Following on from yesterdays outpourings over the mysteries of the 5 way lever switch I thought I had better also offer up an explanation for the way the 3 way levers work as well.
Physically they look identical to the 5 way lever switches, although we supply ours with a Tele style knob, and again have a row of 8 connection lugs along the bottom edge. Again these switches have two separate banks of 4 lugs that interconnect in various different switch positions. Ive cheated in that the below photo is yesterdays 5 way switch but for sake of explanation in this blurb they look the same.
For wiring one of the switches up as a Telecaster type 3 position switch that selects neck, neck and bridge, or bridge on its own we only need to wire up as shown below.
Below is a diagram of what is happening inside the switch, positions are denoted as Position 1 being the switch as viewed in the above photo with the switch arm thrown to the left Position 3 being the switch arm thrown to the full right and for those dullards amongst you ( I am grinning as I write that so don’t be too offended ) Position 2 is with the switch arm in the middle.
So to connect it up as 3 position selector on a 2 pickup Tele type guitar you just need to.
Solder small jumper wires between lugs 2 and 3, another between 4 and 5, and yet another between 6 and 7.
Solder an output wire from lug 4 to the input lug on your volume pot.
Solder the positive + wire from the bridge pickup to lug 3
Solder the positive + wire from the neck pickup to lug 6.
Thats it – jobs a good ‘un.