Purchased a new MIM Strat in Dec. 09. Interesting discovery. The tone control for the middle pickup also rolls off the treble for the Bridge pick up. I actually don't mind. Always wanted this feature on a Strat. Just didn't think they came from the factory that way. Any one else find this situation?

In any event, looks great. Neck is tinted and body is 2 color sunburst. Sounds great but I think I am losing some of my hearing. Can barely distinguish difference in tone between neck and neck/middle pickup positions. Perhaps some pickup height adjustment is called for?

MY 04 50th ann. Strat has the same feature,apparently several Strat models are made like that.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

When you say "The tone control for the middle pickup also rolls off the treble for the Bridge pick up"...what does that mean?

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Your Fender HSS Standard Stratocaster in Electron Blue was made at the Fender Ensenada Plant in Mexico in the Year: 2008.
Final Assembly Date: July 30th, 2008
Model Number: 013 4700 587
Serial # MZ8031252

That's a new one on me too ?


I wire mine so the upper tone control effects the neck and mid, and the lower one has the bridge to itself.

But normal factory is (has been a f a I k) one neck, one middle, and nada on the bridge.

Perhaps the best wiring scheme for a good 'ol passive guitar is the following:

Master Volume

Tone 1. Greasebucket (Neck)

Tone 2. TBX/No-Load (Middle/Bridge)

For active electonics, I like this:


Master Volume (with S1 switch)

Tone 1. Master Greasebucket Tone Control

Tone 2. Master Active Mid Boost (0-25dB)


Note that the Greasebucket is a nice alternative to the TBX and No-Load circuits. But for the mid boost, I'm not certain if it works correctly with the S1.

I've recently seen a custom-made three humbucker Strat in a 3-tone sunburst with the Clapton electronics and the S1 switching system on a blog site. This guitar had also a birdseye maple neck with 22 jumbo frets, abalone dots and a reversed large headstock a la Jimi Hendrix.

3 humbucker strat. Now that I've heard about it, I want and need one.


Also have a hankering for one with humbucker at bridge and single coil at neck, and thats it. Those are pup positions I play most of the time.

That sounds about like how my MIM with Delta Tone behaves. It's sorta like the Tone 1 acts similar to a gain and the Tone 2 controls the tone for all three pups. Question... does Tone 2 have a detente at the number 10 position? If so, you've got the Delta Tone feature.

With my 50th Ann. the tone control next to the volume just affects the neck pup and the 2nd tone pot controls the tone of the middle and bridge pups.I've been told that when the rear control is on 10 it functions as a no-load for the bridge pup.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

Many Strat bodies (MIA, MIM, MIK and MIJ) are universally routed for HHH pickups.


For more details, take a look at the Guitar Garage blog:

http://guitargarage.blogspot.com

BTW, Andy Fairweather-Low used a triple humbucker Stratocaster guitar circa 2002/2003 (it's a Fiesta Red Strat with multiple rotary switches, matching headstock and a bound rosewood neck with shell rectangular blocks).

No detente at no 10 position on tone 2. Hey, its ok. Up to 8 Fender, Squier electric guitars. Each one is different and individually appreciated. When someone asks if I play them all, I reply that I sure do, one a day and double up on weekends.

How do you find that delta tone on full when using the middle and bridge pickups? Its another gizmo I'm very much in two minds over.

Would its no load setting not better suit a volume control or am I just being a bit Spinal Tap?

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No no and no

I'm not surprised. I figure most MIM Strat would have "modern" wiring.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!