Thinking of a 3-way

[TubeStack]

... pickup selector on a Strat, that is.

I'm looking at a used Custom Shop that only has the 3-way selector, not sure if that will be a pain? I mainly use neck, bridge, or bridge+middle on a Strat, so it will really only matter if finding the in-between for position 2 is a hassle or not. I do love that quack.

Any experiences? Of course, I can always put in a 5-way, but for the price of this guitar it'd be nice to not have to add anything.

Ever play with a 3-way, @la szum?

 

[FuzzyAce]

I have a 3-way in one of mine. I never feel like it's missing anything though, and it's a HSS.
If I really need an in between sound I can fiddle with the switch so it holds in positions 2 or 4. So not all is lost.

 

[laxu]

3-Way Gibson style? Sure.

3-Way blade? Hell no. That sucks. Too much travel.

 

[TubeStack]

3-Way Gibson style? Sure.

3-Way blade? Hell no. That sucks. Too much travel.

Not concerned about travel, but getting position 2.

 

[KHAAAAAAANNNNNNN!!!!!!!!]

A good switch is like $12.

Shouldn't be a concern if you like the guitar.

 

[Eagle]

Not concerned about travel, but getting position 2.

Depends on which 3 way switch ,oak grigsby or CRL . The CRL tends to jump in the clicks.

 

[Eagle]

A good switch is like $12.

Shouldn't be a concern if you like the guitar.

£25 but yes.

 

[Sascha Franck]

I just slapped a 3 way switch into my Schecter Nick Johnston. But I simply removed the middle pickup out of the equation (never really needed it, might add a mini switch one day for recording purposes), which likely isn't what you want.

3-Way blade? Hell no. That sucks. Too much travel.

I actually happen to love them. Have them in both my main live guitars. Very "safe" switching.

Not concerned about travel, but getting position 2.

You could add a mini switch or a push-pot to bring it in. But I would likely go for a different switching scheme in case you need that position often.

 

[TubeStack]

A good switch is like $12.

Shouldn't be a concern if you like the guitar.

Maybe, except I can’t install it myself, so probably hundred(s) in labour charges, these days…

 

[Jambi]

Me too man, me too

 

[TubeStack]

Here it is , haven’t tried it yet but will probably head over today.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Maybe, except I can’t install it myself, so probably hundred(s) in labour charges, these days…

Learn it! Never too late, really. For these tasks, even a cheap soldering iron would be absolutely fine and there's likely a gazillion of easy to understand instructional videos.

 

[TubeStack]

Learn it! Never too late, really. For these tasks, even a cheap soldering iron would be absolutely fine and there's likely a gazillion of easy to understand instructional videos.

Yes, but is a Custom Shop really the best choice to learn on?

 

[Sascha Franck]

Yes, but is a Custom Shop really the best choice to learn on?

Maybe not. But it's really pretty much nothing you have to do (in case you don't go for the push-pot).

 

[la szum]

... pickup selector on a Strat, that is.

I'm looking at a used Custom Shop that only has the 3-way selector, not sure if that will be a pain? I mainly use neck, bridge, or bridge+middle on a Strat, so it will really only matter if finding the in-between for position 2 is a hassle or not. I do love that quack.

Any experiences? Of course, I can always put in a 5-way, but for the price of this guitar it'd be nice to not have to add anything.

Ever play with a 3-way, @la szum?

Haha! Hilarious.

Only on a Lester or Tele. I need that 2 and 4 on a Strat.

Honestly can't imagine a Strat without the 5 way---even if that
is not what Leo originally did.

 

[la szum]

View attachment 34946

Here it is , haven’t tried it yet but will probably head over today.

That's F'ing Grogeous.

Rosewood for the win.

 

[State of Epicicity]

I use a 3-way blade on my superstrat right now, and to me it's the ultimate selector. It's less ambiguous to tell where you are than with a 5-way blade or a 3-way toggle.

 

[Sascha Franck]

Btw, you will remove the vibrato ashtray, will you?

 

[Frodebro]

I installed a mini toggle on my Strat and replaced the five way with a three way. The middle pickup is controlled by the mini toggle, so I can run neck + bridge, traditional Strat settings, or all three pickups.