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Post subject: Upgrading an Am. Dlx. Strat?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 1:16 pm
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I have an American Deluxe, 3 single coil SCNs with the S1 switch, and I have loved it dearly for 2 years. But now, I am sick of the single coil tone, and even with the S1 switch it gets that ring. I have another guitar (vintage Airline Town and Country) with humbuckers and I love the humbucker tone. My question is does anyone know if the deluxe strat is able to fit a humbucker in the bridge and neck position? I have heard that some strats are cut to accommodate HSH configuration. And second, any ideas of what humbuckers would sound good? Would gibsons work? And would I be able to wire them with the S-1 Switch, even though I need a new pickguard and pots?


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:04 pm
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What's the point, really? You have a strat and you don't like the strat sound anymore. Just sell it and get a les paul or something.

I don't like my station wagon anymore. Can I just carve it up and turn it into a pick up truck?


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:15 pm
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Well I'm thinking of selling it and getting a PRS but I'd rather get new pickups in it than buy a whole new guitar.


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:23 pm
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Spidah Handz wrote:
Well I'm thinking of selling it and getting a PRS but I'd rather get new pickups in it than buy a whole new guitar.


PRS? If it's not a $5000 Santana one I can't understand that. Good luck my friend and you should have no trouble selling a MIA Deluxe! :)


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:28 pm
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anyone think its smarter to upgrade or sell?


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:44 pm
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Spidah Handz wrote:
anyone think its smarter to upgrade or sell?

Personally I prefer to keep a strat and a Gibson around for different tones. How do you know you're not going to be sick of humbuckers in a couple of years? Then you're going to miss your trusty old strat. "Variety is the spice of life" as they say.

I know Duncan makes some drop-in humbucker replacements that for single coil routing. You might check that out. I've never heard them though. Maybe some other manufacturers offer something similar.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... atocaster/

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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:53 pm
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riversitter wrote:
Spidah Handz wrote:
anyone think its smarter to upgrade or sell?

Personally I prefer to keep a strat and a Gibson around for different tones. How do you know you're not going to be sick of humbuckers in a couple of years? Then you're going to miss your trusty old strat. "Variety is the spice of life" as they say.

I know Duncan makes some drop-in humbucker replacements that for single coil routing. You might check that out. I've never heard them though. Maybe some other manufacturers offer something similar.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/e ... atocaster/


He will also need to know what he is doing with the s-1 switching! :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Upgrading an Am. Dlx. Strat?
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 2:57 pm
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Spidah Handz wrote:
I have an American Deluxe, 3 single coil SCNs with the S1 switch, and I have loved it dearly for 2 years. But now, I am sick of the single coil tone, and even with the S1 switch it gets that ring. I have another guitar (vintage Airline Town and Country) with humbuckers and I love the humbucker tone. My question is does anyone know if the deluxe strat is able to fit a humbucker in the bridge and neck position? I have heard that some strats are cut to accommodate HSH configuration. And second, any ideas of what humbuckers would sound good? Would gibsons work? And would I be able to wire them with the S-1 Switch, even though I need a new pickguard and pots?


To that, if you are looking for good quality humbuckers, I swear by Dimarzio's
but even so the Seymour Duncan Hot Rail Humbuckers or even the dimebucker are amazing. Get tone for any style of music. If you really want something distinct, you might even wanna try soapbars or even EMGs. And about the S1, You can either cut the pickguard yourself or I am sure you can find places that do that, try pickguards.com :wink:

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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:07 pm
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What I was talking about is that the s-1 switching is specially wired, If he takes them all 3 out he can probably do it himself but I thought he was going to just replace the bridge or just 1 of them, that can be tricky unless you are real good elect. tech! Good luck! :)


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:17 pm
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I'm calling the store I got it from in the next few days for their advice (I know the guys)... I'll post an update because this could be good reference for people thinking of pimping out their strats...


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:21 pm
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Its all about trial and error. With my first guitar I wanted to see how it worked, I took it apart and just fooled around with it until I got the insides down pat like the back of my hand. Honestly Im not a big fan of the s-1 switches, but like I say your own guitar is your own ID, make it as personal as you are and as unique because its you. Why not go all out on it?

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-1957 Super Strat (HSH)
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-E Bow
-Yamaha Multi Effects Processor

***POWDERKëGG***


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 3:28 pm
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If you dont want the ringing strat tone humbuckers are not the way to go Unless you install emg 81's, then you get a tone thats only good for chainsaw metal tones.
Strat tone has far more to do with wood on the body and neck than pickups. I personaly love humbuckerd strats but they just dont sound like lespauls. For that you need a mahogany neck and body with a maple cap.
You'd be better off putting the deluxe aside for awhile and persuing the airline's mod options, that will get you nearer to what you want cheaply. In my experience you will go back to the deluxe when your ready.

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Post subject:
Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:22 pm
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Look at seymourduncan.com's Sound Samples section for strat replacement pickups. Look at the Lil 59 and JB Jr as well (what I have). They are single coil sized humbuckers that can thicken up the sound if you want, or split that for "close-to" single coil sound again.

Might be an easier and better compromise than chopping up what you have and turning it into Frankenstrat.


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 6:51 pm
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dgonz wrote:
Look at seymourduncan.com's Sound Samples section for strat replacement pickups. Look at the Lil 59 and JB Jr as well (what I have).


What did you replace and what model?


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Posted: Wed Oct 22, 2008 7:07 pm
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F Hopkins is right to be concerned about the S1 wiring. That's a tricky little gizmo on the bottom of that switch: I wouldn't want to mess with that without being very sure I understood the wiring schematic first.

So happens one of my Strats is an HSS with the S1, so of course it is possible to add a humbucker - though I simply have no idea if the S1 has the same circuit board with the 'bucker as with a single coil in the bridge.

And others are also correct that putting a humbucker in a Strat is not going to win you the sound of a Les Paul or other PAF type pickup equiped guitar. Humbuckers in Strats are another voicing again.

A different option might be to look at a set of Lace Sensors. I have those in yet another Strat and I love 'em. They don't sound like humbuckers, that ain't the point. But they are very different than regular single coils - big, warm, round; jazzy at the neck, hugely aggressive at the bridge. I use the Silver, Blue, Red set - but it is hard to advise you which ones to get without having a clearer idea of your requirements. Maybe just start with a Blue in the bridge and see how you like it. If you do, then you can purchase additional ones with higher or lower output and shift them around as required.

A nice way to go, and much more reasonable than fiddling about with full sized humbuckers.

A thought, anyway...

Cheers - C


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