Hi all.

Okay, I finally got the time to do the transplant surgery on my 2010 MIM strat last night, and i thought I would share my finding with you'all here.

I first installed the Abbi pick ups I got for the neck and middle positions. I must say that the team in Mexico sure know how to do a "Soldered for life" install, it seems they first insert the wire, then wrap it around the connector, then solder it.
Sure makes it fun to get it off later on, but I did get it done.
I did make an error or sorts, I wired them in and forgot to wire the midle in reverse to get the hum canceling but it does give a different type of tone this way, and I like it.
The next step was to replace the tremolo with a brass based model.
I had been told by a couple members here that the new tremolo's coming in the MIM are steel and not the pot metal of years back.

NOT TRUE, the one I pulled out was in fact pot metal. I also prefer my tremolo set flat against the body (Non floating0 I know many like to have the tremolo set o float, but there are two big reasons why i do not.

1) When you bend a string, the other 5 go flat.
2) If you break a string, you will be hopelessly out of tune.

I like to bend, and I set the tremolo with 5 springs just enough to bend the "B" string without the others going flat.

This also transfers more vibration to the body and neck, and I feel it plays more alive and makes for better tone.

So far so good, i set the intonation and height with a new set of strings and it plays quite well, good tone and far more sustain.

It will take a couple days for the strings to settle in, then I can give a far more detailed report.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Good luck, keep us apprised, and take some photos.

Interesting to hear about the trem block.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.

Hi Jeffytune,

Sounds like you now have a killer MIM Strat, that's great. It seems that many Strat blocks are cast pot metal. The newer MIM blocks may be bigger, but that doesn't necessarily mean better, as you noted. Even the best Strat blocks (the ones that barely attract a magnet) are still hot-rolled steel (I guess it's technically steel?) and not as good at transferring sound as the cold-rolled steel or brass block replacements.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

I did a similar thing to my MIM Strat this past weekend.

Replaced the stock block with a Callaham. Big difference in weight.
Th standard one feels so light in comparison though in truth, the difference is only 3 ounces or so ( the original was just shy of 7 ounces). Replaced the 6 trem plate screws with newer ones.

Changed the pup location of my DiMarzio Area prewired so instead of a '58, '61 and '67 config (N,M,B) it's now '61, '58, '67. Really made a difference!!

Went from Super Slinky 9's to GHS Gilmour 10's

Full setup and intonation. First time. Though except for the intonation, truss rod and string height were fine. String radius was spot on.

Clean and polish and it sounds like a new guitar with more sustain and throatier sound.

Will recheck intonation this coming weekend since it's been raining for the past 4 days. Tuning hasn't changed as much as usual with a string change, in the first couple of days.

Lightly sanded a high spot on the 2nd fret under the "B" string. Been buzzing. Not anymore though! Even with the new thicker strings.

A few hours work but well worth it. Really happy with the results!

-T

_________________
-T

"You can't spend what you ain't got, you can't lose what you ain't never had" ~ McKinley Morganfield

Nice going Jeff. Even though I politely disagree with your assessment of a floating bridge, good work on the rest of it. If something doesn't make me 100% happy with my guitars I change it so it does. Play on man!

_________________
-Kirk

GUITARS
'12 Sonoran Acoustic - black (dated 10/31/12)
'13 Standard Strat
AMP
Vox ac4c1-bl
PEDALS
Compressor
Big Muff
Vox Stomplab 1G
Carbon Copy Delay

Hi all.

Ok, so I have had a couple days of playing it since the surgery, the strings have settled in and lost the "New string bite" and I can now give you'all here a proper critic.

I knew better then to do more then one change at a time, but I was in a hurry, so to say the change was far more then subtle would be an understatement.
A major change to a guitar should only be done one at a time so it can be evaluated on it's own merits, not as a group change.

The sustain and felt vibration has been significantly increased, it literally buzz's my left hand and finger tips thought the strings, it fells wonderful, so alive. It is what I was far more then i was expecting, but a nice surprise for sure. the brass tremolo block does give a good solid bell tone as well.

The pick-ups are another story, the 69's have the Jimi/Richie/Stevie sound down solid, and that is a good thing, the problem comes in once you try to use position 1 or 2. The EQing on the amp needs to be set for the 69's in one place, and there output requires a certain level, but once you try to use that Humbucker, it goes all wrong. The output is way too much for them, it overpowers it, in one, it can be okay, sorta like having a midrange/bright boost but is position two, it is all out of phase, thin and ice picky sharp, completely unusable.
Position two has been an issue since new, it has always been too thin sounding, but now it is far worse.

I have tried in vain to adjust it out, no luck so I have made the decision that yet another surgery will be needed to correct this.
I am going to get a new pick guard and put the stock middle single back in place and move the middle 69 to the bridge and made my guitar a proper three single coil model.

I have a Peavey Wolfgang, so when I need a humbucker guitar I have it covered, I did not buy this guitar for the pick-ups, I bought it for the way it plays and the looks.

So I have a Fender gold anodized three single coil pick guard on hold and will pick it up tonight.

I will keep you all in loop with my progress (Or lack there of)

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Thank you for the kind words.

Yes, I know there are some player who have to have that tremolo set to float or it won't play right for them.

I am not trying to say it is wrong to set it to float, only that for my style and for me I prefer it to be on the deck.

To those here who are in the float group, please understand I mean no disrespect, if it helps you play better then go for it.

I was only relating the reason why I do not like it floating.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Second surgery is now complete.

I stopped in GC and picked up a Fender gold aluminum pick guard and some black pick up covers.

I started by detuing and removed the neck to save the strings. I swapped out the pick guard and moved the middle pick up to the bridge and reinstalled the original middle reverse wound pick up.

It was mentioned that some pictures would be nice to see, so I snapped a few as I went.


Neck off and starting the removal of the pick guard.


Removed the knobs and screws.


And we have lift off.


The new guard.


Installing the pick ups.



All wired in and ready to go.





All back together and cleaned up.


It all went as planned, the new pick ups now have a wider range. The middle one is stronger then the two 69's, but with adjusting the height I was able to balance the output for the most part, the volume level is constant, but there voicing is quite different.
I only had time to run it through my champion 600, so far I am liking what I am hearing. The 2 and 4 position are still a bit week, it must be do to the impedance difference in the two type of pick ups, but there is no hum to speak of (well, more then normal for a single coiled guitar).
it is quieter then it was stock, so I am happy so far, the 1,3 & 5 slots all have a different tone to offer, very usable.

I will need some time to play it through my main amp to get a real feel for her before I declare it a total success, but I am thinking I have a winning combo here, and it really looks better I think.

One last thing, my youngest Son (He is 21 now) came in the to shop as i was working on this and asked me why I was changing the covers on the pick ups to black.

I told him it was because I wanted a darker tone.



















He just rolled his eyes and went in the house I guess he has gotten used to my since of humor.

_________________
Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

Classic!

Nice, that is one sparkly Strat you have there!!

It's always fun when you can get closer to that sound you have in your head. I agree, one tone or feel isn't necessarily better than another, but maybe more in tune with what you want.

_________________
I'm not an expert, but I play one on the internet.