Looking for HW1 HSS advice

BitstreamCowboy · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 7:50 pm

Hi Fender Gurus,

I'm still fine tuning my search for the right parts to upgrade on my HW1 HSS. My request for information this time is regarding the tuning pegs and the pickups.

I'd like to replace the Fender®/Ping® Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines for some locking tuners. I see that practically every brand requires a different diameter peg hole. Is there a brand (Schaller, Planet Wave, Sperzel, etc.) that would swap out with the least of modification?

I'm still deciding on the Humbucking bridge pup swap. I want to keep the Alnico III SC pups that came with it and damn the noise! So the question is, what Humbucker replacement would balance best with the stock SC pup; high output, medium or vintage? This is for my blues/psychedelic rock guitar. I want a HB pup that is very sensitive to dynamics and will balance well enough to split to connect to the middle pup.

As always, I thank you in advance for your help

rkreisher · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:11 pm

manabu108 wrote:

Hi Fender Gurus,

I'm still fine tuning my search for the right parts to upgrade on my HW1. My request for information this time is regarding the tuning pegs and the pickups.

I'd like to replace the Fender®/Ping® Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines for some locking tuners. I see that practically every brand requires a different diameter peg hole. Is there a brand (Schaller, Planet Wave, Sperzel, etc.) that would swap out with the least of modification?

I'm still deciding on the bridge pup swap. I want to keep the Alnico III SC pups that came with it and damn the noise! So the question is, what would balance best with the stock SC pup; high output, medium or vintage? This is for my blues/psychedelic rock guitar. I want a pup that is very sensitive to dynamics and will balance well enough to split to connect to the middle pup.

As always, I thank you in advance for your help

I know the Fender/Schaller's are a direct fit. They are on my HWY 1 right now and I love them. As far as the pickups, the only pickup I changed was my bridge. I changed it from a Alnico III single coil to a Dimarzio Super Distortion. I love the other SC in their orginal positions. I just wanted a little more umph when playing in the bridge position. I am completely satisified with the outcome.

RK

gldfshkpr · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:28 pm

manabu108 wrote:

I'd like to replace the Fender®/Ping® Standard Cast/Sealed Tuning Machines for some locking tuners. I see that practically every brand requires a different diameter peg hole. Is there a brand (Schaller, Planet Wave, Sperzel, etc.) that would swap out with the least of modification?

I saw a set of Fender locking tuners today at my local shop.

BitstreamCowboy · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:40 pm

rkreisher wrote:

I know the Fender/Schaller's are a direct fit. They are on my HWY 1 right now and I love them. As far as the pickups, the only pickup I changed was my bridge. I changed it from a Alnico III single coil to a Dimarzio Super Distortion. I love the other SC in their orginal positions. I just wanted a little more umph when playing in the bridge position. I am completely satisified with the outcome.

RK

Thanks for that info RK! That's my preferred as the Fender licensed Schallers have the "F" logo. Am I a brand $@!&# or what?

rkreisher · **Posted:** Sat Dec 12, 2009 8:43 pm

They look and work awesome. Also changing strings are a lot faster. I did not know that when I bought them, so that was an extra bonus.

RK

BitstreamCowboy · **Posted:** Sun Dec 13, 2009 3:00 am

I have them on my AmDlx and I think they're better than the Floyd Rose locking nut. Tuning is much easier on the fly with them and you're right, restringing is a snap with them.

Strat0Blues · **Joined:** Sun Jun 14, 2009 10:04 am **Posts:** 292

What amp are you using???

The humbucker on my stock HSS sounds $@!& hot through the right amp.

HWY1Strat · **Posted:** Sun Dec 13, 2009 9:02 am

manabu108 wrote:

Hi Fender Gurus,
I want to keep the Alnico III SC pups that came with it and damn the noise! So the question is, what Humbucker replacement would balance best with the stock SC pup; high output, medium or vintage? This is for my blues/psychedelic rock guitar. I want a HB pup that is very sensitive to dynamics and will balance well enough to split to connect to the middle pup

Manabu108.......I do believe that I have shown you my totally re-done stable of HWY 1 Strat HSS's. (couldn't glean any ideas from my pickup picks?) I , too, hated the cheap tuners that came with it!

Fender/Schaller locking tuners are a DIRECT DROP IN replacement on HWY 1 necks. I LOVE them...they stay in tune GREAT. And , yes, my Black HWY 1 HSS has the "F" branded locking tuners....brand tramp be damned!!

If you dig the stock singles...eh....more power to you. But I'm telling you....DiMarzio Area pickups are FANTASTIC.....and you won't miss out on ANY quackiness!
As far as the bridge.....Me....I try and stick with ALniCo based 'buckers. More classic rock sounding IMHO.
If you go on Gibson's webpage...the give you a graph of how 'powerful' each pickup is...so you get an idea.
My Gibby's get along REAL WELL with my DiMarzio singles!

BitstreamCowboy · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:12 am

HW1Strat,

Thanks again for your help. I'm glad the Schallers are a drop in. I've been looking into noiseless pups thanks to you

Shredd6 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 12:55 am

I just wanted to throw this out there for the humbucker question. I have a couple of guitars that use a Hum bridge and 2-singles. The Super Distortion is an awesome pickup for distortion, but in the clean channel, you might find it lacking clarity. If you go that rout, you might want to think of doing a treble bleed mod so you can back off the volume to clean it up a little.

But in my experience with this kind of setup, I opt for a Seymour Duncan Parallel Axis (probably a PA-TB3 in this case). Much more clarity in the clean channel, distorts just as well, very balanced, should work great with that setup nicely. I personally recommend at least the .001 treble bleed cap when using a humbucker with 2 singles. It's just a nice feature and it's inexpensive.

HWY1Strat · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 6:59 am

Shredd6 wrote:

I just wanted to throw this out there for the humbucker question. I have a couple of guitars that use a Hum bridge and 2-singles. The Super Distortion is an awesome pickup for distortion, but in the clean channel, you might find it lacking clarity. If you go that rout, you might want to think of doing a treble bleed mod so you can back off the volume to clean it up a little.

That's an awful lot of trouble to go through. The Super Distortion (I own one and I'm looking to replace it soon.) pickup has a CERAMIC magnet, which I personally steer away from....I'm an ALniCo man. There might be the problem!

Mannabu....if you do go the noiseless route....BY ALL MEANS ...check put the DiMarzio Area series!! There are 3 to choose from....58, 61, 67....depending on your needs. I own them all and they're GREAT!!

Shredd6 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:31 am

I agree as well, I don't use my Super Distortions for a bluesy sound. It can be ok in a neck position, but not the bridge. I don't think it's a right choice in my opinion either.

Am I right in assuming that the guitar is already set up for a humbucker?

Not that Duncan and Dimarzio are the end all be all of pickups, but on both websites you can listen to samples. I would do a lot of that before deciding on anything.

Much easier to take advice from your own ears than someone else.

HWY1Strat · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 9:42 am

Shredd6 wrote:

I agree as well, I don't use my Super Distortions for a bluesy sound. It can be ok in a neck position

The Super Distortion should NOT be used in the neck position!! It is too powerful a pickup and it's benefits will NOT be realized/used in the neck position. It is a BRIDGE Humbucker all the way!

Shredd6 · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 10:54 am

Really? Who made that rule??

Here's me playing one in the neck pos. of my Stagemaster last week.

Sounds fine. I've had it in there for over a year now.

From the Dimarzio website:
"Paul Gilbert used to use two Super Distortions® wired in parallel when he was in Racer X."

Maybe it's not for everyone, but I happen to like it. A simple twist of the vol knob to about 8 with a treble bleed and it cleans up pretty good.

HWY1Strat · **Posted:** Fri Dec 18, 2009 2:38 pm

Shredd6 wrote:

Really? Who made that rule??

Also from the DiMarzio website....Super Distortion page....

"Recommended For: The Super Distortion® is primarily a bridge position pickup, although it can be used in the neck position with a relatively low-gain amp." Heck....you can even use it as a refrigerator magnet too!! Not really what it's meant for...but it'll work! Are you playing through a relatively low gain amp with yours?
This is coming from the company's mouth!

Heck......you can put a X2N in the neck if you want to! But if you're after that nice , creamy tone that a neck pickup is known for, you may have a hard time getting it with a balls to the wall output pickup.

It's not a RULE.....per se... Heck you can put a mongoose in the neck position if you want to!!
It's just a thing where one asks...."why?"
There are so many more appropriate neck pickup choices out there!

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