"Gretsch-style" cap switch

[Al Heeley]

I have a DPDT on/on/on switch I want to use for gretsch-style tone with 3 switch positions as
1) bypass
2) cap1
3) cap2
in series before the tone pot to give a different tonal range.
Anyone know if I can use this type of switch to get these options and if so, how to wire it?
If not, what kind of switch do I need?

 

[GlennW]

That switch won't give a no-cap option, you'll need a on/off/on switch.

Edit: I take it back...it can give you a no-cap option, but the other two postitions will be the same. It would be like1) no-cap, 2) no-cap + cap (cap), and 3) cap. It would be like using a 3-way pickup switch with one pickup.

 

[Al Heeley]

Can I do this with a mini toggle switch then? Which type would I need?

 

[PilbaraBass]

MOST 3-position mini toggles are on/off/on (on/on/on is much less common)...

wire the one side to cap1...wire the other side to cap2...

connect the middle to the output and that's it...

 

[GlennW]

If your switch is on/on/on you can still wire it to get three different values, but none of them will be no-cap. The middle position will be the sum of the two caps.

Solder your two caps to the outside legs as stated above. For example, if you use values such as .047 and .033 you'd end up with .047, .08 (.047 + .033), and .033 from your on/on/on switch.

 

[4Mal]

MOST 3-position mini toggles are on/off/on (on/on/on is much less common)...

wire the one side to cap1...wire the other side to cap2...

connect the middle to the output and that's it...

FWIW - "on-on-on" are pretty common in guitar wiring. I get mine from Butch down at Bayou Cables. I thik it'sa an Allparts part - but not that many folks stock 'em...

I use them in my L2500 for Single, Series, Parallele coil control for each of the humbuckers.