Easy "out-of-phase" telecaster wiring?

[aidan7737]

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone knows of an easy way to wire an "out-of-phase" telecaster sound *without* using a super switch, ie, with a regular 3/5 way switch. Is this possible?

Even - in the case of a 3 way - if it means sacrificing the traditional middle position for an "out of phase" tone.

I've done some research on the net but all I have found are either super switch circuits or push/pulls - nothing wrong with them but am keen to get right into it to try some strat-like sounds (sooo impatient...). I have soldering/wiring skills but am one of those "can do it but don't *really* understand it" types

Help/suggestions/variations appreciated
Thanks!

[mc5nrg]

Perhaps I misunderstand what you are trying to accomplish.The "out of phase" tones that you get from the in-between switch positions on a stratocaster aren't electrically out of phase, so the term is a bit of a misnomer.Rather you get these tones from the combination of the middle and either of the other pickups.Thus to get the "OOP" tones you need a middle pickup like on Nashville tele and similar 3 pickup models.

You can wire up your guitar so the pickups are electrically out of phase but the sound will be pretty thin and bright.A common Tele wiring setup is a 4 position switch so the combination of both series and parallel is available.

[donnyjaguar]

Are you trying to wire up a Strat with the bridge and neck pickups in one of the positions?

[aidan7737]

Hi donnyjaguar:
I'm going for a strat-like sound by wiring the pickups on a 2-pup telecaster in such a way that they sound like (resemble) the in between positions 2/4 in a strat (if this is possible!?). Hoping to achieve this effect when in the "middle" position of the telecaster (or some other position if a 5 way switch is used).

I was under the impression that there was a way to do this (eg, Mark Knopfler's "out of phase" les paul sound achieved with a 2 pickup design instrument in the middle position). Whether this can be achieved via *wiring* or me having to flip magnets i'm not sure...which is why I ask you good folk!
mc5nrg:
Yes, and to clarify I am using the term "out of phase" with inverted commas because while it is not electronically correct some folk refer to the in between sound as an out of phase sound. I am really after the "in between sound" we all know.

Thanks again for your contributions, as I say - I know little about how all this works so it may be impossible to achieve without a nashville design... we shall see!
Aidan

[Lolaviola]

Originally Posted by aidan7737

Hi guys,

Just wondering if anyone knows of an easy way to wire an "out-of-phase" telecaster sound
Thanks!

To electronically swap phase on a tele, usually all you need to do is switch neck pickups poles back and forth.
Now the neck pickup MUST be electrically de coupled from the shield (cover) if it is a standard Tele, the cover will be grounded.
So you would need to add a wire from ground, to the cover of the neck pickup. Disconnect the jumper from the cover to the black (-) lead and connect the black and white wires to a switch.

Its actually less complicated than doing same to the lead pickup!