Fender has been using the S-1 Switch since the early 2000s. Quite honestly, at first I didn’t like it, but, it is a powerful switch and does not distract from the “Look” of the Fender Stratocaster and for that, I’ve grown to like it.
The essence of the switch is that it’s a 4P2T switch. In other words you have 4 switches that have 2 positions and they all switch at the same time. Well, the possibilities are rather close to endless on what you can do with it. It’s almost like the difference between a standard 5 way switch and a 5 way SUPER switch with 2 wafers and 4 independent switches.
First a diagram, then I’ll catalog the different schemes used by Fender through the years.
If unsure you can simply MEASURE with a continuity or ohm meter to know which is which but if it’s press down think LEFT and when it’s up think RIGHT.
Now on to the wiring layouts.
2003-2007 AM Stratocaster HSS
S-1 Switch Up (off):
Position 1. Full Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Middle Pickup and Inside coil of Bridge Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down:
Position 1. Humbucker
Position 2. Humbucker in Parallel with Neck
Position 3. Bridge In parallel with Neck and middle in series (Bridge//(Neck+Middle)
Position 4. (Inside Coil of Bridge + Neck) in Parallel with Middle
Position 5. Middle Pickup in Series with Neck
2004-2010 AM Stratocaster SSS
S-1 Switch Up (off):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 2. Bridge Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 3. Bridge/Middle/Neck Pickups with Neck and Bridge Pickups in Parallel and in Series with Middle pickup
Position 4. Neck Pickup in Parallel with Special Capacitor and in Series with Middle Pickup
Position 5. Neck Pickup in Series with Middle Pickup
2010-2012 AM Deluxe Stratocaster SSS Switching
S-1 Switch Up (Off):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down (On):
Position 1. Bridge, Middle and Neck Pickups in Series
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Series
Position 3. Middle and Neck Pickup in Series
Position 4. Bridge and Neck Pickup Out-Of-Phase, and in Series with Special Tone Capacitor
Position 5. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Series and Out-Of-Phase, and in Parallel with Neck Pickup
2013-2015 AM Deluxe Stratocaster (not on the plus)
S-1 Switch Up (off):
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down (On):
Position 1. Bridge pickup in parallel with Neck & Middle pickups in series
Position 2. Neck pickup in parallel with Middle & Bridge pickups in series
Position 3. Middle and Bridge pickups in Series
Position 4. Neck & Middle pickups in series
Position 5. All pickups in series
2015-2018 ELITE Stratocaster
S-1 Switch Up (off):
- Position 1: bridge pickup only
- Position 2: bridge and middle pickups wired in parallel
- Position 3: middle pickup only
- Position 4: middle and neck pickups wired in parallel
- Position 5: neck pickup only
S-1 Switch Down (On):
- Position 1: all three pickups wired in series
- Position 2: bridge and middle pickups wired in series
- Position 3: middle and neck pickups wired in series
- Position 4: bridge and neck pickups wired out of phase, with a special tone capacitor
- Position 5: bridge and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, in parallel with neck pickup
2018+ ULTRA Stratocaster
S-1 Switch Up:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup
Position 2. Bridge and Middle Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle Pickup
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup
S-1 Switch Down:
Position 1. Bridge Pickup and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 2. Bridge Pickup, Middle Pickup and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 3. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 4. Middle and Neck Pickup in Parallel
Position 5. Neck Pickup