Comparison of Parallel and In-Series Pickup Combinations for 3-Way Switch

The beefy Telecaster vs. the twangy humbucker

In this interactive wiring diagram I show two for the price of one. The standard Telecaster wiring is on the left, an alternative – using the same 3-way blade switch – on the right. The alternative takes the two single coils and wires them like a typical humbucker: in-series. This adds some punch, makes the sound beefier (by lack of a better word).

If you have a humbucker, you can also think the oher way round: Adding this switch, add the parallel wiring to your pickup. This will make your humbucker a bit more “twangy” (by lack of a better word).

Note: by default Telecaster neck pickups have only one ground wire linking the metal cap and the coil’s ground together. If you want to use the in-series option, you need to add a third wire. Consult the Internet for more information.