Adding Parallel And In Series Option to the Tele Style Switch
This 4-Way Blade Switch modding adds sound versatility to your pickup combinations.
The Mod for Single Coils And Humbuckers
This Mod adds versatility to a two pickup guitar as well as a humbucker pickup, adding the choice of parallel and in series wiring.
Figure: Wiring of the four way switch with parallel and in series pickup combinations. See below for the interactive wiring diagram where you can see the wiring in action for each position. The modification outlined here was initially designed for the Telecaster guitar but also enhances the versatility of individual pickups. Because the principles applied to a two-pickup guitar can also be extended to a humbucker with coil splitting. An illustrative example can be found in my article on Seymour Duncan’s humbucker pickup P-Rail.
The 4-way switch mod for the Telecaster is a modification that significantly expands the tonal options. The modification involves replacing the stock three-way switch with a four-way switch, introducing an extra position combining bridge and neck pickups in series. This offers a beefier tone compared to the standard parallel wiring.
I personally prefer the parallel and series options to be in the two middle positions of the switch. Some prefer the positions 1 to 3 to be the original Tele wiring, the 4th position being the extra series option.
Interactive Wiring Diagram
Click and learn
Pick a position and see the current run through the positions of the switch.