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Post subject: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 6:40 am
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The customisation of my 1989 Fender USA Standard Stratocaster is complete. I bought the guitar new in 1990 and it came with a Sunburst body and maple neck. It was everything I had ever wanted!

For years I barely had the confidence to adjust the action but in the last couple of years I have transformed it into a guitar that I just love to play.

When I bought the guitar I had no strong feelings about either a maple or rosewood fingerboard and for about 24 years I was happy with the maple but then I saw in a local main dealer a genuine Fender replacement neck for a USA Standard in rosewood so I decided it was time for a change. From that moment on the guitar felt different and I started to play it more and more. At the time my main guitar was a Gibson Les Paul Traditional but that was increasingly spending time on the stand while the Strat was being played.

The Strat came with a TBX tone control that was wired for the middle and bridge pickups but I never played it above the detent at 5. Most of the time I had it set around 4 so my next change was to replace the TBX control with a standard Fender tone pot.

I like to use the tone control on the bridge pickup but always have it on 10 when using the middle pickup so the next change was to remove the middle pickup from the tone circuit.

As much as I loved my Strat I always thought it was let down by the bridge pickup which seemed to be very thin compared to other Strat bridge pickups I have heard (especially those on the Eric Johnson and Rory Gallagher custom shop models). I have considered replacing the bridge pickup on many occasions but was never sure what to replace it with…….until last week when I decided to get a full set of Amalfitano SVL Daytona pickups (as used by Matt Schofield). These new pickups are just what I wanted giving a fatter, warmer tone but still every inch a Stratocaster.

With that the transformation of my Strat is complete and a pleasure to play. The perfect partner for my Limited Edition ‘65 Deluxe Reverb “Fudge Brownie”.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:15 am
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The rule here is without pics, it didn't happen. :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 7:50 am
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Minnesotastrats wrote:
The rule here is without pics, it didn't happen. :wink:



Image

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 9:26 am
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I may be able to customise a Strat but I have never posted a picture on a web page and wouldn't know where to begin.

However, what I can say is that in spite of the changes I've made, my guitar still looks exactly like a 3 tone sunburst Strat with white pickguard and rosewood neck!


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 11:52 am
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fifty4 wrote:
I may be able to customise a Strat but I have never posted a picture on a web page and wouldn't know where to begin


Here's a good place to start viewtopic.php?f=2&t=52777&hilit=nutter%27s+guide

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:02 pm
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1- download photo on Photobucket or other

On Photobucket librairy;

2- choose the photo you wan to post

3- clik on IMG ( copy )

4- Open Fender forum answer window and copy the IMG in the window

5- Test with preview button, you should see what all the forum member will see .


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 1:56 pm
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Thanks for the tips. I have now successfully posted my first picture to a photo sharing website! So here it is...

Image

You can see the guitar and the amp so for completeness I will list my pedalboard (in signal chain order):
Dunlop CryBaby Wah-Wah
Korg Pitchblack Tuner
Free The Tone MS-SOV Overdrive
Okko Diablo Gain + Overdrive
Way Huge Aqua-Puss Analogue Delay
Radial Twin City A/B/Y Amp Switcher
Boss RT-20 Rotary Ensemble (only available to the Normal Channel)
All powered by a Voodoo Labs Pedal Power 2 Plus


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Fri May 13, 2016 2:26 pm
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Nice little rig you got going there.

Image

.

I take it you don't care for your Wampler Tweed '57?
I see it's not on your board.

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 4:11 am
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BMW-KTM wrote:

I take it you don't care for your Wampler Tweed '57?
I see it's not on your board.

Very well spotted!

I tried quite a lot of overdrive pedals before settling on the MS-SOV and Okko Diablo. I like the Wampler Tweed 57 (and the Euphoria) but they don't quite hit the spot for me. I have been using this pairing with the DRRI for almost a year. The only variation I occasionally make is to replace the Okko with a Fredic Effects Golden Eagle (an excellent Klon clone).

Before getting the DRRI just over a year ago I was using a Peavey Classic 50/410. Many of the pedals that I liked to use with that didn't do it for me with the DRRI except, that is, for the MS-SOV which seems to works with any amp.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 10:10 am
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Sweet. :-)

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 10:42 am
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fifty4 wrote:
I like the Wampler Tweed 57 (and the Euphoria) but they don't quite hit the spot for me.
...
Many of the pedals that I liked to use with that didn't do it for me with the DRRI except, that is, for the MS-SOV which seems to works with any amp.

I guess the Tweed has a little too much sag for you then.
It doesn't have a lot but it does have some.
That's the reason I like it; because it does have a little bit.
It's been on every iteration of my board since I got it, regardless of amp.
I try a lot of pedals and there's not a lot out there that I have found that does "cranked Fender" like that one.
It's not gregarious though.
If mixed with other gain boxes it seems to disappear and sneak out of the party.
Particularly distortion and fuzz.

One man's food is another man's poison, I guess.
That's the way it is with pedals.
Enjoy and rock on.

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Sat May 14, 2016 12:44 pm
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While not a fan of the two point bridge, that is sure a pretty guitar. Nice rig too!

T2

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:01 am
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Despite the heading saying the transformation of my Stratocaster was complete at the time I started this thread I decided to make one more change.

I have now replaced the standard Fender trem block, saddles and trem arm with the Callaham upgrade kit of these parts. Obviously if you like the "original" look of the saddles then this is a great improvement but to be honest I am struggling to notice any significant change in tone. It does, however, sound good! Will post a picture when I remember how to do it!


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Transformation Complete
Posted: Mon Oct 31, 2016 7:09 am
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....and here she is along with her stablemates

Image


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