The Telecaster 4 way wiring mod provides the extra option of playing the neck and bridge pickups in series together as well as retaining the much loved traditional 3 way wiring. To achieve this, you need to replace your 3 way switch with a 4 way version and be prepared for some minor modification to your neck pickup.
The newly added third wire to the neck pickup effectively grounds the metal casing to the main circuit - when the switch is in position 4, the neck and bridge pickups are played in series which offers a distinctively fuller tone.
4 Way Switch Controls
4) Neck and bridge in series
3) Neck pickup only (standard Tele wiring)
2) Neck and bridge in parallel (standard Tele wiring)
1) Bridge pickup only (standard Tele wiring)
The 4 way Tele mod just provides that little bit extra to what is already one of the most versatile guitars on the planet!
Alternative Wiring
If you prefer to have position 4 as neck only, as let's face it, that is more normal (and therefore have the series option in position 3) then simply wire the switch as per the below diagram. Many players prefer this setup as it means you are not skipping a position to move from parallel (position 2) to series (now in position 3). It keeps the "neck only" in it's natural position and the combinations in the middle positions.
Refer to the below video for our step by step wiring tutorial on how to wire a 4 way switch in this way.
More
4-Way Telecaster Wiring Diagram (read our guide on the 4 way Tele wiring mod).
