Your cart is empty.
Your cart is empty.
Free-Way 5-Way/10-Position Pickup Switch
Unlimited new tones for your guitar!
Finally! A simple solution to get more options out of your pickups, without drilling holes, installing new switches, or adding push-pull pots. Don't change the look and feel of your guitar when you can get more options with one simple upgrade.
This Free-Way 5-Way/10-Position switch takes the conventional Strat-Style 5-way switch so much further. This unique switch opens new tones and wiring options without permanent modification to your guitar.
No ugly new holes, countless new options
Designed to replace a conventional 5-way switch, it works like two 5-way switches side-by-side. While the Super Switch and Megaswitch allow for more custom wiring then traditional 5-Way Switches, this is the only model that will allow you easy access to 10 pickup combinations, coil tapping and splitting instantly from the same switch.
With one knob, you can click between each pickup selection in a flash. The feel of the switch is not changed—it feels just like the switch you are used to.
And—you can finally get your neck and bridge pickup together without sacrificing another pickup option. Finally get that middle position Tele sound from your Strat and so much more!
Professional quality for a lifetime of use
Free-Way switches are made in England with top quality components so they'll keep working gig after gig, year after year. The solder pads are gold-plated, the switch housing is stainless steel.
And it even includes two knobs! One white and one black to get the right look.
The switch easily replaces conventional 5-way switches.
Unlock the tone of all three of your pickups!
Specifications
Body cavity depth required: 1-11/32" (34mm)
Mounting screw spacing: 1-5/8" (41.28mm)
Lever stem: .050" x .190" (1.27mm x 4.82mm)
Pickguard slot required: 1/16" x 1-1/16" (1.59mm x 26.99mm) (f
J.P. Conques
Reviewed in the United States on March 6, 2025
These switches are amazing. Every Strat should have one.
Aaron Rowe
Reviewed in the United States on February 19, 2025
I saw this on YouTube and was intrigued, especially since I've been getting into recording and 80s clean stuff. This thing rocks! It fits in normal and looks identical to a normal switch. No altering to your guitar. No noise. Basically, you have your normal 5 ways, then you flip it up, and you 5 more additional sounds. It functions great and the quality is good. I currently have 2 and am considering the 6-way Tele version!
p
Reviewed in the United States on January 10, 2025
Fits japanese fender contemporary strat perfectly. The cavity is big enough.Really like new sounds in positions 6-10.
D.L.
Reviewed in the United States on July 30, 2024
Hm. Mixed feelings about this one.First, maybe I got a bad copy, but the switching is not as smooth as the original switch. Yes, I adjusted the placement carefully, which is a bit finicky to set up so that switch moves freely in both banks, but what I mean it sounds like switching creates clicking noise, perhaps because multiple contacts engage or disengage. Not a huge issue for an amateur like me, and by all means probably should be handled by noise gates etc., but it is not quite the quality I'd expect after paying $50. Tried put some contact cleaner, it did not make things worse, but I don't think it made them appreciably better. Maybe it needs a bit of break in, we'll see .Another thing is, the overall I stall seems to be slightly detrimental w.r.t. EMI. I was ok with the degree of hum I was getting before, but now it was more of in-your-face kind of hum. I checked all connections, everything was fine. My best guess was, even with standard pickup configurations the switch changed the configuration such that the neck and bridge pickup grounds now connected to the switch even when they were actually connected to the ground, so overall that created more wiring and a longer path for pickups to acquire more EMI.Willing to give it a chance before I give up and resign to the idea that I spent $50 for nothing, I resorted to copper shield cavity upgrade. It took me a decent part of my Saturday, but it was worth it in the end, switch or not. The EMI is almost gone, and I can't hear it at all in sequential pickup configurations (pos. 6, 8, and 10), even with double compression, dry. That all is given that my ground is really good at home.Bottom line, I am keeping it for now, maybe it will grow in me. But I will watch it, and impressions are mixed as it stands.
Dr H
Reviewed in the United States on June 12, 2024
This is an awesome switch that works as a drop-in replacement for the pickup switch on a Stratocaster, or Strat-copy guitar. I think it would probably work on a telecaster as well, but I only tried it on a Strat.Well-made, solid feel, positive switching, and opens up a huge number of pickup possibilities. This switch provides five positions -- like the original Strat switch -- but on two different levels, for a total of ten switch positions. It fits in the same space as the original switch; no modification are required to the pickguard or cavity.Because there are so many wiring possibilities, you are going to want to visit the Free-Way website, and view some of the many wiring diagrams they have available. Don't jump in half-assed, (like I did...) else you may find yourself desoldering and rewiring to get the desired results. Follow the circuit diagrams carefully, and verify your connections with a continuity checker before you close things up.Pay attention to detail, however, and you will be rewarded.With this switch and two push-pull pots (for the tone controls) I moved my Strat from five pickup configurations to twenty-four -- without drilling a single hole or changing the look of the instrument. I now have single-coil/humbucker, in/out of phase, series/parallel, and various combinations of one, two , or all three pickups.This switch is a little pricey, and you could achieve the same effects by adding several small toggle switches. But if you love your Strat, spend a few extra bucks on this switch and do it right.Icing on the cake -- if you run into problems or have wiring questions, shoot an email to Free-Way. Their tech are willing and able to help, and respond quickly to inquiries. Customer service a plus!
Favi
Reviewed in the United States on May 6, 2024
Quick read: It’s a great switch! Makes it a lot more versatile. My old switch button did not fit so I had to use the button included with the switch.I love it! It’s fun to play around with the new tones and still keep the standard strat sounds.Before I found this switch I was looking for a way to play the bridge and neck pickups together in either series or parallel. I thought of turning a tone knob to a blender pot but I had to figure out a way to also get the series sound. Then I stumbled upon this switch watching a YouTube video. I was instantly sold as I it was exactly what I was looking for and more!The wiring diagram can be found on stewmacs website with different options. Installing it was easy if you’ve done soldering before. Just be careful to not overspill the solder onto the neighboring terminal. I went with the scheme A master tone because I wanted tone control for the bridge. All in all it came out great, I can’t say it enough how much I enjoy this switch!
M. Severino
Reviewed in the United States on October 25, 2023
What an awesome switch that will unlock your guitar's tone capacity. I have a dual humbucker guitar and this 10-way switch has given me so many useable pickup combinations. As someone decent but not great with soldering, it was fairly easy to install following a diagram I found online. Highly recommended to open your guitars versatility.
Photo Maven
Reviewed in the United States on September 16, 2022
The switch is easy to install. It does require you cut wires and solder, but certainly can be done by a “non-professional guitar technician”. It took me about an hour to disassemble, remove old switch, install new switch, run wire, solder, and Strat. Works perfectly and I love the different sound options. When running clean, I’ve even gotten some looks from my guitarist friends in the audience who later approached me to ask about my amp settings. The humbucker sound is awesome and so is the power from the series pickups. This was a great augmentation to my guitar. I’ll probably do it to my other Strat.
Recommended Products
