albacore Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Hi all,I'm the proud owner of an '88 Cali (821113, dot markers, bolt on neck) and was wondering about the switch.It's a 5 way, each position seems to give a different sound. Is it standard? If so, does anyone know what the pup combinations are in each position.Also, in all except the bridge position, it's a bit hummy. Is that just a single coil issue, or can improving the screening on the guitar help?Matt
Jem Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Should be a standard three way CRL switch so no, haven't a clue what the combinations are you have.
veatch Posted April 3, 2013 Posted April 3, 2013 Yup - 3 way is standard. Of course, with Hamer, anything is possible. Take a good pic inside the control cavity, and we might be able to help you out.
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted April 4, 2013 Posted April 4, 2013 I had this Cali prior to albacore. Here's a pic of the 5-way... ...and the Cali... Real sad to see her go but I desperately needed some quick cash! She's gone to a good guy so I have that to be happy about. Enjoy her Matt
albacore Posted April 5, 2013 Author Posted April 5, 2013 Looking at Vic's photo, at least one of the tags doesn't have anything soldered to it, so perhaps I'm kidding myself about getting different sounds from each position.What's the stock configuration? Is it: single coil alone; both out of phase; humbucker alone?Matt
Jem Posted April 5, 2013 Posted April 5, 2013 When you first said a five way i was expecting a 'superswitch' of some description but that's just a standard five way strat switch which will not give you a variety of options.............which you've discovered. Best idea is throw it in the parts bin, get a 3 way and wire it bridge / both / neck as standard. Also note that the cavities aren't sheilded pre 89'ish so originally there would be a wire from the common ground (the metal triangle) that would sit under and make contact with the cover plate to complete the ground loop - or alternatively sheild the cavity with copper foil or sheilding paint, should quieten the whole thing down. The wiring diagram is here: http://www.hamerfanclub.com/wire/californian.pdf
Victor (Fret Friend) Posted April 5, 2013 Posted April 5, 2013 I assumed everything was stock on the guitar when I bought it. Regarding the tone options, I can't say as I rarely use anything other than the bridge pick-up (on full whack). The guitar is grounded to the triangle-metally bit
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albacore
Hi all,
I'm the proud owner of an '88 Cali (821113, dot markers, bolt on neck) and was wondering about the switch.
It's a 5 way, each position seems to give a different sound. Is it standard? If so, does anyone know what the pup combinations are in each position.
Also, in all except the bridge position, it's a bit hummy. Is that just a single coil issue, or can improving the screening on the guitar help?
Matt
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