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Post subject: Blacktop Strat changes gone wrong
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 5:08 am
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Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:15 am
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I have a Blacktop Strat that I put DiMarzio 36 anniversary PAFs in. For me playing here at home it has just been a fun humbucker equipped guitar to play, great clean sound and big ballsy sound when getting to the rock stuff. But I have never been wild about the mint green guard, the amp control knobs and the 5 way switch. So got rid of them all, replaced the pots and got a 3 way switch. Also added the stainless steel bridge saddles from Guitarfetish.

What a disaster, the guitar may look better but now has a thin and unbelievably bright sound. Wired and rewired a couple of times changed pots and tried 250ks instead of 500ks for the tone controls. Made sure the black and white wires are soldered and taped as described.

None of that seemed to change the sound at all; it is as if that big blustery sound got sucked right out of it. The humbucker output and quietness are still there but it sounds for all the world like a Tele bridge pickup. That is probably giving Tele bridge pickups a bad name.

Or am I missing the obvious and the new bridge saddles made that much difference?

Any thoughts appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Strat changes gone wrong
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 6:15 am
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Joined: Tue Jul 17, 2007 1:53 am
Posts: 4241
First, check the setup of the guitar - screws, strings, relief, action, intonation, pickup height.

If that is absolutely surely perfect, trace your mods backwards to the point where the guitar sounded good.
Concentrate on the electronics (solder joints...) & hardware.
Never mind the pickguard, knobs etc; they don't affect the sound.

Then reverse the mods back to that restore point, do the setup routine again.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Strat changes gone wrong
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:07 am
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Joined: Sat Aug 17, 2013 11:15 am
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Appreciate the thoughts, I recognize the cosmetic changes have nothing to do with the sound. The saying if not broke don't fix it is very much on my mind at the moment. Should have played it as it was, looks be damned.

I will likely try going back to a 5 way switch set up which worked and see if that makes any difference.


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Post subject: Re: Blacktop Strat changes gone wrong
Posted: Sun Apr 23, 2017 7:08 am
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Joined: Fri Feb 05, 2010 4:31 am
Posts: 14049
Location: Province de Québec, Canada
Look like you do some mystake in wiring.

I don't know what is your experience in guitar setup . Did you do some intonation in the past ? With success ?
Some complete set-up ?

Did you do some work like soldering wires ?

Please report

If you answer no to these, there are so many things to check ( you mods ) and without seeing guitar what can we say more.


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