It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 8:14 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 
Author Message
Post subject: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Mon Oct 06, 2014 11:52 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
I have recently decided to buy a brass tremolo block for my HSS Fender Stratocaster & I thought while I had the strings & bridge off I might do a little upgrade to the pups.

I don't think there's room in the body at the neck pup position for a humbucker or I would get a new pickguard & a humbucker to go in there.

I don't fancy routing it or having it routed, so I would pursue the Lil' bucker or Rail style humbucker that takes a single coil slot space in the body & the pickguard.

I'm hoping I could fit a rail pup in the neck position w/o having to shave any plastic off the pickguard slot.

I basically want to make my axe into a HSH configuration. Here is how I'd want the wiring:

position 1:
neck bucker only (both rails/bobbins)

position 2:
north rail/bobbin of neck bucker (top half) + middle single coil pup

position 3:
middle pup only

position 4:
middle pup + south bobbin of bridge pup (bottom half)

position 5:
bridge pup (both bobbins)

Would that require a "Super" 5-way switch?, or is it possible with a standard 5-way?

I dread the whole task really. I've not had much fun when soldering things in the past, but I would love the finished product.

If I win the bid on that brass trem. block, I will pop the pickguard off of my Strat & see what ohm readings I get on the present single coil pups & go for something with a higher ohm range. These single coil pups are pretty low output IMHO.


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Tue Oct 07, 2014 4:36 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Well, I have at least figured out that I can't use a standard 5-way switch to do it like I want.
I'm looking to get a couple of 500k pots for the tone & some .47mF caps if the ones in there aren't.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 11:59 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sat Jan 25, 2014 6:54 am
Posts: 81
What strat do you have? Many bodies are capable of the HSH configuration w/o altering the body.
What about a mighty mite loaded pickguard? They have different options including 3 rails or 2 rails and a humbucker in the bridge. I'm not sure how they're wired to the switch so you'd have to contact them to find out. Then you could go to EvilBay and purchase 1. Prewired pickguards could save you some trouble of doing it all yourself.
Just an idea to kick around.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 3:29 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
PicknGoodTime wrote:

What strat do you have?


I didn't know there were different models within the HSS Made in Mexico Stratocaster category.

PicknGoodTime wrote:

Many bodies are capable of the HSH configuration w/o altering the body.


Yeah, I'm holding off buying the parts until my steel trem block arrives. While I've got the strings off to put in the trem block I will take off the pickguard & see if there's room at the neck for a full-sized humbucker.


PicknGoodTime wrote:

What about a mighty mite loaded pickguard?


The ones on eBay are priced pretty good, but I really want to keep as much original equipment as possible. There's nothing wrong with the humbucker in there, but I'm not yet sure if I'm keeping the single coil in the middle position. I might even make it a HHS configuration if there's no room for the full-sized bucker at the neck position. Is that even done?

PicknGoodTime wrote:

Prewired pickguards could save you some trouble of doing it all yourself.


Yeah, I will get lot of cursing done while soldering that super switch, especially if I ruin it.

For the price of one of those pre-wired "loaded" pickguards I could probably just buy one of those & re-sell the spare humbucker back on eGay.

I have wanted to change the pickguard on mine, but all the 'real' guitar players told me that guitars are meant for playing, not looking at, LOL.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 10, 2014 4:02 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Here is a picture of what it looks like right now:

Image

It conflicts with all the stuff I've read about the specification of the Standard Stratocaster.
They leave out 'American' for the MIM models.

Whenever I look at parts for a MIM bridge they state that it's got a 10.5mm spacing, but I measured the spacing from low E to high E and it's 2-3/16", which is not the same as 10.5mm spacing (2-1/16").

So, I've got a 1996 MIM Stratocaster with a Vintage bridge, which I'm glad it is, but at the same time it makes buying any parts related to bridge spacing a pain in the arse.

I've been noticing the cheaper rail pups on eBay are not every wide, as if they're made for the 2-1/16" spacing.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Wed Oct 15, 2014 4:42 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Well, I finally took the pickguard off of my MIM HSS Stratocaster while I was changing the vibrato/tremolo block for a nice new steel one. It looks like there could be room for another humbucker at the middle position, but not the type that's in it. I took measurements of the one in it & compared to the cavity & it would not fit. It would only take two tiny little cuts with a dremel to get it in there though. HHS doesn't seem to be a popular configuration though. I forgot to measure the resistance of the pickup coils & pots while I had it open, & I've already re-strung & tuned it, DAMN! I do notice a difference in tone with the new bridge block. I also put the modern saddles on while I had it apart & I'm now getting between 2 to 5 seconds more sustain (depending on which string). Ah well, at least I won't have to take the strings all the way off to get under the pickguard again. If those pups measure pretty good resistance I will just leave them. I did notice the cap in there is only 0.022 uF. I would change that to a higher value if I ever do any soldering in there.

Image

I also waxed the fretboard & neck with some Johnson's bowling alley wax while I had all the strings off.
It's slicker'n'snot now, as my folks would say.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 11:49 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Thu Nov 14, 2013 10:56 am
Posts: 145
I was just getting ready to say (before I read your latest update),
leave it HSS.
If you're happy with the MIMs (I sure am!),
you might want to check out the Blacktop HSH. I'm very pleased with mine.

One can be had fairly inexpensively,
you get a rosewood fretboard (to compare to your maple)
22 frets (in contrast to the usual MIM 21)
and a tele-pickup in the middle for the versatility as you described in your ideal pick-up switching selection.

After re-reading that, it sounds like I'm trying to sell ya one, 8)
but actually, I'm here to tell ya what a PAIN it is to mod your way back to the original HSS as I have personally found out :shock:


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 1:35 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
I salivated over a blacktop bass at my local Fender dealer until it finally got sold.

I considered buying a Tele pickup for the middle position. Those things are dirt cheap on eBay.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 17, 2014 3:43 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
I've been offered a loaded mirror pickguard with Lace Sensor pups in it, of which the bridge pup is a Blue model. The Blue model are supposed to be like a humbucker.

It would be a shame to go from HSS to SSS, but I always wanted a mirrored pickguard.

The owner only wants $120 for the loaded pickguard, but it's across the entire country, so not sure how much it would cost to have it shipped.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 5:20 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician
User avatar

Joined: Thu Jan 10, 2013 7:02 pm
Posts: 1978
Location: Manchester
Regarding your first post, don't judge a pickup purely by the DC resistance reading. Contrary to popular belief that tells you absolutely nothing at all about how hot a pickup is.

http://www.lollarguitars.com/blog/2010/ ... esistance/

http://www.planetz.com/pickup-dc-resist ... ut-levels/

I'd grab that Lace Sensor pickguard with both hands. Even if you decide you don't like it you can probably sell it at a profit.

_________________
Image
Image my stuff on soundcloud


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2014 6:43 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Yes, all the resistance tells you is how many loops of wire are on the spool. You need to know the strength of the magnetic field to get a better idea of how hot the pup is.

I bought the loaded pickguard with Lace Sensors, it should get here Monday evening.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Tue Oct 28, 2014 1:27 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Well guys, here's my latest drama & it's going to be my last with my guitar, because I am done trying to modify anything. From now on I will just be happy with what I have. The loaded chrome pickguard came by UPS yesterday, and I got a look it it. Very nicely laid out. The person who put the Lace Sensor pups in did a good job. They even used separate caps for each tone control like I would have.
I got the 22 gauge wire I ordered from China/eBay in the mail today so I thought I'd get to work. I removed the leads from the jack connected to volume & then laid the chrome pickguard in. All this time I was concerned that the screw holes wouldn't line up. That was the least of my worries, since the whole thing was too big to fit in between the neck & the bridge. I tried wedging it in there, but there was no use.
Then I started looking at taking the Lace Sensor pups off & putting them into the single coil slots on my HSS stock pickguard.
After examining the wiring I thought there was no way I was going to get the job done w/o melting a lot of wire & a lot of cursing & just plain angry moods.
So, I finally took my MIM Strat to the guitar doctor. This will be it's first visit to a guitar mechanic under my ownership.
The guy estimated about $100 to switch the pups around like I intend, but asked me to put a limit on it, so I said $150. I'm guessing my bill will be $149.99.
Anyway, I want the Blue sensor (high output) in the neck & the Gold in the middle, so it's similar to a HSH configuration. I asked him to put the pots & caps from the chrome pickguard on my stock one, but he seemed to ignore that.
At least I've got my Warlock knockoff to play on while I'm waiting for the work to be done.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: Fender MIM Stratocaster HSS revamp
Posted: Fri Oct 31, 2014 6:45 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Sun May 11, 2014 6:06 pm
Posts: 27
Here she is, cost me around $250, which is more than I paid for this 1996 Mexican Stratocaster.

Image


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 13 posts ] 

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: No registered users and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: