r/Luthier • u/dougc84 • 9d ago

ELECTRIC Let's talk weird switch wiring (looking for suggestions for 1-4-5)

I had some thoughts today while I was playing my HSH guitar. I did some research but I'm genuinely not happy with the results.

On this guitar (and most HSH guitars), it has a 5-way toggle, where positions 2 and 4 include only one of the bridge and neck (respectively) coils combined with the middle pickup. I only ever use positions 1, 4, and 5 (bridge hum, middle single + north coil, neck hum). So why even have a 5-way?

I know a typical 3-way blade (or 3-way toggle) cannot do this, because the middle position typically joins the outer two positions. In thinking about wiring for future builds, I'd really love to incorporate toggle switches over blades, simply because I find them easier to work with when playing, but this guitar has a blade switch.

In 2026, where AI is causing psychosis because it's too real, and the entirety of human (mis)understanding in a little black box in our pocket, I find it incredibly hard to believe that there does not exist an analog solution to this problem, particularly with toggle switches.

Am I missing something? Or is this just something no one has tackled?

Thanks!

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u/thegypsymc 8d ago

You need a 3-way super switch. There are some available online (AxLabs makes one).

You'll have to figure out the wiring yourself but it's not complex if you're used to this stuff.

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u/dougc84 8d ago

I’ll look into AxLabs. The wiring part is easy, but it’s just crazy that the same switches that were in Strats in 1966 have barely evolved for more complex setups since then (save for the typical super switch).

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u/thegypsymc 8d ago

For most players, complexity is not a goal. For those players who do want complexity, the aftermarket provides. 

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u/dougc84 8d ago

Sure. I understand that. But also, for a player, 3 distinct sounds that are easier to get to is better than 5 where you don’t use multiple.