The 5-way Rotary Switch ?

Louguitar said:
So does the blade do the same thing as the rotary?

The rotary gives:
1. neck humbucker
2: screw poles of neck and bridge in parallel
3. screw poles of neck and bridge in series - creates a "middle" humbucker even though there isn't one.
4. slug poles of neck and bridge in parallel
5. bridge humbucker

Does the blade do exactly the same thing?
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Turns out this is wrong. Using my '97 CE-22, I used a metal allen wrench to tap on the polepieces of each coil in all 5 positions on the rotary switch.

This is what i found:

1. neck humbucker
2: slug poles of neck and bridge in parallel - a good usable single coil sound
3. slug poles of neck and bridge in series - creates a "middle" humbucker even though there isn't one
4. screw poles of neck and bridge in parallel - a weaker and less usable single coil sound
5. bridge humbucker
 
PRSWILL said:
Man I've owned my custom 22 since 1996 with a 5-way rotary and never even once thought about WHY it's labels the same as the volume knobs. huh!
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If you feel adventurous, try turning your neck pickup around so the slug coils face the end of the neck.

Doesn't change the sound of the neck pickup by itself much, but it does change sounds 2, 3 and 4 on the knob.

I think I might like it better!
 
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rugerpc said:
wow.

Fixed for you? Fine.

Obviously not fixed for the OP, or any other owner of an older PRS that can't afford to just go out and buy a new or current model.

The point won't be either "solved" or "moot" until all of the rotary knob switched PRS are either converted to blade switches or are toothpicks.

And I'm betting that there are plenty of players who love their rotary switches and you'd have to pry those guitars from their cold, dead hands.

The numbering bothers some, others don't care. But to suggest the topic is all pointless, well...

Life doesn't come with just one flavor.
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Please leave my 93 CU22 alone. I love the rotary and that middle tone where the 2 slug coils are in series:)
 
With noting how the switch location varies from guitar to guitar in the PRS lineup, I find myself forgetting which knob is the 5-way switch when playing. It's not intuitive to me. Plus, which mode is it is in when the lights are low/off in a gig? I can't see it. And because my other guitarist is a narcissist and has me turned down in the mix, I can't hear it. F7CK! Just give me a 3-way on the upper bout of a YOUJUSTDON'TKNOWWHATYOUREMISSINGUNTILYOUBANGA-594 and call it a day, mate!
 
I gotta say/ 99.99 % of the time I play my 96 C22 it’s in the first pick up position. Growling Dragon 1 pup/ killer tone. I switch sometimes when I am jamming with others/ but usually if I’m playing the band set- it’s position one
 
ViperDoc said:
With noting how the switch location varies from guitar to guitar in the PRS lineup, I find myself forgetting which knob is the 5-way switch when playing. It's not intuitive to me. Plus, which mode is it is in when the lights are low/off in a gig? I can't see it. And because my other guitarist is a narcissist and has me turned down in the mix, I can't hear it. F7CK! Just give me a 3-way on the upper bout of a YOUJUSTDON'TKNOWWHATYOUREMISSINGUNTILYOUBANGA-594 and call it a day, mate!
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Get away from the narcissist and turn the f..k up! Put him on the other end of the stage……
 
I've converted about three guitars from rotary to simple toggles...here's may take. A guitar with the rotary switch is best for either the studio or to select 1 or 2 positions when playing live. The toggle? ABSOLUTELY best for live gigging. I've always seen a myriad of choices as studio guitars. Toggles are always best live. ? YMMV...my 2 cents.
 
BradM said:
I've converted about three guitars from rotary to simple toggles...here's may take. A guitar with the rotary switch is best for either the studio or to select 1 or 2 positions when playing live. The toggle? ABSOLUTELY best for live gigging. I've always seen a myriad of choices as studio guitars. Toggles are always best live. ? YMMV...my 2 cents.
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One beauty about the rotary switch is that when you're in the #3 position on the switch it creates a powerful, great sounding humbucker that doesn't exist! The sound of a middle humbucking pickup.

Some guys think the switch is combining the two humbuckers like they would be combined with a 3 way switch in the middle position. It's not.

Since one pickup in a Dragon set is reverse wound/reverse polarity, combining the two screw coils from each pickup in series creates the sound of a MIDDLE HUMBUCKER! But there is no middle humbucker.

Personally, I prefer that sound to the sound of a bridge and neck humbucker combined using a 3 way switch. It's stronger and clearer. More lively and dynamic.

It's a great sound with a set of Dragon 1's. Not so exciting or dynamic with a set of Dragon 2's tho. It's still good...just not as good.
 
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Louguitar said:
One beauty about the rotary switch is that when you're in the #3 position on the switch it creates a powerful, great sounding humbucker that doesn't exist! The sound of a middle humbucking pickup.

Some guys think the switch is combining the two humbuckers like they would be combined with a 3 way switch in the middle position. It's not.

Since one pickup in a Dragon set is reverse wound/reverse polarity, combining the two screw coils from each pickup in series creates the sound of a MIDDLE HUMBUCKER! But there is no middle humbucker.

Personally, I prefer that sound to the sound of a bridge and neck humbucker combined using a 3 way switch. It's stronger and clearer. More lively and dynamic.

It's a great sound with a set of Dragon 1's. Not so exciting or dynamic with a set of Dragon 2's tho. It's still good...just not as good.
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Yep...always comes down to what an individual likes. And amps...and pedals...and....LOL! :)
 
Louguitar said:
One beauty about the rotary switch is that when you're in the #3 position on the switch it creates a powerful, great sounding humbucker that doesn't exist! The sound of a middle humbucking pickup.

Some guys think the switch is combining the two humbuckers like they would be combined with a 3 way switch in the middle position. It's not.

Since one pickup in a Dragon set is reverse wound/reverse polarity, combining the two screw coils from each pickup in series creates the sound of a MIDDLE HUMBUCKER! But there is no middle humbucker.

Personally, I prefer that sound to the sound of a bridge and neck humbucker combined using a 3 way switch. It's stronger and clearer. More lively and dynamic.

It's a great sound with a set of Dragon 1's. Not so exciting or dynamic with a set of Dragon 2's tho. It's still good...just not as good.
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There is one thing i don't like: as I sweep through the settings, going from neck humbucker to bridge humbucker, I can hear it click through the amplifier four times until it gets to the bridge humbucker.

It clicks for every setting change and that's annoying. Not a good thing.

Maybe some contact cleaner would help.

I'm going to need a new one soon for my '97 CE22. Settings 2 and 4 are not working properly and just have one pickup on...not two.
 
The '99 CU22 I just got is my first PRS with the 5-way rotary. I'm still getting the feel of it, but it doesn't seem that different to me in terms of awkwardness of use compared to a 5-way switch.

I mean, I don't ever look down at the switch while I'm playing and figure out which position it's in and move to another one. I always go all the way to either end and then back (one or two clicks) in one movement. So far it seems to work the same with the rotary, just go all the way to either end of the rotation and then back one or two clicks in one movement, no looking required. Mine is quiet, so noise isn't a problem.

What is problematic for me is when the position clicks in the switch are too soft/indefinite. I have an old '79 Strat with the original 5-way and the switch positions are so soft it's hard too feel them on the fly.
 
ViperDoc said:
I did, every time. We didn't last long, no surprise. The follow up guitarist after me left too. Go figure.
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This is why In ear monitors are the BEST thing ever for playing live. no volume wars and you hear exactly what you want to hear.
 
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