CRL - 5 Way Strat Switch With Spring Action

Strat CRL 5 way switch

The one and only CRL guitar switch - made in the U.S.A. This replacement Strat 5 way switch comes complete with two dome-head nickel mounting screws. Switch tip not included. CRL was the brand of choice for the original Fender Stratocaster's dating back to the 1950's and to this day still comes with the spring-action lever.

Standard U.S. size

Fits 1/16" (1.58mm) x 1-1/16" (26.98mm) slot

1-5/8" (41.27mm) centre to centre screw spacing

1-3/8" (34.92mm) cavity depth

Wiring:

These days the 5 way Strat switch is taken for granted but in the first 3 decades of the Stratocaster’s history (during the 1950’s, 60’s and most of the 70’s) the standard switch fitted at the Fender factory was a 3 position selector. The classic in-between pickup sounds were still achievable but players had to resort to carefully balancing the lever between positions to get the combination of bridge and middle and middle and neck pickups, now commonly referred to as positions 2 and 4 on a 5 way switch. It was only around 1977 did Fender start to fit a 5 way switch as standard to make it much easier to select all 5 tones. There is a common misconception that the combined pickup sounds in positions 2 and 4 are out of phase - this is not true and actually the pickups remain in-phase. The true sound of 2 pickups being out of phase with each other is a much thinner tone with a drop in volume but with a big emphasis on mid-range - somewhat of an acquired taste!

There are several ways to wire a standard Stratocaster - the most traditional method is as Leo Fender had initially devised during the Strat's inception which is to have the middle tone control directly affecting the neck pickup and the lower tone altering the middle pickup, leaving the bridge pickup without any tone control options. Western Swing was prevalent in the 50’s (and also one of Leo’s favourite musical genres) and the best way to recreate the clear and singing tones of the pedal steel, as heard on the recordings of bands like Bob Wills and the Texas Playboys, was to use the bright bridge pickup on the Strat. However, just as the 3 way switch was later replaced with a 5 way switch in 1977, guitar tones evolved over time and guitarists were not always wanting to have an ultra bright tone in the bridge position and so a simple wiring modification on the switch allows the lower tone to affect the bridge pickup so that the high treble frequencies can be tamed, leaving the middle tone pot to share the tonal duties for both middle and neck pickups.

Do you need a diagram for either of these two wiring methods discussed above? Simply email us with your request or add a note at the checkout stage of our website and we’ll happily include the correct wiring diagram for you.

Delivery

Any order placed before 2.30pm on a working day will generally be sent the same day. If the order is placed after 2.30pm on a weekday or anytime during the weekend or a public holiday, we will send the order the next working day.

UK Orders:

• Royal Mail First Class – £1.95 per order (free for orders £30.00 or higher). Delivery is usually next working day, but can sometimes take up to 5 days. No signature required.
• APC Courier – £6.50 per order (free for orders £90.00 or higher). Usually next-working day service with a 2-hour delivery window notified by email or text. Only available for UK mainland addresses. Signature required. Deliveries can be made up until 6.00pm. For urgent deliveries, please use Royal Mail Special Delivery.
• Royal Mail Special Delivery – £9.95 per order. Guaranteed delivery next working day before 1.00pm. Signature required. Delivery updates sent via email or text.

International Orders:

EU Orders:

We are pleased to offer a simplified shipping scheme (IOSS) for our EU customers:

• Orders up to €150.00 – All prices include VAT and any applicable fees. The price you see at checkout is final, with no extra charges.
• Orders over €150.00 – Prices do not include VAT or import fees. Additional fees must be paid to your local postal service upon arrival.

Please note: the all-fee-inclusive scheme applies only to business-to-consumer (B2C) transactions, not B2B.

Shipping Options within Europe:

• European Registered Post – £12.95 per order via Royal Mail Tracked service. Parcels are handed over to local postal services. Signature generally not required. Delivery: 3–7 working days.
• European Registered Courier – £30.00 per order. Courier selected for delivery. Signature required. Delivery: 2–5 working days.

USA Orders:

• USA Tracked Postal Delivery – Duties & Taxes Included – Sent via Royal Mail and handed over to USPS. Price includes all import duties and taxes, making checkout final. Hassle-free delivery with no customs paperwork or unexpected charges.
• Express Courier – Import Duties & Taxes Not Included – Faster delivery (3–7 working days). Import duties and taxes must be paid by the customer upon delivery.

International Orders (Rest of World):

• International Registered Post – £15.00 per order via Royal Mail Tracked service. Parcels handed over to local postal service. Signature generally not required. Delivery: 4–10 working days.
• International Registered Courier – £40.00 per order. Courier selected for delivery. Signature required. Delivery: 3–7 working days.

Please note: duties and import taxes may apply for international orders outside the EU and USA, depending on local regulations. Fees are usually collected upon delivery.

General Delivery Information:

If you have not received your order within the estimated delivery times, please contact us to request a tracking number. Checking with us sooner rather than later is recommended, as parcels returned due to failed delivery attempts can delay your order further.

GPSR – EU Responsible Person

Company name: Easy Access System Europe Oü
Address: Mustamäe tee 50, Tallinn, Tallinn, 10621, EE
Email: gpsr.requests@easproject.com
Phone: 358405003575

Returns

At Armstrong Music, we proudly offer a 30-day, no quibble returns policy. If a product does not meet your expectations, return it within 30 days for a refund (minus original postage) or exchange. Returned goods must be in original condition, including packaging and accessories.

If the return is due to missing or faulty parts, we will provide a full refund or replacement within 30 days. Refunds due to our fault include delivery charges.

Installation of Guitar Parts:

We do not accept responsibility for damage caused by fitting parts purchased from us. Inspect and test fit parts before installation. Attempts to modify or force parts may void returns or refunds.

Standard Template Pickguards:

Perform a "dry run" to ensure correct fit before removing protective film or installing components. Once removed, pickguards cannot be returned or refunded.

Custom-Made Pickguards:

Custom pickguards are non-returnable and non-refundable. This includes any requested modifications or pickguards made from customer-provided outlines.

Please use a registered postal or courier service for returns. Send returns to:

Armstrong Music
Woodreeve Farm
Capel Road
Ruckinge
Ashford
Kent
TN26 2EJ

This returns policy does not affect your legal rights.

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