A little over a year ago, I bought a 98 MIM Powerhouse strat from a local second hand guitar shop. I've loved the instrument. It is my favorite guitar (I own 6, including one other strat, which is a Japanese standard 57 style). However, I don't use the mid boost all that much with it, and so I removed the battery the other day because I didn't want to forget about it and have it corrode on me, etc. To my dismay, however, I get absolutely no output now when I plug it in.... So, now for my (stupid) question: Is that supposed to happen? Does this mean I have to keep a battery in it even if I don't use it? If so, is there anything I can do so that I can use the guitar w/out a battery in it? Or, should I just shut up and put the battery back in, and resolve to make better use of the mid boost? I'm really not all that familiar with the Powerhouse specifications, and I haven't been able to find much online. I would really appreciate any advice from someone who knows.

I would utilize it. If you bypass the circuitry, I think the sound will change quite a bit.

Here is the wiring for your Powerhouse:

http://support.fender.com/diagrams/stra ... 02APg2.pdf

The booster is integral to the design/operation of your Strat so I do not recommend removing it either. Battery life is pretty long in these things and the battery box appears to be on the back of the guitar so access is easy.

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Bill

[The guitar's 12db midbooost is a powered down version of the Clapton. I also strongly believe that, roughly 18 years ago, this was the original Buddy Guy Signature Stratocaster which appeared briefly in their catalogs at the time. Not long after Buddy, in his renaissance, moved to what is equivalent to the Clapton, the Powerhouse appeared. If you must, play it with the midboost rolled back to zero, but don't neglect to unplug your guitar when not in use. All these guitars saw their beginnings with the Fender Elite. The body routing for this circuitry has not changed much, if at all, excepting the battery box and its location. I personally favor the box. It eliminates the need to remove the back plate, but is another scar on the back of the guitar.

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"Another day in paradise!"

The 12dB boost is achieved by a pair of resistors.

I don't guess it has occurred to anybody to clip the resistors to give the guitar the full 25dB boost of an Eric Clapton/Buddy Guy signature series Stratocaster. The extra dummy coil under the pickguard keeps the pickups from humming.

Not until now

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"Another day in paradise!"