Electric XII 4-way Switch positions

[akpasta]

Sorry for posting this question, but I haven't been able to find the answer via search.

The 4 positions on the Vintage Electric XII pickup selector are:

1. Neck by itself
2. Both Pickups - ?
3. Bridge by itself
4. Both Pickups - ?

What I don't know, is which "both" setting is parallel and which is series. Also, can someone tell me what's "normal" on a 3-pickup switch. There's a "both" setting on the vintage XII that I really like (2), and there's a "both" setting that I don't like and never use (4). It would be nice to know technically, which is which. Particularly since I just bought an alternate reality xii as well and I'm thinking of installing the same Curtis Novak pickups I have in my 66' XII, and I want to get that chimey #2 selector sound, but I'm not sure what exactly it is.

thanks :-)

[JVG]

I can’t say how the switch on yours is wired, but you can work it out:

Both pickups in parallel will be brighter sounding, not as loud.
Both pickups in series will be fatter sounding, and louder.

Cheers,
J.

[akpasta]

I can’t say how the switch on yours is wired, but you can work it out:

Both pickups in parallel will be brighter sounding, not as loud.
Both pickups in series will be fatter sounding, and louder.

Cheers,
J.

Is the middle “both” setting on a typical 3-way switch series or parallel?

[Futuron]

Parallel

[akpasta]

Got it. Well your description doesn't help me a lot because one of my both settings is warm and bright, and the other is thin and bright. So they don't exactly match your description. I will say that "warm and bright" sounds more like a typical "both" setting on a 3-way switch, so would you suppose that's my parallel setting?

[lalalandstudios]

It's

1. Neck pickup only
2. Both pickups in parallel, in phase
3. Bridge pickup only
4. Both pickups in parallel, out of phase

[akpasta]

It's

1. Neck pickup only
2. Both pickups in parallel, in phase
3. Bridge pickup only
4. Both pickups in parallel, out of phase

Got it. So the fourth position, the one a typical 3-way does not have, is the parallel out of phase one. It’s the one I don’t like, personally hahaha. So good I don’t ever need to convert my reissue one to the 4-way switch!