This invention refines and expands the use of mode switches in common-point connection circuits for matched pickups on musical instruments. For example, on a 3-coil S-type electric guitar, where the common-point connection circuit with a single-ended output provides three humbucking pair outputs and three humbucking triple outputs, a 4P2T mode switch can ground the common point and provide both all of the standard non-humbucking 5-way switch outputs, as well as adjusting the tone capacitor to make both humbucking and non-humbucking tone outputs more compatible. On an electric guitar with three dual-coil humbuckers, mode switches of one 6P2T, one 2P2T and three 1P2T can choose between dual-coil and single-coil operation modes, humbucking and non-humbucking modes, and partially simulate the effect of flipping single-coil magnets at will, by choosing which coil of each humbucker is used.