Pickups wiring: HSH autosplit with a standard 5-way switch

With a standard 5-way switch and a HSH (humbucker-single-humbucker) pickup configuration, you can wire your 4-conductors humbucker pickups to get auto coil splitting in position 2 and 4. I bought one of 5 way switch on WD Music UK.

crl-5-way-strat-switch-with-spring-action

I already described a HSH pickups configuration, but using a Megaswitch E+. This time I’m using a standard 5-way switch, much like the ones found in the majority of Fender Stratocasters.

This is what you get:

  • position 1: bridge pickup
  • position 2: bridge pickup split + middle
  • position 3: middle
  • position 4: midlle + neck split
  • position 5: neck

Add a DPDT switch (push/push or push/pull) to your tone control and your humbuckers can work in a single coil mode in position 1 and 5, like this:

  • position 1: bridge pickup split
  • position 2: bridge pickup split + middle
  • position 3: middle
  • position 4: midlle + neck split
  • position 5: neck split

Here is the diagram. Please notice color scheme is suitable for DiMarzio pickups only. If you have different brand, google “pickups color code” or take a look at GuitarElectronics.com pickups color code scheme.

Wiring 5-way Switch Autosplit

 

If you experience phase cancellation problems in position 2 or 4, just invert the green and red wires of the corresponding humbucker and you’re done.