Search ebay, amazon, etc. they'll be even cheaper. If you are mounting it through timber, it's unlikely you will have enough thread to have a shakeproof washer. So you'll also have to drill a small hole to accomodate the anti-rotation tab. Without some way of locking its position down, a rotary switch will loosen very quickly.

The other option is a slide switch- like the switches on a fender jag. You can get 4-position slide switches very cheap.

 

[addicted]

Before you go searching for a switch that doesn't exist, and before you drill (and possibly chisel) for a chunky rotary switch, you should do this: Get a cheap and common two-way mini toggle, and wire it so you can directly compare the sound of one coil of your humbucker to the other. Then be honest with yourself. Can you really hear much of a difference in tone? In a pub band with drums and a couple of guitars, will you really use both of those sounds? IOW, is it really worth having that extra position?

If you still must have four positions, a rotary switch is probably your best bet. My local sells them for a few bucks. Search ebay, amazon, etc. they'll be even cheaper. If you are mounting it through timber, it's unlikely you will have enough thread to have a shakeproof washer. So you'll also have to drill a small hole to accomodate the anti-rotation tab. Without some way of locking its position down, a rotary switch will loosen very quickly.

The other option is a slide switch- like the switches on a fender jag. You can get 4-position slide switches very cheap.

Thanks for the advice. To be honest I don't know whether I can hear or will make a good use of the sound difference. But that is the reason I am going for this mod. Would like to try what works the best for in one go. If the mod puts more cost than benefits, of course will not go for it.

I opt to mount it in a Jazz chrome plate. so to minimize the damage I made on timbre itself. Looks like 4-position Tele slide switch is the best choice? Rotary switch will get loosen quickly without some additional locking-down and I don't like that.

 

[honeyiscool]

How will you cut a blade switch on a Jazz Bass control plate? Also, the other problem with a rotary switch is often they're too big for a standard Jazz control route, so if you can find a blank Jazz Bass control plate, it's not a bad idea at all.

Lastly... you will hear the differences. It's pretty stark. Whether you use it or not is the big question. You might just pick one setting you like and keep it there. I ended up leaving my MM humbucker in series when I had an MM+J, despite having a parallel/series switch.

 

[RobbieK]

I opt to mount it in a Jazz chrome plate. so to minimize the damage I made on timbre itself. Looks like 4-position Tele slide switch is the best choice? Rotary switch will get loosen quickly without some additional locking-down and I don't like that.

With respect, as honeyiscool said, a rotary switch will be far easier to install in a metal plate than a tele style switch. Definitely use a shakeproof washer. Or better still, if your knobs are wide enough, drill a second small hole for the lug on the switch.

The other nice thing about a rotary switch is that you'll have an extra pole or two. This can be used to employ some attenuation in the series setting so you don't get that big volume jump.