I recently bought an American Special and thought I would like it just the way it was; however, I am finding little issues with it I do not like about it. Although I loved the way it plays, I am having some tone issues with it, specifically the bridge pickup.

1: The neck and middle are fine (after some fine tuning). The single coil bridge is just too hot and I cannot seem to adjust it to get a good tone out of it. Right now I have it almost flush with the pick guard and the tone knob is set to 1 and it is still too treblely (tinny). I am thinking a Dimarzio 36th Anniversary PAF Pro (F spaced) or a Seymore Duncan Pearly Gates to replace the TS bridge pickup with. Herein lies my problem...I just do not know which one to go with. I already have a Dimarzio SD in my other Fender and do not want another guitar to sound exactly alike it.

Of course there is the new pickguard to accommodate the humbucker. I am planning on staying white, but finding it hard to fine a white 3 ply pick guard with 2 mount holes for a humbucker. I can find the 3 mount holes pick guards easy. I already have a white pearloid on the HWY 1 and frankly not sure how it would look on Candy Apple Red paint on my AS. Any suggestions?

2: The stock guage strings (0.009's) are too thin...I just got used to the 10's on my other guitar. I am actually thinking of going to 11's on both guitars and going to 10's on my Squier CV 60. No big deal there. Easy fix.

3: This next issue is just purely a convenience issue. I have gotten spoiled with my locking tuners on my other guitar and want to place a set on the AS. But other than the hassel of multiple twists on the tuner keys, there are no real issues there (unlike the reason for the replacement on my HWY 1). I really like Schaller locking tuners and I am considering another set. I have Fender/Schaller's in the other guitar, and really like the "F" emblem on the lock buttons, but have heard of some recent QC issues with them and fear that they are not the same quality as my current set. I could just purchace a peg winder to help with string changes and keep the stock tuners.

Decisions...Decisions!!!! Having difficulty deciding.

So my delima is to modify or not to modify. Do a heavy modification or just do the pickup swap? Change to locking tuners? Strings are an easy issue to fix, and not too many people see that guage change as a true modification.

Open to suggestions.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I'm interested to hear what others recommend to you. I'll be picking up my MIM FSR Orange Flake HSS Strat later this month and I'm considering changing the pickups to match the Lonestar Strat configuration. The pickups would match what you're considering for your Am Spl. I'm not sure about the SD Pearly Gates, though -- it gets mixed reviews here but I haven't tried out a Lonestar myself. I might have to check one out at the local GC just to hear how the pickups sound...

In regard to the pickguard question, in my opinion, the white pearloid pickguard with CAR should look great. The old Am Lonestar Strats had the pearloid pickguard and I'm pretty sure CAR was one of the body colors available back then for the Lonestar...

I recommend a Bill Lawrence L-45S http://www.wildepickups.com/Wilde_Bill_ ... lades.html for your bridge pickup.

That would also take care of the pickguard issue.

As far as string gauge goes. I let each guitar dictate what gauge of string it gets. It takes trying out different gauges until the right one is found. You will know it.

I have no suggestion on the locking tuners.

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Chet Feathers

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I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I agree that you should make the guitar for you to play. Fender was (is) always about modifications and finding out works for you, the player.

As to the pick guard. I'm sure you can find what your looking for on ebay or just take the guitar to a good luthier. They are worth the monry you spend.

I know a luthier in Baltimore, MD who does really good work. He put a humbucker in the neck position of my telecaster.

I'm sure you can find older locking keys on ebay too. I have a '90s Fender set on a home built guitar and love them.

Paris

In my experience I've never been really happy with the stock pickups on any of the strats, even some of the custom shops I've played. In general they're all too shrill, which suggests to me that they underwind their pickups (which is consistent with the idea of cost-cutting measures that a big company like this would do)

As far as string gauge, I usually say go with the thickest gauge that your hands can handle. That is my tonal preference however. I play with 11s. You may have to have work to your nut done to accommodate for this?

However if you make the decision to do work like swapping pickups, etc. don't forget that resale value goes down - if that matters to you. This is the tradeoff you make. That said, I can't stand owning a guitar for a day without toying with it. To rip apart your instrument and customize it to your liking is to channel the spirit of Hendrix, SRV, Clapton, and on...

Thanks for the replies. Still deciding. I am now adding the Wilde Bill Twin Blade to the mix of possible Pickup choices.

I am thinking about upgrading to a new amp, either a Marshall Haze 40 watt or Marshall Class 5. So I may stay stock until I get the new amp. I may not need to change a thing.

oldguy101,

I played a lot of different models in the store including the Lonestar when purchacing. I could not pass up the deal I got on the American Special. The American Special and the Lonestar were the same price. Since I love the way the AS played bette than the Lonestar, it was an easy decision.


I have 10's on my Highway 1 and the necks are very similar. I can throw them on the AS and see how they feel, but I can guess.

I was going to have the new 10's (or 11's ) put on and have a professional set up done on it being as I did not have it done with the purchace. Yes it played and still plays great straight off the shelf, but just use to heavier strings.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I took my American Special to the shop today for a professional setup (intonation), change the strings from 9's to 10's, adjust the nut (G string catches when tunning), and to have the tremolo put flush to body. Most of the work I could have done myself, except the nut. I do not have any files, and not ones specific for guitar nut slots so why not have the rest done too.

I am holding off on any major modifications until after this tune-up. I am hoping that this is the magic needed to keep the guitar stock. If it isn't, I already have plans on modification.

Thanks to everyine on their opinions and advice.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

Modify the guitar to suit your tone. I took a stratocaster and dropped in a DiMarzio P.A.F. Pro humbucker in the bridge, and added a coil splitter so I could still get a single coil sound if I wanted. I also added a "Blusecaster" electronic kit by Torres Engineering, which consisted of a new volume pot, a 6 position tone selecter for the 1st tone pot, and a push-pull tone pot for the third. I did all of this about 17 years ago, and have never regretted it. Do your research so you only have to do it once. Another humbucker that sounds really nice is the Seymour Duncan Jeff Beck.

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I hear it, I heard it , I heard it on the "X".

As well as you should. When you modify a guitar it should sound better. To be honest with you I would put my Stock SSS Squier Classic Vibe 60 against a Stock SSS Fender MIM Standard and in my opinion it would sound better. In fact that is why I own a Classic Vibe right now, best bang for the buck and a heck of a guitar for a special modification project down the road. When you start modifying a guitar, 9 ties out of 10 it should turn out better than when it started. Which is why your guitar sounds better than a stock Special.

The only thing I do not like about this guitar is the bridge pick-up, but I have been adjusting tone knob, lowering the pickup, and messing with amp settings and I almost have it sounding the way I want it to. We'll see when it comes out of the shop if it is just the way I hoped. If so, no mods and it will stay totally stock. If not, the Dimarzio 36th Anniversary P.A.F. bridge pickup is going in along with, Schaller locking tuners, White Pearloid Pick guard, and Graphtech Saddles.

_________________
RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head