Megaswitch S
You can use Megaswitch S for the following switching positions:
SSS2
This is the new Stratocaster standard switching system which was introduced in the mid-1970s. Many
guitarists at that time realized that quite interesting sounds were obtainable in the spaces between the
existing switching systems so-to-speak, where two neighboring pickups operate simultaneously. As a
result, the three-position switch was replaced by a new five-position version. The tone controls were
assigned as they had always been, i.e they remained unchanged. For this reason, both function in
position 4. The Megaswitch S is ideal for this application. In principle, the wiring ist he same as for the
SSS1. To enable buzz-free playing in positions 2 and 4 at least, the middle pickup must be magnetically
reverse-poled and wound in the opposite direction similar to the two outer pickups. Here too, it is
possible to assign tone controls in a range of ways.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge
2 bridge and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck parallel
5 neck
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire
3 bridge hot wire
4 to 8, output
5 tone pot mid
6 tone pot neck
7-
8 to 4, output
ground: all three cold wires
HSS1
On some Stratocaster versions the bridge single coil is replaced by a Humbucker. In switching position 1
this creates a fuller sound with less brightness in the high end, more warmth in the mids and louder
basses. erhält man damit einen volleren Sound mit weniger grellen Höhen und mehr warmen Mitten
und lauteren Bässen. A Megaswitch S is used here. If a buzz-free sound is required in position 4, both
single coils must have opposing magnetic polarity.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck parallel
5 neck
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire
3 bridge hot wire
4 to 8, output
5 tone pot mid
6 tone pot neck
7-
8 to 4, output
ground all three cold wires
HSS2
This is a variation on the HSS1 switching system. In position 2, the Humbucker is split; the outer coil
remains in operating mode and the inner coil is short-circuited. This also works with the Megaswitch S.
If a buzz-free sound is required in positions 2 and 4, the following magnetic polarity (from the bridge to
the neck) is necessary: NS-S-N or SN-N-S.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge outer coil and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck parallel
5 neck
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire
3 to 5, bridge hot wire inner coil
4 output
5 to 3, bridge hot wire inner coil
6-
7 bridge outer coil hot wire and inner coil cold wire
8-
ground: bridge cold wire outer coil, mid and neck cold wire
HSS3
This is a slight variation on the HSS2 switching system. Similar to the HSS2, the Humbucker is split in
position 2. Here, the inner coil remains in operating mode. The coil closest to the bridge is short-
circuited onto the earth/ground. This also functions with the Megaswitch S. If a buzz-free sound is
required in positions 2 and 4, the following magnetic polarity (from the bridge to the neck) is required:
NS-N-S or SN-S-N.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge inner coil and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck parallel
5 neck
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire
3 bridge hot wire inner coil
4 output
5 ground
6-
7 bridge outer coil hot wire and inner coil cold wire
8-
ground: 5, bridge cold wire outer coil, mid and neck cold wire
HSH1
This is the simplest switching system for guitars with two Humbuckers and a single coil located
between them. Here, the Humbuckers are not split and the switching functions are as usual. The
Megaswitch S is ideal for this application. A version with two tone controls is illustrated. If only one is to
be used, the wiper should be connected to connection 4 of the Megaswitch.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge humbucker and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck humbucker parallel
5 neck humbucker
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire
3 bridge hot wire
4 output
5-
6-
7-
8-
ground: all three cold wires
HSH2
This switching system is for guitars with 2 Humbuckers and a single coil between them. The
Humbuckers are split in positions 2 and 4, while the inner coils remain active. The outer coils are short-
circuited. In the event that a buzz-free sound is required in positions 1, 2, 4 and 5, the following
magnetic polarity is required: NS-N-SN or SN-S-NS. The Megaswitch S is ideal for this application. A
version with two tone contols is illustrated here. If only one tone control is used, its wiper should be
connected to connection 4 of the Megaswitch.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge inner coil and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck inner coil parallel
5 neck humbucker
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire inner coil
3 bridge hot wire inner coil
4 output
5 ground
6 neck cold wire inner coil and hot wire outer coil
7 bridge cold wire inner coil and hot wire outer coil
8-
ground: 5, mid cold wire, both outer humbucker coils cold wires
HSH3
This switching system is for guitars with 2 Humbuckers and a single coil between them. The
Humbuckers are split in positions 2 and [Link] to the HSH2, the outer coils remain active and the
inner coils are short-circuited. In the event that a buzz-free sound is required in positions 1, 2, 4 and 5,
the following magnetic polarity is required: NS-S-SN or SN-N-NS. The Megaswitch S is ideal for this
application.
The outer coils are short-circuited. In the event that a buzz-free sound is required in positions 1, 2, 4 and
5, the following magnetic polarity is required: NS-N-SN or SN-S-NS. The Megaswitch S is ideal for this
application. A version with two tone controls is illustrated here. If only one tone control is used, its
wiper should be connected to connection 4 of the Megaswitch.
Connections:
Positions
1 bridge humbucker
2 bridge outer coil and mid parallel
3 mid
4 mid and neck outer coil parallel
5 neck humbucker
Connections
1 mid hot wire
2 neck hot wire outer coil
3 bridge hot wire outer coil
4 output
5 ground
6 neck hot wire inner coil and cold wire outer coil
7 bridge hot wire inner coil and cold wire outer coil
8-
ground: 3, mid cold wire, both inner humbucker coils cold wires