Hey Fender freaks!

I was looking at the different pfd files of my individual Strats and saw that my Am/Dlx switch order goes from 1 at the neck and 5 at the bridge while my HWY 1 HSS switch order is 1 from the bridge and 5 at the neck.

Does anyone know why the two opposite schemes? Wouldn't a uniform format be more easier?

Thanks in advance as always!

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"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

[quote="manabu108"]Hey Fender freaks!
I was looking at the different pfd files of my individual Strats and saw that my Am/Dlx switch order goes from 1 at the neck and 5 at the bridge while my HWY 1 HSS switch order is 1 from the bridge and 5 at the neck.
Does anyone know why the two opposite schemes? Wouldn't a uniform format be more easier?


Referencing 'specs' on both guitars, the bridge position is #1. The neck is #5.

Doc

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Ummm... not according to this pdf file:

http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/ ... 02APg4.pdf

_________________
"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

i have a 2008 deluxe and its #1 bridge #5 neck....or maybe om wrong....i always thought #1 was all the way down....they show 1 as being all the way up

I've seen this confusion over many years. It appears to have come about as with most early electric guitars, there was only what we now call, a neck pickup. Again, when with earlier guitars, a bridge pickup was introduced, the neck pickup became known as the, "front" pickup and the (what we know as) bridge pickup was called the, "rear" or, "back" pickup. So, in terms of assignment, the neck (or front) pickup was position #1 as it was the one primarily used and installed. Remember, this is describing late 30s through early 50s, "Jazz Boxes" here.

With the advent of 'popular' music (say, mid 50s to present), the former role of a Jazz Box began to evolve as 'twang' from an electric guitar was pretty much, universally required. Most player then through now relied on the bridge pickup first. In response to this and as we all know, production began on the solid bodies and semi-acoustics in earnest. Hence, came the confusion. We relied on the bridge pickup as our primary or, #1 pickup whereas manufacturers traditionally held and labeled the neck pickup as such. I think when discussing the pickup selector switch designation it will always be ambiguous unless the speaker (or poster) clearly defines their interpretation. I, for one, always preface with something like, "Position #1, meaning with the switch set closest to the bridge..." to clarify.

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You dig?

Ummm... not according to this pdf file:

http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/ ... 02APg4.pdf

[/quote]

Understood your original posting which is why I went into the products section first. Can't understand the reason for the differences. Perhaps Martian has it right on that score. Until several months ago I was given to understand that the neck was position #1 until I was enlightened and my first Strat happened nearly 50 years ago. Long time to be confused. Perhaps it changed from then.

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"Another day in paradise!"

You're all right. Martian gave an interesting history lesson but regardless of how or why, the truth is there has never been a consensus about which is position 1 and the debate has been ongoing since I was knee high to a puddle duck. The only sure way of being properly understood is to forget numbering systems altogether and just say, "Bridge only" or "Neck and Middle". Numbers are meaningless.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

A careful examination of the specs sections across the line reveals that the company is dictating consistency in that 1>5 is bridge>neck. I expect that this numerical short form will prevail and be understood by all.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Thank you very much for your astute response.

_________________
"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

Understood your original posting which is why I went into the products section first. Can't understand the reason for the differences. Perhaps Martian has it right on that score. Until several months ago I was given to understand that the neck was position #1 until I was enlightened and my first Strat happened nearly 50 years ago. Long time to be confused. Perhaps it changed from then. [/quote]

I probably would have gone another decade or so without knowing the difference. It was a posting in here earlier in the week where someone explained the bridge to neck order. It's an odd inconsistency which makes things difficult in the long run. But then I never chose a Strat because it was easy.

_________________
"If I don't see you no more in this world I'll meet you on the next one and don't be late... don't be late." -Jimi Hendrix

[quote="manabu108"][quote="zzdoc"]
http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/ ... 02APg4.pdf

This would not be the first time we pointed out something to the company which obliged them to say "Whoops". Obviously, whoever designed the "user friendly'' diagramming for this guitar's unique circuitry was not familiar with the usual and customary assignment of the order of the switch positions on the Stratocaster.

Time to alert the general staff

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I have a Strat with only positions 1, 2 and 3.

I can easily get the 'notch' for the in between cluck which I call 'quack'. (between 1 and 2)

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You're welcome!

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You dig?

That's where it all began for me. We discovered that nearly half century ago.You might remember the long past thread we wrote on the subject. I'd been accustomed to referencing the 'sweet spot' between the neck and middle pickup as position two when, in actuality, it's position four based upon current specs across the line.

I've alerted Brad to this thread. We'll see what transpires.

Doc

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I guess my edit wasn't quick enough.

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

Don't leave home without it!