So here's the scoop, I replaced the stock pups in my MIM s/s/h strat w/ two Fralin Blues Specials (middle pup is RWRP) and a DiMarzio 36th anniv. DP223 for the bridge. I followed the schematics for the fender lonestar strat as posted on the acme guitar works page . Everything seems OK except the 4th position seems very thin...kind of out phase sounding. I thought this setting was going to split the bridge and add the middle pup Could this be normal? Everything is operating quietly but it sounds off. Anyone know if the wire colors of Dimarzio and Fender pups translate as the same?

As far as the tone of the rest of the settings...WOW! Knopfler-esque tones galore with the single coils and the humbucker sounds great...a perfect match output wise, no huge volume jump but a noticeable punch is added.

If anyone sees something wrong I'd love to know (it may be hard to tell from the photo). Anyhow, thanks!

[img][img]http://img825.imageshack.us/img825/2834/wireup.jpg[/img]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

It sounds like the DiMarzio and the Fender do not translate the same. Or it could be the Fralin's aren't the same polarity as the original Fender single coils. In either case, it seems like you have an out of phase issue happening. You'll have to "flip" something around.

_________________
Member #26797
My other guitar is a Strat.

You need to check the color codes for the wires on each of those pickups.

Sounds to me like you are wired out of phase.

_________________
Chet Feathers

Authorized TonePros Dealer
Authorized WD Music Products Dealer
F/A Official Southpaw Compliance Certification Tester http://faamps.com/

http://www.facebook.com/cafeathers


I didn't Lose my mind, I traded it for this guitar.

I think I may have flip flopped the red and black wires... I've adjusted the pickup heights and that made it a little less dramatic but it does sound like it's out of phase.

Just found an old forum post that stated that the SD Pearly Gates pup used on the lonestar is specially wound? Would that make the difference?

It's more than playable for right now until I figure it out... the 4th position does sound good when handling lots of overdrive, just not clean.

Reverse the red and green wires of the DiMarzio.

_________________
You dig?

Just found the same info on the Dimarzio site. I'm glad to not have to live with it forever but probably wait until I change strings next to deal with it...we'll see how patient I end up being.

I'm digging the "hot-rodded" look of the black pickup.

[img][img]http://img684.imageshack.us/img684/7669/wireup2.jpg[/img]

Uploaded with ImageShack.us[/img]

Hi Jamguy!

Nice Strat! I too like the "Hotrod" look. Very cool.

So you didn't fancy the S-1 switch in there then? (Shame, as i reckon that diagram i made you had the right Dimarzio colour translations on it)!

The S-1 switch breaks all the time anyway...

Andy

_________________
Pending Greatness

As if I I was going to wait until I changed strings next...

I just got done swapping the red & green wires over and sure enough, it's working fine and sounding S W E E T !!! Not quite as "quacky" in the 2nd & 4th positions as I might have guessed but I'm figuring it's just the nature of the pups...and there's a great balance of vintage tone vs. bluesy tone for me.

Yeah... decided to can the S-1 swich but thanks for the help Andy. I end up using the same 2 or 3 settings all the time anyhow and I have heard a few people say that the switches give out more often than they should.