The inner workings of a 5-way switch and various wiring options

Another Breja ToneWorks DIY video - this time I'll go over how a 5-way selector switch works and what each lug specifically does so that you can begin developing your own wiring mods.

[dau]

When a person truly knows what he's talking about, this is the result. Simple, clear, understandable explanation. Truly a public service and a positive contribution. Fantastic job.

[Johnmannish]

Grat video! can you do one when you explain the humbuckers coils, the four cables and how to understand the path to do splits in between positions and all that? thanks!

[Whitewolf]

Pity more people don't explain things as simply as this. Excellent stuff.

[thomabauma]

this is the very finest explanation of a strat switch I have ever seen, or had explained to me. thank you breja toneworks!!

[MrPnew]

Great explanation and an actual diagram rather than dodgy camera work that leaves you scratching your head. Thank you

[pecktox]

Dude I've played all my life but just recently started getting into different pickups etc ..but I never really understood how the switch worked. You have a great presentation voice, easy to understand. Thanks so much. Greg

[luisbeltran]

Perfect explanation of the 5 way switch. NOW I got it! Thank you Sir.

[ethostechtalk]

Was desperate for some help understanding this and this video definitely did the trick. Thanks so much!

[ThePanchomack]

Even after all these years that this Video came out, it is still the best around. Thank you so much for doing this series. Very helpful, everytime

[HBSuccess]

This was really good and is going to help hundreds of budding modders understand the 5-way. Enjoyed it - and you did a great job with the graphics.

[Btn]

Awesome. Now when I screw up I’ll know exactly why! But more seriously— this is very helpful.

[michaelcrawford]

This is amazing. Spent countless hours trying to figure out the wiring with my switch. Bravo.

[gregsmith]

Fantastic video! Thank you! I’m going to wire a new 3-humbucker guitar (3 vol/1 tone) with a 5-way switch and use coil splitting to blend the dual and and single coil sounds!

[mykylc]

The perfect video on this switch. Thank

[chrism.]

I can’t thank you enough for this, as well as your series/parallel mod instructions for strats. I hope you’re not the only person who’s willing to share greatly pertinent knowledge with the technique of a true educator.

[MatthaeusEbonah]

You just opened my understanding ALL the way up. I have custom built jazzmaster with tellie pickups. But it has a very dark humbucker in the middle. Now I understanding I can run that middle pickup to an independent 500K pot and run the neck and bridge to the 250k pot. THANK YOU SIR!!!

[paulsav]

This is superb - i now fully understand why i have been confused for so long - great explanation!!

[Noah-gqpq]

great job, , no geek gobbledygook, about time we need more guys like you thankx much !!!!

[hollnagelc]

Thanks for this! Easy to follow and understand.

[lairdherron]

thank you so much for this! the switch on my 2015 mexican strat broke at the start of quarantine - guitar still worked, but I couldn't change off of the bridge pickup. finally died completely (no output from the guitar), so I was forced to buy a new switch. was scared to do this, but with a little bit of guidance from my roommate (electrical engineer) and your amazing video - I was able to do this all on my own! also included the mod so that I now have a tone control on my bridge pickup - thank goodness! always wanted that. stoked to tell paps (he's an electrical engineer too lol). THANK YOU SO MUCH!!!