Hey I have a '08 usa standard strat all stock and was wondering if any one had any suggestions as to what I should upgrade it to?
-Pickups
-Shielding (good or tone loss)
-pot exchange
-capacitor exchange
-strap locks
-nut exchange (bone)
Thanks for the help guys and gals, and just so you know I was trying to go for a john mayer tone. Mike Eldred suggested texas special pup's. But just wanted your guys oppions

-Pickups (double dippers/scooped)
-Shielding (good or tone loss) (see Gorans thread - good)
-pot exchange (not needed)
-capacitor exchange (not needed)
-strap locks (schaller)
-nut exchange (bone) (tusc)

Just my opinion.

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Being able to play and enjoy music is a gift that's often taken for granted.

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I'd go with a set of CS 69 pickups if you're trying to mimic Mayer who uses a scooped midrange tonality. Texas Specials offer the exact opposite, they have a hump in the midrange.
Your guitar is already shielded so the pros and cons of this are moot points.
The pots and cap in your guitar are of excellent quality, no need to change.
Definitely install strap locks; either Schaller or Dunlop.
I wouldn't change the nut unless something happens to it and then, I'd replace it with a Tusq one.

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You dig?

Why on earth would you buy an american strat and want to modify the heck out of it?Play it for a while and see how you like the pickups first.They are pretty good pickups out of the box.If you are looking for THE Mayer tone , then he plays Big Dipper pickups thru a Two Rock amp.

Well I have had the guitar for bout a year almost, and was just wondering budglo, but thanks everyone for the responses.

Oh Martian I took my pickguard off and I dont have any shielding unless it is the paint-on kind?

Thats what I was wondering? If someone wants to upgrade there guitar that must surely mean there is something they don't like and if that is not the case then why do it? Are you not happy with the pickups? The tuners? The strap pins? Modding a guitar for the sake of doing so One persons like is anothers dislike and I can understand wanting others opinions it must be something there you are not happy with so what is it?

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson

Just because im asking doesn't mean im going to do it, I was just wondering what you guys thought of the stock stuff and suggested any replacements...
I'm happy with my pup's just would like them to have a more jm bite. I know he uses effects like the katana ( which is always on) and have tried that myself.
Just want to know what pup's you guys suggest I guess

The guitar's cavity has a coat of shielding paint; the back of the pickguard is shielded. Both come together, grounded at the volume pot.

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You dig?

Its just that the American Standard is not really modded very often.When you buy one , its pretty much ready to go.If you want more bite , like someone said, try raising the pickups.These are lower output pickups and by raising it , they will get hotter.Also try working with your amp and pedal settings.Remember, SRV used stock , low output pickups , but he had his amps dimed.You might want to look into getting a MIM and put Texas Specials in it or sell the AS and look for maybe a used American Roadhouse or equivilent.

His pickups in #1 were 'unmodified' from the factory, but they were way over wound, which wasn't too uncommon, due to the nature of the winding machines at the time, and operator error.

The amp thing is true, but he also used Ibanez Tubescreamers (TS-808) among other things.

One thing I will add is this:
Are you focusing on modding your guitar when it might be a more practical option to change your amplification?

You can get pretty close to the Mayer/SRV/Clapton tones you want with most any Strat, if you have a suitable amplifier. You can mod the hell out of your Strat and still not sound anywhere near what you want, if your amp isn't right for the job.

I recently got a small tube amp so I could play with it near 'dimed' in my current living space. My older amps, I used when playing gigs are way way too loud, for my current digs. I can't really turn them up to the point where I get my favored tones, without bothering my neighbors.(They haven't complained when I do, because it's not too often, and I want to be a good neighbor.) So I got a Champion 600 reissue.) I am getting some pretty sweet Fender tones, at reasonable volumes, it's still pretty loud, but not anywhere near the volume my Deluxe Reverb has to hit to get the tones I want. So I would say before you commit a few hundred dollars into modding your guitar, ask yourself if that is the right place to spend your money.

I'm in no way suggesting you have to buy a little amp, it is only my example of how i solved my tone issue. But is your amp right for what you are looking for?If it is, then look at maybe some guitar mods, but if it isn't maybe look in that direction. Because people hold the guitar in their hands, and stand beside the amp, they often forget that it defines your tone at least as much as your guitar does. (I eliminate your technique from the equation, as it should theoretically be a constant in the equation.)

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I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Thanks everyone I really appreciate the advice ... I feel dumb! I set my guitar up myself and didn't even think of raising the pickups ( maybe too close to the situation) But I never knew the pickups were as good of a quality as you guys say, I mean I knew the guitar was great just never the electronics Makes me feel better knowing from you guys I made a smart investment!!!!

Oh tried the homemade straplock technique using the grolsch beer rubber washer and it works fantastic.... taken that I never do guitar swings

I wouldnt put the texas specials in it, thats just me - I gave a set of those things away - I got another set about to come out of a guitar, prob do the same with them

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"Wait a minute, somethings wrong here!"

I'm a big fan of Copperhead pickups: http://www.copperheadpickups.com. I own a set in my main guitar, and I love them. Their 1954s or 1967s would give you that Mayer sound. (I have a set of the 1962s, which are a bit darker-sounding) I requested mine RWRP mid, and balanced output. Jeff does them "vintage" by default - no RWRP mid, and all three pickups the same output.

Fender CS69s are also fantastic, and you should check them out. Maybe also try a set of Real 54s by Fralin. Really, it's hard to go wrong with aftermarket Strat pickups!

If you can't sound like John Mayer with your guitar the way it is, then you don't need gear.

You need:

1. ... to practice. You'll sound like John Mayer when you can play with that touch. Until then, every penny you spend on "tone" will be pickles down the rathole.

2. ... a great amp. You could plug any piece of junk into those Two-Rocks and Dumbles and sound like God's guitar. but you don't have to spend those bucks, there are lots of good amps that non-rock-stars can afford

3. ... a good compressor. John Mayer uses a Keely. The Barber Tone Press (my fave) will give you the same smooth, inaudible compression, essential to doing that JM thang.

Any of these things will get you closer than modding your guitar, which will have virtually no effect on your "tone" by comparison.