Freeway Switch 5B5-01 Black & White Tip

This was a great addition to my Schecter Nick Johnston SSS strat. I basically bought this for the neck+bridge mode, the other four modes came as great extras.

Pros:
+ keeps the look of the strat the same
+ intuitive to use
+ freeway has multiple wiring solutions from which to choose
+ 5 extra pickup combinations without using any push/pulls
+ my original switch tip fitted perfectly to the switch

Cons:
- didn't come with wiring diagrams. A4 paper version would have been appreciated. (pdf available on thomann and freeway websites)

I installed the Freeway Switch on my Sterling by Music Man Cutlass CT50 SSS, which already clicks all the boxes for me in terms of what makes an S-type guitar an amazing instrument, and the results were awesome as expected. All 5 extra positions complement the classic 5 Strat combinations perfectly, and if someone doesn't know that there's a new pickup switch on my guitar, they simply cannot see it (it's that cleverly constructed, and easily used on the fly). If you love the feel of your S-type instrument and the sound coming from its single coil pickups, then it's like getting a new guitar actually (which has the same features and feel that you love, but different sounds), and for a ridiculous amount of money.

In total, the 5 new combinations you can get are the following:
a) a warm and thick neck pickup tone (neck >> middle in series)
b) a twangy Tele-like middle combo (neck + bridge in parallel)
c) a more aggressive combo reminiscent of a Les Paul middle selection (neck >> bridge in series)
d) an open sounding combo which is close to the 2nd position of the Strat, with a touch of mellowness coming from the neck pickup (neck + middle + bridge in parallel)
e) a thicker bridge pickup tone, reminiscent of a bridge humbucker (middle >> bridge in series)

The main reason I decided to buy the 5B5-01 was because I wanted to have the option to have a bit more body on the bridge pickup for some of my overdriven tones, and I can get exactly that by the (e) selection. I also love to have the ability to use selections (a) and (b) every once in a while (for Strat lovers who like Teles but don't want to spend money buying one, that (b) selection will totally get you a piece of that T flavor you like), and finally although I don't have any reasons to use (c) and (d) that much, it's not bad to have them at my disposal as well.

Overall, the unit is very well made and highly recommended. Easily the best Strat pickup switching system out there.

This switch has transformed my guitar.

I have an HSS Washburn which I've had many years and it has given me most of my strat-like tones plus a few others. The pots and switches were getting crackly, despite cleaning them, so I thought I would replace them. While I was looking for replacement parts I came across this switch and thought it might be nice to try it out.

Since fitting the switch I have all the tones I had before plus some new ones. It has added some beefy series-connected sounds plus a Tele-like bridge-plus-neck sound. The versatility is great for recording.

What was a good guitar for tones is now a great guitar. The transformation is as big as changing pickups , but you have all your old favourite tones still on tap.

It appears to be well built, and it should for the price you pay. It allows you to have 10 different pickup combinations without dpdt switches.
Pros:
1. 10 pickup combinations
2. Pads with holes for easy soldering
3. No need for additional switches, you can use plain audio pots.
4. Schematics on their website: fits my Yamaha Pacifica
Please, check the size of the switch on the manufacturer website against your guitar cavity. It is possible that your guitar cavity is not deep enough, which is likely for the new strat-type guitars, or that your guitar is too thin.