So I've finally finished modding my American Special. I replaced the Atomic Humbucker with a Dimarzio Area '67, and replaced the black pickup covers and knobs with white ones. I'm sorry the picture quality sucks, but they were taken with a cell phone. Its very SRV-ish looking.

Nice Job Jonny. Like the black on white. Did you have to change out any of the tone pots?

Looks good...did you do your light ash strat also?
Takin a chance leaning it against that railing like that

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1986 Fender Sidekick Reverb 35
1990 Fender Red Knob - "The Twin"
1992 Fender Newporter - Acoustic
2000 Fender American Series Strat - Natural ash
2010 Fender Mustang 1
2011 Fender Blacktop Jazzmaster -Sunburst
2012 Fender Champion

Very cool modification. Love the pics. Thanks for sharing.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head

I haven't done the Ash Strat yet, I'm still waiting on the pickup covers, I had to order white Seymour Duncan covers because the fender covers wouldn't fit the SD pickups.

I didn't swap the pots on the the american special, I doubt I ever will. I feel kinda stupid asking this but what would be the benefits of swapping out the pots, could I acheive a better tone?

I'm not an expert Jonny but I checked a wiring diagram for a Hwy1 HSS which was the closest I could find to your model and Fender uses 250k pots on the HSS models so you should be fine. I thought that they might use a 500k pot on the humbucker tone control but they don't. I was thinking that the 500k pot on that Area 67 might have affected the tone but its moot now anyway. Sorry if I raised your angst level with that question...

Lol.. You didn't raise my angst level, I didn't mean to sound sarcastic if I did, I was really just asking for your input, I don't know much about how pots affect tone, but thanks for your research, I really appreciate it!

Very nice! How do you like the Area 67? I have an area 61 in the neck position on my Strat and love the sound of it....

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Eric Johonson Strat Blonde
Martin OM-1
Martin OO15 (1941)

I like the Area '67, it sounds good, but I'm probably gonna try and find a Texas Special to put in the bridge eventually.That's if I can find one on Ebay, I don't need the whole set, I just need one Texas Special.

I have to say, I have a Candy Apple Red AM Special with pearloid pickguard that I have toyed with selling to get an HSS and mod it this way. It might be easier to just get another one rather than let go of mine, It was my first strat. You will certainly love a 3rd TS pup in that thing, it sounds amazing. I think the American Specials are a tremendous value FWIW.

Great job!

I agree with you 100% on the American Special being a tremedous value, I love mine and wouldn't give it up for anything, but to me its "the" guitar, its my first Strat too, and out of all of guitars I've ever owned this one is by far my favorite. I really want a TS pickup in the bridge, the Area '67 is ok, but I feel like it needs the TS to make it complete, and it will have it one day...lol