Telecaster SS Wiring: the ultimate guide
If you are looking for a Telecaster wiring Clear and practical, you're in the right place. Here you'll find the diagram, explanations of the connections, and tips for avoiding common mistakes.
Introduction
This minimal architecture manages two passive single-coil pickups using a three-way selector, a global volume, and a global tone.9 It offers an immediate dynamic response and excels in the clarity of the bridge pickup's high frequencies, counterbalanced by the dark roundness of the neck pickup.
Wiring diagram
Download the SVG diagram and use it as a reference while soldering. The star ground is the central point: all ground wires must converge there.
How to read the diagram
The required components are two passive single-coil pickups (Neck and Bridge), two short-shaft logarithmic potentiometers, a capacitor of or and a standard 3-way lever switch.3 Observing the inverted metal control plate, with the potentiometers facing downwards: the selector is on the far left, followed by Volume (center) and Tone (right). On the Volume potentiometer, Terminal 1 (left) receives the common hot conductor from the switch, Terminal 2 (center) goes to the tip of the jack, and Terminal 3 (right) is soldered to the casing.4 A wire connects Terminal 1 of the Volume to Terminal 1 of the Tone.33 The capacitor is soldered between Terminal 2 of the Tone and the casing of the tone potentiometer.33
Practical steps
- Prepare the components and check the values of potentiometers and capacitors.
- I soldered the hot wires following the diagram, avoiding unnecessary jumpers.
- Connect all the masses to the indicated star point.
- Check the continuity between the bridge, jack and potentiometer covers with a multimeter.
- Test the instrument and fix any buzzing.
Tips to avoid buzzing
Avoid the ground loopIf the potentiometers are on a common metal shield, do not solder ground wires between their caps. Use an open "C" or "horseshoe" path and connect each ground to the star center. For more information on modifications, see also guitar modification guide.
FAQ
Which potentiometers should I use?
It depends on the pickup: single-coil generally 250k, humbucker 500k, active 25k.
Can I use a different capacitor?
Yes, but the value changes the cutoff frequency of the tone. Higher = darker sound.
See also
Wiring diagrams library
No diagrams found.
English 
Italiano
Stuck on your build?
If you ran into the same problem or have a question, drop it in the comments. I read and reply to every one.
Write a comment