I just picked up a 1998 MIM Strat - black.

I'm wanting to have a project guitar to mod up.

Here's what I'm thinking and would like some input, especially on the pups.

change white pick guart to black.
Change to HSS (checked and the bridge opening is routed to handle humbuckers).
Upgrade pots, jack and switch.
The bridge is a 6 screw type not sure if I'm going to replace it or leave it. It's in good shape, all the adjustments work properly and I may just leave that alone.
Fretboard is maple and is in good shape as are the frets.
I may sand down the back of the neck to bare wood (or I may leave it just as it is not sure thoughts?)
Tuning pegs are in good shape, nice and tight. I may put locking pegs on it someday but for now, the tuners work, stay in tune and basically do what tuners are supposed to do.

What are your thoughts on pups for a HSS type setup?
Other mods I should consider doing?

Thanks,
Jeff

Hi jeffnles1,

The single best improvement that you can make to your Strat would be to install a better bridge. I have used Callaham for my bridges for some time now, they're great. You will gain better tone and sustain with a better bridge. At least replace the block with a better one than the stock one on the guitar. There are two sizes of string spacing, 2-1/16 inch and 2-7/32 inch, make sure to get the properly spaced bridge for your guitar, I believe that the '98 Mex has the 2-1/16 string spacing. Check the info on the Callaham site to know which that you have, or just measure the string spacing at the bridge, from high E to low E, and also check the mounting spacing from center to center on the two outside bridge mounting screws. Your existing metric threaded trem arm for the Mex bridge will not work with the Callaham, you'll need a 10-32 threaded arm, like the Am Std arm, or a new one from Callaham. You can buy direct from Callaham, and also from other on line stores. Your other ideas for mods sound great, although I prefer the SSS configuration for pickups, maybe a set of Texas Specials would be sweet.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/partsstr.htm

http://www.specialtyguitars.com/callaham-strat.html

Guitar Fetish also has replacement blocks that would still be an improvement over the stock block that you have now. I have not used them, but it's another option.

http://www.guitarfetish.com/Upgrade-Steel-and-Brass-Tremolo-Blocks_c_216.html

_________________
---> "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.

shimmilou
Thanks. Added those sites to my "strat" folder in favorites as I sort out what direction I"m going.

I want to figure it all out before I start spending money and then spening more money to replace the wrong stuff I bought or mistakes I made.

Avoiding wasting money on stuff that just isn't going to work is one reason I'm asking here.

I'm an acoustic (Martins and bluegrass) player mainly and have owned a couple LP's over the past 34 years of playing guitar.

Thanks for the tip. I wasn't aware the MIM bridges were such "crap".

One thing, on the American strat I picked up a couple months back, the bridge plate is attached to the body with just 2 screws.

On the MIM one, that same plate is attached to the body with 6 (I think it's 6) screws.

Will that cause a problem in ordering something to replace the bridge?

Jeff

jeffnles1,

I did exactly what you are doing. I bought an inexpensive Korean Strat to use as a test bed for trying different configurations without hacking up my expensive American guitars. It's a great idea. Really helpful for getting to know which products work and which ones don't. I also have an Epiphone Les Paul which I use for the same purpose. Have fun!

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.

+1, I have gotten used MIM Strats to experiment on, it can be addictive though.

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Great approach, research first. Basically, the two point bridge is a just modern version of the original 6 screw design, that offers improvements over the original. The six screw is now referred to as the "vintage style" bridge. Yes, you have to pay particular attention to the bridge parts when ordering replacements. Even on similar bridges, the string and mounting spacing, or the saddle screws being offset, and other things can be different. Basically you need to know the make of your Strat (Mex, Am), the string spacing at the bridge, the mounting spacing of the bridge screws, and whether the saddles are offset mounted or center mounted, to get the correct replacement parts. For the Fender Std Strat six screw bridge, there are only two sizes of string spacing and mounting spacing, 2-1/16 inch (narrow) and 2-7/32 inch (wide), both measurements, string spacing and mounting spacing, will be the same on each bridge. It is the same with a two point bridge, check the spacings for the correct replacement parts. The replacement block for the Am Deluxe is different for some reason (different trem arm?). An Am bridge will fit a Mex Strat and vice-versa, so long as the mounting and string spacings are the same. I even put an Am vintage 2-7/32 inch mounting spaced bridge, on a 2000 Mex Std which had the 2-1/16 inch mounting spaced bridge, by dowelling and re-drilling the mounting holes, and it was nice.

So, if you have a six screw bridge with 2-1/16 inch string spacing, you need to make sure that the replacement block has the same spacing. If you replace the bridge plate (as in the whole bridge), you need to make sure that the replacement is the same mounting spacing. Callaham even offers a replacement bridge that has wide mounting spacing with narrow string spacing, for those that want to narrow the string spacing on their existing wide mounting spaced bridges, without any modifications. The block chart on the Callaham site will give you an idea of which Strats have which type bridges. More good info.

http://www.callahamguitars.com/blocks.htm#block_chart

_________________
---> "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 just completed my own project strat, and installed Carvin twinblade pickups in the neck and middle positions. They are single sized humbuckers, split well if you want to wire them that way (I have my wiring run to a switch allowing all pickups to be split or humbuckers), and they sound great. I dont have experience with any other single coil (other than factory equipped), to compare them to, but they are a higher output than stock. If you use three, you wont need an HSS pickguard. As for regular humbuckers, I use a Seymour Duncan SH-5 and SH-13. They are high output (especially the SH-13), and also sound good to my ears.

Tell me about it. Especially now that I'm using the Kinman plug & play system, every time I try a new pickup I solder one time only (for each pup) regardless of how many times I change my mind. I solder a pin connector onto the new pup and swap away. Every time I think I have "arrived" I think of some other combination I want to try. Yes it is indeed addicting.

_________________

Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.