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Post subject: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Thu Mar 30, 2017 2:34 pm
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I am thinking about changing my factory pickups for a pair of Sawbucker2 pickups. Has anyone done this on their Blacktop Strat HH before? The Sawbuckers require 500k ohm pots. I am not sure what my factory pots are? Any help would be great


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 1:16 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Schematics I see show all Fender HH guitars use 500k volume pot.
Like most if not all HH guitar.

I did not find Blacktop schematic.

A meter to read ohms is a good invest. So cheap today.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 2:10 am
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The service diagram used to be available but Fender seem to have "lost" it.
The Blacktop pots are 500K made by JS.
It is fitted with a superswitch and the pickups are auto split in positions 2 and 4. You may have to transpose the wiring colors on the Shawbuckers to match the current pickup wiring.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 4:05 am
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Low value pot like 250K cut more the highs than 500K pot.

Humbucker may have less highs than single coil, 500K pot is the best choice.

Single coil pickups use 250K pots


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 11:20 am
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The wiring now is with 500K pots, .022mfd caps:
Blacktop Stratocaster Diagram

But for Shawbuckers Fender recommends 250K pots, .02(2)mfd cap - possibly to keep the 'clarity' features mr. Shaw describes:
Shawbucker Wiring Diagram
(Same 250/.022 with the AmDlx Shawbucker.)

Download & save if you need those, they may be lost soon again...

@Bzakarow63:
I'd suggest upgrading the pots, caps, switch while rewiring. Blacktop price is based on cheap components, so Shawbuckers might deserve CTS (or Bourns) pots, a CRL switch and caps as highttech as you want. Maybe a Switchcraft jack, too. :wink:
And for digging up those diagrams, would you satisfy my curiosity:
A. What don't you like in the current pickups?
B. There's a million humbucker options, why the Shawbucker?
(I'm not trying to talk you out of the upgrade or say Shawbuckers ain't the right choice - I'm really just curious...)


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 12:09 pm
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
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With 250K pots Shawbucker may sound very dark !


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Apr 01, 2017 1:24 pm
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UK Shawbuckers require 500k Ohm pots according to this link.
http://shop.fender.com/en-GB/accessorie ... 49002.html
Why did Fender go to a whole lot of trouble to fit dual 250k/500k pots in the American Standard HSS Shawbucker?
Once again Fender misleads its customers with inaccurate information.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sun Apr 02, 2017 8:57 pm
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Location: Midland, Ontario
I just replaced both my pickups in my Blacktop ( as well as new chrome knobs and a red tort pickguard: Looks great!) . I went with Seymour Duncan '59 in the neck and a Pearly Gates in the bridge. It's only been a month or so but I have gigged with it and so far I think it sounds great. When my tech went in the wiring etc. was a mess so don't be surprised.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Wed Apr 05, 2017 5:00 am
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bluesguy996 wrote:
I just replaced both my pickups in my Blacktop ( as well as new chrome knobs and a red tort pickguard: Looks great!) . I went with Seymour Duncan '59 in the neck and a Pearly Gates in the bridge. It's only been a month or so but I have gigged with it and so far I think it sounds great. When my tech went in the wiring etc. was a mess so don't be surprised.
Sounds good - any pics?!

I've also got a Pearly Gates in the bridge of one of my two HH Strats, although I've paired it with a Jazz (bridge model) in the neck. Great choice! Like you, I love the PG - fatter than any SC-sized stack or side-by-side HB, but still Stratty, especially when you knock the volume down a bit.

Your '59 is very similar to the Jazz Neck, but I prefer the Jazz Bridge with its slightly higher output, probably because I like to wind the neck HB further away from the strings. Don't know about anyone else, but when playing with gusto, and with a high-mounted neck HB, I occasionally knock the top E so that it jams behind the open coils. This can be as embarrassing as Eric's Strat falling off its strap on The Last Waltz (one of my favourite shows ever)!

Cheers - Peter.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Wed Apr 12, 2017 1:38 am
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Im using DiMarzio Paf 36th anniversary in both positions but mine also came with 500kpots. But I'm playing a HSH also. The 36th work great. I'm still playing with the SC though. I used a area 58 and it was OK but switched it to a rail. Sounds great but lacks true SC tone. That said the SD vintage rail gives 5 very usable positions with no volume do but in very slight degrees which I wanted. However I also play single coil strats. Nevertheless as you can tell the HSH still hasn't replaced my true SC strats but like it as is. Perhaps a lil 59 might have worked better in that regard. They also sound great in the middle with 3 humbuckers. The rail was here so I thought I'd give it a shot.

Good luck they are nice. I thought in 2015 Fender did a great job with them and the QC is better in the neck and trem and pick up routes very clean no overspray. They are using the same neck pocket route as China is with the Classic Vibe now though.


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Post subject: Re: Replacing pickups on my Blacktop Strat HH
Posted: Sat Feb 24, 2018 12:54 pm
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Hi,

Did you have this done already? If yes, can you post an update with your choice and experience so far with that choice?

I was actually thinking about replacing one of the single coils of my Squier Strat with a single coil-sized humbucker for more versatility, as I've recently started playing more rock/metal as opposed to blues in the past.

I was particularly intrigued about SC-sized humbuckers after giving this video a watch: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VOwhWVk7HGU

Thanks.


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