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Post subject: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:31 pm
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Hi folks,
Well it's been a long time since I first mentioned this, finally got the guts to post it up on here! So I will start with a bit of background into my project, but before I start..

I'm a complete novice at any and all electronics/soldering/practical stuff aside from a few guitar cables (which were never tested so might not have even worked :roll: ) So if any of this is wrong or a lot of rubbish, then you will know why!

I just figured that there may be a lot of folks here who have always wanted to have a go at modding their strats, but don't know how to go about it, myself included, so if this is good enough to be added to Nutter's awesome build threads thread, then it may even inspire another electronics newbie to have a go 8)

Anyway, background. I bought a stock Squier stratocaster at the start of 2010, with the intention of being a working project, mainly to use to teach myself a bit about how guitars work inside and out. Also, I had a vague notion of turning it into a David Gilmour type strat, an idea which didn't last very long! So the guitar had its stock white 1 -ply pickguard, control knobs and pickup covers changed, with a lovely 3-ply black white black pickguard from Axetec, as well as some tele style silver knobs and black pickup covers. All this plus the superman sticker my Mrs gave me (its a super-strat, get it? :roll: )

It stayed like this for a while, until my guitar teacher (innocently) said that it looked like a makeshift Ibanez. I may have done this subconsciously, as I'm a big Joe Satriani fan, and his JS1000 is one of my favourite guitars. Anyway, I was sort of embarassed by this, which is why there are no pics of it like that.

This was the time when I realised, if I'm gonna modify it, I should do it properly, so I bought a wiring kit, again from Axetec (can you tell I'm a fan?) and set about changing the wiring. To cut a long story short, I ruined it. I managed to get buzz out of it and not much else. So it's been gathering dust, til now. I bought all the parts I wanted for it, and after much help from Martian and Andybighair on here, I got started. Here are a few of the pieces I bought or scavenged to get started..

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The humbucker is a Wilkinson MVHC, which came out of a Vintage VS6, the single coils are the stock Squier ones, which I plan to replace with some Irongear Jail house rails, or similar.

Image

I'm also planning to add a blower switch, or Passing lane mod (available as an option on the HSS Fender Deluxe strat, iirc) which to the best of my understanding, gives you the ability to bypass all your tone and volume controls, and take the signal straight from the humbucker in the bridge to the jack socket. This gives you the ability to be playing using a soft tone, with whatever adjustments of volume and tone, to screaming hot lead with just the flick of a switch. The only famous guitarist I know of that uses it is Guthrie Govan, in his signature Suhr models. Good role model to have! So my intended setup will be, HSS with a volume, one tone knob and a switch to activate the blower mod.

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I haven't gotten far, as I'm on the look out for a simple wiring diagram, as all the ones I can find are complicated, or at least too much so for myself. I have soldered the two single coils the the selector switch, pending a diagram..

Image

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A bit underwhelming I know, after all that, but this is my first build thread :oops:

Many thanks for reading, any feedback welcome, but be gentle!!

Drew 8)


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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Fri Apr 08, 2011 4:56 pm
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Good luck Drew.
as a fan of all, Strats, Superman, Satch and Ibanez guitars this is a cool project.

Now that you brought it up you have to post a pic of your pseudo-Ibanez stage of it's evolution.

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 5:09 am
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Hi Drew,

Very cool project! Defiantly needs to go on Nutter's Build Thread Listing. 8)

tired_guitarist wrote:
I'm on the look out for a simple wiring diagram...

I hope this helps...

Image

I wasn't sure if you were going to use Martian's 470k resistor "Trick Pot Mod" so I've added that to the diagram just in case. I can remove it if you'd prefer.

Good luck with the build!

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 10:31 am
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Baaaam! viewtopic.php?f=6&t=43152&p=649846#p649846

Cool thread! Like the 'bucker - Wilkinson are one of my favourites!

Cheers

Nutter


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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Sat Apr 09, 2011 11:04 am
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Nice work TG................Mike

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Sun Apr 10, 2011 5:35 pm
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Thanks guys for all your responses! Sounds silly I know but it's nice to be able to contribute to the forum, especially if someone gets an idea, inspiration or even just a good read out of my thread then I will be very happy 8)

Twelvebar - I'm not sure if I have any photo's, but I shall have a look. If not, it will take two seconds to put it back as I had it then :)

Nevin - I definitely will, got loads of ideas for this project, the influence of being on here!

Andybighair - :shock: :shock: wow man that's awesome, thanks so much for doing that for me. I am indeed using Martian's trick pot mod, and although I kind of understand it in theory, I'm not too sure on how to attach the resistors to the 5 way selector awitch, as in your diagram, how would I do it? Also, my guitar doesn't appear to have a body ground, I checked the diagram for the stock guitar on the Squier website, and it does show a body grounding point on there, but not on my guitar. Is it easy enough to do?

Nutter - awesome man thanks for sticking me on the build thread's thread, yeah the wilkinson 'bucker is great, really quite hot too. It was previously in one of the Vintage VS6 SG copies, but as I have other plans for that guitar, it donated a pickup to the tiredcaster 8)

cherokee747 - thanks :) plenty more work to be done, will keep this updated, hopefully will continue now on tuesday if possible.

Thanks again guys!
Drew


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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 1:41 pm
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Hi Drew,

tired_guitarist wrote:
I'm not too sure on how to attach the resistors to the 5 way selector awitch, as in your diagram, how would I do it?

I've not tried this mod out before so I reckon its best to give Martian a shout and get him to O.K the diagram to be sure.

If the diagram is correct, would do the following:

1) Securely attach the Hot (+) wire from the pickup to the relevant terminal of the 5 way.

2) Securely attach one end of the resistor to the same terminal on the 5way. There should be enough room for both the pickup wire and the resistor tail.

3) Then apply the solder.

Job done!

tired_guitarist wrote:
Also, my guitar doesn't appear to have a body ground, I checked the diagram for the stock guitar on the Squier website, and it does show a body grounding point on there, but not on my guitar. Is it easy enough to do?

You'll only really need the body grounded if its shielded, usually its painted on. If yours doesn't have a body ground it may well not be shielded so don't bother with the body ground wire.

Let us know if there's anything else mate! :D

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 3:36 pm
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tired_guitarist wrote:
...
Andybighair - :shock: :shock: wow man that's awesome, thanks so much for doing that for me. I am indeed using Martian's trick pot mod, and although I kind of understand it in theory, I'm not too sure on how to attach the resistors to the 5 way selector awitch, as in your diagram, how would I do it? Also, my guitar doesn't appear to have a body ground, I checked the diagram for the stock guitar on the Squier website, and it does show a body grounding point on there, but not on my guitar. Is it easy enough to do?...Thanks again guys!
Drew


Drew, I'm enjoying this thread as well.

The resistors are not polarized so it doesn't make a difference which tail (wire coming from the resistor) you choose. Solder one tail from one resistor along with the hot wire from the middle pickup to the appropriate selector switch terminal. Solder the resistor's other tail to ground. With the other resistor, do the same with the neck pickup.

Andy, I reviewed your diagram. It looks fine yet I'd wire the DPDT differently. Only one side of the switch is necessary and even with the bridge pickup being overridden at the selector switch, the volume and tone pot would still work for it:

The left middle terminal would have a wire coming from the bridge pickup's terminal on the selector switch; the lower left terminal would have a wire coming from the left terminal of the volume pot. Also, I'd ground the switch itself. That's it!

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 4:50 pm
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Hey guys, a small amount of progress today, unfortunately I spent more time rectifying mistakes I made but hey, tis a process :roll: I will post a full write up of what I managed to do, mainly connecting up what I could without knowing what to do with the resistors, but now I do!

Andy - The diagram is great, I printed it out and have been working from it, only thing stopping me or slowing me down is my lack of experience, but I'm a lot quicker than I was when I started soldering at college. Oh and I'm sure I will have a million other questions at some point! :) Your input is very much appreciated!

Martian - Hey, thanks for reading my thread, getting there slowly but surely. Cool, I will have a go at wiring the resistors, thankfully I have a few spares so not too worried about messing up. Your input is also very much appreciated, probably wouldn't have attempted it if I hadn't had the help I've had :)

I do have a couple of questions however:

In your diagram Andy, the selector switch has terminals on side to side, whereas the selector switch I have is all in a line, would the terminals you drew be 1,3,5 etc on one side and 2,4,6 on the other? or 1,2,3 etc. down one side and 4,5,6 down the other?

Also, I was wondering how easy it is to damage the guitar's components with the heat from the soldering iron? As I've had to solder and re-solder several times and sometimes they get quite hot, are the components (pots, 5-way switch etc.) quite robust or will I have fried them by now?

Many thanks guys, will put up my progress very soon 8)

Drew


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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Tue Apr 12, 2011 5:08 pm
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tired_guitarist wrote:
...
Martian - Hey, thanks for reading my thread, getting there slowly but surely. Cool, I will have a go at wiring the resistors, thankfully I have a few spares so not too worried about messing up. Your input is also very much appreciated, probably wouldn't have attempted it if I hadn't had the help I've had :) ...

Drew


Drew, glad to be of assistance!

Like I always say, "Slow and steady wins the race!" So keep plugging away, slowly and surely; and if you have any questions, please don't hesitate to ask. I'm sure Andy will be along soon to answer the questions you've directed to him.

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:26 pm
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Martian wrote:
Andy, I reviewed your diagram. It looks fine yet I'd wire the DPDT differently. Only one side of the switch is necessary and even with the bridge pickup being overridden at the selector switch, the volume and tone pot would still work for it:

The left middle terminal would have a wire coming from the bridge pickup's terminal on the selector switch; the lower left terminal would have a wire coming from the left terminal of the volume pot. Also, I'd ground the switch itself. That's it!

Thanks for that Martian! :D

On the DPDT switch, we're looking to remove everything but the bridge pup from the circuit (like Fenders Passing Lane Switch). So for example, you can be playing on the neck pup with the tone rolled back then hit the switch and go straight to a "naked" Bridge pup for some screamin' solo action ( :twisted: ) and then hit the switch again and return to the previous setting.

Thanks again!

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:27 pm
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Hi Drew,

tired_guitarist wrote:
In your diagram Andy, the selector switch has terminals on side to side, whereas the selector switch I have is all in a line, would the terminals you drew be 1,3,5 etc on one side and 2,4,6 on the other? or 1,2,3 etc. down one side and 4,5,6 down the other?

Well, considering how long I spent looking at your very clear and nicely resized pic's, you would have thought I'd draw you a diagram that incorporated the type of switch your using. My bad. :roll:

In an effort to redeem myself here's the terminal maps for both Fender style and Import/In-line style 5 Way switches.

Image

And here's a wiring diagram for Tired_guitarist Version. 2.

Image

tired_guitarist wrote:
Also, I was wondering how easy it is to damage the guitar's components with the heat from the soldering iron? As I've had to solder and re-solder several times and sometimes they get quite hot, are the components (pots, 5-way switch etc.) quite robust or will I have fried them by now?

Personally I'd be quite surprised if you've managed to fry a pot! Those things are pretty much indestructible. Somewhere there's a thread where forum user Nikininja blasts one with a small blowtorch. Pretty sure the carbon trace was still intact.

If your worried about components getting too hot you can always attach a heat sink. In the pic below the heat sink is applied in the form of a little crocodile clip. Nice.

Image

As a hobbyist, I've never had to use one for guitar wiring. YMMV.

You shouldn't really be heating any of your components long enough to cause any real damage. In the unlikely event of you mullering a 5 way switch, please post some pic's! :D

Hope this helps and Good luck! :D

Andy

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:48 pm
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Very interesting thread!! One that I will enjoy following. You have the right members helping you for sure! :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 12:57 pm
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Andybighair wrote:
Martian wrote:
Andy, I reviewed your diagram. It looks fine yet I'd wire the DPDT differently. Only one side of the switch is necessary and even with the bridge pickup being overridden at the selector switch, the volume and tone pot would still work for it:

The left middle terminal would have a wire coming from the bridge pickup's terminal on the selector switch; the lower left terminal would have a wire coming from the left terminal of the volume pot. Also, I'd ground the switch itself. That's it!

Thanks for that Martian! :D

On the DPDT switch, we're looking to remove everything but the bridge pup from the circuit (like Fenders Passing Lane Switch). So for example, you can be playing on the neck pup with the tone rolled back then hit the switch and go straight to a "naked" Bridge pup for some screamin' solo action ( :twisted: ) and then hit the switch again and return to the previous setting.

Thanks again!

Andy


You're quite welcome.

I must have missed the "Passing Lane" aim with the switch. :oops: (Don't forget to ground it though.)

Carry on!

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Post subject: Re: Tiredcaster: A newbie strat project
Posted: Wed Apr 13, 2011 5:39 pm
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Hey guys, thanks for your responses, would be pretty stuck without them!

Andy - That's great, thanks for clearing that up for me, I've never seen a selector switch like the Fender one before, which is why I was confused! Thanks for editing your diagram too, I'm very grateful of your help, and I hope you don't think my mentioning it was a criticism :) As for the overheating components, I thought I better ask just in case, as I noticed they were getting pretty hot, and it would be just my luck! think I will get hold of some crocodile clips for heatsinks, just to be sure!

fhopkins - hey, thanks for reading! :) I'm still quite a way off of finishing this but please keep checking back! As for getting help from everyone I have done, not quite sure how I managed it but I'm most certainly not complaining!

Martian - The passing lane mod or blower switch, I got the idea from Guthrie Govan's signature Suhr guitar, but also discovered it was used in some American Fender's, just hoping it will work, as I don't really use pedals and I change my tone using the volume knob, but I find it a bit fiddly if I need a quick boost in signal for a solo, so I put two and two together and decided to try installing it on my Squier project. Somewhat concerned I've bitten off more than I can chew but, we shall see 8)

Thanks again guys, will keep you posted!

Drew


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