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Post subject: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:28 am
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Hello,

I have bought the following Fender Stratocaster recently:

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It is called "Fender FSR HSS TBX Boost Player" and it has the Mid Boost/TBX circuit like the Eric Clapton signature strat, but with a humbucker at the bridge. I'd like to make some modifications and need your help, because I'm an absolute beginner at electronics.

I would like to replace the TBX pot with a normal 250K NoLoad pot to get some extra resonance peak and therefore more highs in the resulting tone. Furthermore I'd like to reduce the mid boost to 12 db by adding some resistors (24k and 47k) into the circuit (like in the Fender Powerhouse strat). At last I would like to replace the Atomic Humbucker by a SD Pearly Gates.

I have found this thread by the user shredhed: http://forums.fender.com/viewtopic.p...87494&p=986605

I have some questions:

1. Can I replace the TBX pot with an normal 250K NoLoad pot or is there something I have to consider? Can I even take a 500k pot?
2. At which position do I have to add the resistors (a draft of the pot with the resistors or a photo would be great)?
3. The Atomic Humbucker makes a thin sounding out-of-phase sound when in position 2 of the 5-way-switch. Can I just swap the connections when installing the Pearly Gates to achieve that chimy sound you normally get in position 2?

Thanks in advance!

Kind regards,
Rock80s


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:34 am
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Hi,

Before proceeding to anything I suggest you to send a PM to our experts Ceri, Shimmilou, Danagos and Martian.

If you're unsure about how to DIY the mods you're seeking for, my personal recommendation is to contact a professional luthier.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 11:50 am
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chromeface wrote:
Hi,

Before proceeding to anything I suggest you to send a PM to our experts Ceri, Shimmilou, Danagos and Martian.

If you're unsure about how to DIY the mods you're seeking for, my personal recommendation is to contact a professional luthier.


Thanks for the hint. I PMed the users you suggested.

I have the soldering skills to do the DIY mod, but I just need some input, because the Eric Clapton TBX/MDX circuit in combination with a bridge humbucker seems to be a rare bird, especially if you want to reduce the mid boost to 12 db.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 12:22 pm
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I seem to be most available and the least learned of the Experts, so here are my guesses:

1. Just replace the TBX with a 250k pot, regular or no-load.

2. I've got a picture of a Powerhouse Strat somewhere, with the resistors in place, I'll try to find that. Google is your friend, but it might take some looking. Try the Powerhouse Owners club on Strat-Talk.

3. What was #3 again? Oh, the Humbucker replacement. Should be a direct swap. Watch the color coding of the wiring (know the hot color).

That might work better with a 500k tone pot, ask one of the "Real Experts".

By and large if you can use a soldering iron, it should be easy breezy!

(Famous last words! :lol: )

Good luck,

- Dan

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 4:16 pm
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This is the Service Diagram for the Deluxe Powerhouse Strat:

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-9500_02A_SISD.pdf

On page 2 it shows a diagram of the lower tone pot, in this case the control for the Mid-Boost, and the two resistors, marked # 19 & 20, attached to the casing and the outer lugs.

On page 3 the parts are listed by # and it tells you which resistor goes where.

Again, good luck and let us know how it turns out.

- Dan

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Fri Jun 13, 2014 5:56 pm
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Rock80s wrote:
the Eric Clapton TBX/MDX circuit in combination with a bridge humbucker seems to be a rare bird


Not really.

Image

Few of his guitars (including the Aztec Gold Strat) do have both the humbucker and the 12dB boost circuit.

Image

You can also install a mode switch to turn off the Elite preamp.

In the case of Richie's personal stage guitars the mode switch came in the form of a push-push button.


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:15 am
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danagos wrote:
This is the Service Diagram for the Deluxe Powerhouse Strat:

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-9500_02A_SISD.pdf

On page 2 it shows a diagram of the lower tone pot, in this case the control for the Mid-Boost, and the two resistors, marked # 19 & 20, attached to the casing and the outer lugs.

On page 3 the parts are listed by # and it tells you which resistor goes where.

Again, good luck and let us know how it turns out.

- Dan


Thanks for the diagram! That helps me a lot.

But what about question 3:

3. The Atomic Humbucker makes a thin sounding out-of-phase sound when in position 2 of the 5-way-switch. Can I just swap the connections when installing the Pearly Gates to achieve that chimy sound you normally get in position 2?

I would like to get that typical chimy strat sound, when in position 2. I don't know, if there is a technical reason, that they wired it that way originally. That out-of-phase sounds awful and not really usable to my ears.

Is that Sambora Strat also wired this way resulting in a thin sound on position 2?


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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 2:39 am
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Rock80s wrote:
But what about question 3:

3. The Atomic Humbucker makes a thin sounding out-of-phase sound when in position 2 of the 5-way-switch. Can I just swap the connections when installing the Pearly Gates to achieve that chimy sound you normally get in position 2?

I would like to get that typical chimy strat sound, when in position 2. I don't know, if there is a technical reason, that they wired it that way originally. That out-of-phase sounds awful and not really usable to my ears.

Is that Sambora Strat also wired this way resulting in a thin sound on position 2?

Just happened to get up and check my mail when this popped up, so a quick early morning reply.

I'm sorry Rock, that's beyond my technical expertise and personal experience. Never owned a Sambora and my experience with Humbuckers stopped with 80's MIJ MMK45s and a JB jr I put in a Tele once. :D

Typical "Chimy Strat" tone comes from using the right Single Pickups, I don't think those two worlds intersect even if you split the Humbucker. That's just my uneducated opinion.

Although this seems to be the right section for Pickup questions, so far it seems less traveled than the Strat Forum and if you don't get satisfaction you may ask there and refer back to this thread.
http://forums.fender.com/posting.php?mode=quote&f=18&p=1067567

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Sat Jun 14, 2014 3:00 pm
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danagos wrote:
Typical "Chimy Strat" tone comes from using the right Single Pickups, I don't think those two worlds intersect even if you split the Humbucker. That's just my uneducated opinion.


+1

I concur. Even the modern 500T humbucker doesn't sound as bright as a single-coil Fender pickup (either Strat or Tele).

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Fender Eric Clapton MDX/TBX questions
Posted: Sun Jun 22, 2014 5:32 pm
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Rock80s wrote:
chromeface wrote:
Hi,

Before proceeding to anything I suggest you to send a PM to our experts Ceri, Shimmilou, Danagos and Martian.

If you're unsure about how to DIY the mods you're seeking for, my personal recommendation is to contact a professional luthier.


Thanks for the hint. I PMed the users you suggested.

Hi guys, thanks for the name-check and apologies for being so late in replying - been away.

Matter o' fact, I don't think I have anything helpful to add here - I'm more a timber guy than electronics. But in addition to those already on this thread, a fella who really knows this area of guitars is Forum user AndyBigHair. He ain't around much these days but might catch a PM...

BTW, Forum user Martian has his hands seriously full with personal stuff at present, and it would be kind not to call on his services, till we hear differently. Just a friendly heads-up...

Cheers - C

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