Some say that a full pickup route (one large rectangle cavity) was detrimental to the tone of a Strat, compared to individual slot cavities.


In Dan Erlewine's repair book, he features a blues guitarist from the New Orleans area who swims pools AND uses a mahogany guard
with top-load wooden saddles with some strings with bone where the string engages.

Says the tone is different, but phenomenal


I don't feel that it's detrimental to the tone, but always interested to hear from the rest of the world here.

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

Don't leave home without it!

Have sss, hss and hsh types and cant tell the difference. My old charvel has the swimming pool route and i cant hear any difference in that guitar that i can attribute 100% to the routing. Either plugged or unplugged.

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No no and no

Hi Mike,

I'm pretty sure Eric Johnson and others can tell the differance,
but in all honesty not me.

So Why would I want a SSS body?
Well my feeling is, back in the day the SSS was the
way it was and I like the idea of having something
nearer to the original within the realm practically and economy.
But seeing I'm using a pickguard it really makes no differance to me.

Just my thoughts.

Cheers.

"The only one who could hear and tell the difference would be your dog, and he is going to love you either way."

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

Don't leave home without it!

Had a Fernandez fitted with Gold Lace Sensors which was routed that way. Used to run it through a Proco RAT into Fender Concert. Damn good sounding guitar, but don't think the body had much to do with it.

Also had the same routing in a '97 American Standard which I swapped out the stock pickups with the Delta-Tone circuit, for the EMG Gilmour rig.
Same observations regarding the body.

My personal feeling is that it was a waste of good wood. Fender routs HSH these day for production efficiencies but at least you get the vintage routings for the vintage models, particularly from the Custom Shop.

Eric Johnson's input would be most interesting.

My Yorkie has no interest in this matter whatsover. If something is soft, and warm, and can be curled up against, that's a keeper.

He's presently lying in my lap dozing.

Doc

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"Another day in paradise!"