Thoughts on Tele 4-way Switch Mod?

[Palehorseo]

Anyone have experience modding a standard tele with the 4-way switching that lets you put both pickups in series? My feeling is it gives a nice fuller tone that’s not totally unlike a humbucker. I’m thinking this might be preferable to re-routing for a humbuvcker. But I’d love to hear if people have used it for serious playing.

[ruger9]

I installed one on my #1 tele, never used it, took it out. I think it works better with weaker pickups (like 7K), I have hotter pickups in my teles (like 8K-9K) and it was too boomy/overdriven running the pickups in series. It doesn't turn the 2 pickups into 1 PAF if that's what you're thinking (for jazz tones).

That being said, I was never trying to get "jazz tones" (meaning, today's darker, a bit muffled tone so many think of as "jazz tone"), the modification might be quite good for that.

If I was hoping to get a neck humbucker tone out of a tele, I wouldn't do a 4-way mod, I would go ahead and rout for a neck humbucker. Because you can always go back to a single coil anytime you want just by changing the pickguard. You could probably also put in a 4-way switch that lets you split the neck humbucker in the 4th position, for neck single coil operation when you want it.

[Bob_Ross]

You could probably also put in a 4-way switch that lets you split the neck humbucker in the 4th position, for neck single coil operation when you want it.

Or even just a separate coil split switch, but yeah, I can't imagine installing a neck humbucker in a Tele and not having the option for a single coil pickup in that position also.

[Alder Statesman]

My Tele came with an S1 switch which accomplishes the same thing you are after. I pulled it and rewired it like a Nocaster with a 4-way, but the desire was to blend the two pups, no tone control or select a cap for the front pup for a VERY dark tone.

Not for everyone, but I like it.

[Little Jay]

I like it. I modified my DIY “50ies Tele” with it. But I do no use it when I play jazz on it, it does not sound like a humbucker in neck position. I use it when I play with overdrive and need a bit of a boost, both in volume and in gain/dirt.

[Palehorseo]

Thanks, this was exactly the info I was looking for

[Cunamara]

I had a four-way switch in one of my Telecasters for a while. Pretty much just sounded like the usual middle position, just louder and a little fatter. In terms of jazz, I never really found much use for that sound. When I changed out the electronics after a few years, I went back to a three-way switch.

[yebdox]

Had it done, don't really find the extra tone useful and you can't slam the switch forward to get the neck pup, or you will blast past it. You have to carefully select position 3 (2?). Taking it out, when I get round to it.

[Lockjaw Davis]

It still sounds like middle position, but the jangles are reduced a bit, and the output is increased. Then the tone gets woolier and darker. Before I had to quit guitar I was actually building loaded pickguards with 2 neck pickups in series with the ability to select either pickup and the amount the other pickup was blended in I like the sound so much. I think it really suits jazz because it's all fat and low middy. But it seems many people prefer the natural sound of 1 pickup and don't care for series.

[Onlyserious]

I have a recent high-end (Elite? Deluxe?) American Tele Thinline that has pretty much become my #1 for everything. I have often/usually preferred the middle position on almost any guitar for my everyday tone. This guitar has the S-1 switching, factory installed (a push button encased in the volume nob), and it is da bomb. The middle position with the switch engaged is just the thing for me. Humbucker-ish, dead silent, noise-wise. It's a very light and super resonant guitar--This was likely my last guitar purchase as this one does it all and I am unlikely to improve upon it, especially with my old ears in decline.

I'm old enough (and lucky enough) to have had most of my (reasonable) bucket list guitars over the years, but this guitar is "it."

[DRS]

Did it
Didn't find the tone useful
Took it out and installed a SD Minibucker. This was a great tone change!