My first post.

I'm really enjoying this guitar and I'm ready to so some setting up and possible pick up changes now that I'm more familiar with the feel and sound of it.

Biggest problem is when my fingers touch the pick guard I get a static scratchy sound as they rub up against the pick guard. I haven't opened it up yet but I do see the ground wire is still hooked to the trem.

Anyone know what pickups are in this guitar? serial is MZ1074210
I know pickups are a large matter of preference but I do play a fair amount of Garcia, Clapton and Santana and I'd like to find a better sound. Seems like pick ups are like car tires.

I see there's also a way to make a 7 position switch, where I can find some detailed info?

Thank you,
Andy

Hi andysings,

Sounds like the winter static problem to me. You could make sure that the shielding and grounding are intact in the guitar, but it may just be static from the low humidity in winter. If the height of your pole pieces are evenly staggered, progressively higher towards the middle and lower on the ends, then they are just standard Mex pickups (you didn't say what model that you have, Mex Std, Classic 60s, or what). You can look at this schematic of the Deluxe Players Strat to see how the push-button will add the bridge pickup to position 4 and 5 of the pickup selector switch, giving 7 selections with the standard 5-way pickup selector switch.

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-3000_02A_SISD.pdf

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Thanks for the info, It seems I do have the standard tex mex pick ups. I never really paid much attention to what I was buying other than I liked the sound a feel. I didn't know that much about strats except I liked the sound.

So I think I have a vintage tremelo style and the truss rod screw is at the top of the neck. It has a dark fingerboard and there's a line of dark wood going up the back of the neck.

I recently borrowed the book The Fender Stratocaster handbook by Hank Marvin. seems it has some good info in there.

I'll check out that link soon. Thank you.

Andy

Tex-Mex pickups are very different from the Mex Std pickups, not the same at all. The stagger on the pole pieces are different between those 2 sets of pickups, uneven stagger on the Tex-Mex pickups pole pieces. The pole pieces on the Mex Std form a symmetrical arch, evenly staggered from high in the middle, to low on both ends. Sounds like you have a Mex Std Strat, which is a fine guitar.

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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.

Thanks for the info. It seems I do have the standard mex strat, the poles are as you described them.

What pick up upgrade would you recommend. I see the noiseless listed and a some gold lace, tex mex, vintage...my head is spinning.

maybe I should start with the 7 way selector first

Yes, definitely a plethora of pickups, and I've used all of the ones that you mentioned. Personally, I would try a pickup change before trying different switching options. The type of sound that you want will help determine the pickups that you select (vintage, clean, hard rock?). They all have their advantages, and there is usually a trade-off between the noiseless and tone. You can have noiseless or lace sensor types that will be absolutely quiet, but you will lose some of the tone of the more traditional types.

I think that the Texas Specials will give you a great vintage clean sound, and they work very well when using drive/distortion also. Since you mentioned them, the Tex-Mex pickups give the most bang for the buck, very under rated pickups that sound great. I have used the Texas Specials in a Mex Std and they sound wonderful. I have the Tex-Mex in a RW 60s Strat and they sound fantastic. The sound of the pickups will vary depending on which Strat that they are in (body wood, neck, bridge, finish, electronics are all factors in the sound). Tex-Mex are also stock in the Jimmie Vaughan Strat. You may have to search for, and listen to, some sound clips and compare the sound of various pickups.

In this instance, if price is a factor, I would try the Tex-Mex ($75 new), and if you can afford them, the Texas Specials are some of my favorites ($150 new). Actually, I think that the Tex-Mex are a little hotter than the Texas Specials. Just my opinion, your tastes may be different, so compare for yourself to be sure to get the sound that you want.

Frankly, if you want to improve the tone to another level, look into getting a Callaham bridge block to replace your stock block, nice improvement in tone and sustain with any pickups.

_________________
---> "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.

Had the same problem and finally traced it down to my footwear! I was generating static against the nylon carpet and discharging it through the pick guard.. Go figure, it's an inexact science..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Good point rapaul76,

Now that you mention it, I find that wearing polyester clothing makes the static worse. Static is not as much of a problem when the humidity is higher.

_________________
---> "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.