I'm the original owner of this 1975 Stratocaster.



Mechanically, I wouldn't change a thing, other than replace the screws and string trees as they have lost their luster. Those original F-Tuners are still doing their job and the frets are in good shape.

However, the volume pot is a bit scratchy...so I'd replace that. And, as long as I've got the hood open, I'd replace the other pots and the tone cap. And...replace the original 3-position switch with a five-er.

But...I've always wanted a tone control for the bridge pup...it is easy to move some wires around to gang the neck and middle on the first pot and route the bridge to the second and leave it at that.

Or, do I want to get involved with a blender control? I've heard some good things from people...as long as the wiring is right...and that appears to be the topic of many discussions I have already read.

Other question...is there any harm or benefit from using "no-load" pots for all the controls? Would I get a slightly higher ouput without any residual resistance on the volume control? A brighter sound from the tone control?

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1967 Epiphone Madrid EC-30
1975 Fender Stratocaster
1981 Rickenbacker 360
2002 BC Rich Bich
2007 Fender Standard Stratocaster
2012 Taylor GA3-12
2012 Squier Telecaster
2017 Les Paul Kit


"Make every song you sing your favorite tune."

with a five way, you can simply share the tone control from the bridge and the middle or dedicate the 2nd tone to the bridge and have the middle open or connected to the neck pickup. Forget the blender pots...

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"Epitaph on a blues musician’s tombstone: “I didn’t wake up this morning”" Davy Knowles


facebook.com/313DBC

That 'loss of luster' is known as "mojo" and folks pay outrageous sums for it.

Don't change anything, other than what's required as part of routine maintenance.

Arjay

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"Here's why reliability is job one: A great sounding amp that breaks down goes from being a favorite piece of gear to a useless piece of crap in less time than it takes to read this sentence." -- BRUCE ZINKY

Try a little contact cleaner in the pots before you decide to switch them out.

+1

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I LIKE PIE!!!!!

IF I DO SOMETHING STUPID,DON'T SAY A WORD...

+2 leave that sweet thing as it is and as said above try some contact cleaner in the pots , cheers
Alan

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If you do decide to change out the electronics, might I suggest you order an assembly from ACME Guitar Works. Their work is fantastic. Heck, treat yourself to a set of CS69's too and put the original assembly away for safe keeping.

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Tune Low, Play Hard & Floor it!

I appreciate all the comments...most of which can be summarized as, "Are you nuts?" I did have some reservations, or I would have not posed the question.

It will remain as it is, with all of its mojo intact. If I really need to play around with new tone controls, I'll need to get a new(er) guitar.

Thanks.

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1967 Epiphone Madrid EC-30
1975 Fender Stratocaster
1981 Rickenbacker 360
2002 BC Rich Bich
2007 Fender Standard Stratocaster
2012 Taylor GA3-12
2012 Squier Telecaster
2017 Les Paul Kit


"Make every song you sing your favorite tune."

HeyJoe, I heard you shot your '75 down..

I appreciate the comments made, but I think at least one of your initial instincts was correct.

Go with a new 5 way switch. I don't see why you should sacrifce flexibility for historical authenticity. But it goes without saying that you should keep the original 3 way nice and safe in a little baggie stored in your case pocket. And while you're at it, wire the switch to your preferred tone pot option. A vintage Strat does of course have value, but you shouldn't let that stop you from making a few minor adjustments as necessary. Damn it - it's a musical instrument, not a freaking painting..

However, as the supply of relatively affordable 60s Strats dry up, collectors are now starting to look seriously at good 70s models. So I'm sure that between inflation and your carefull ownership thus far, you will have earned a nice reward on your initial investment. (All of which I'm sure would have cut no ice with a pragmatic engineer like Leo Fender. He'd have ripped out that 3 way in a heart beat and chucked it in his infamous parts bin!)

As suggested here, a squirt of "Ingersol" or "De-oxit" contact cleaner will more than likely resolve that scratchy pot. My previous comments notwithstanding, you don't want to be replacing parts without there being a clear need for it. Pick up a recent second hand Mexican Standard if you fancy tinkering..

It's a lovely guitar - I hope it plays as good as it looks. I wish it was mine..

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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!

It's beautiful. So much more beautiful than any "relic'd" or custom shop. Keep it exactly the way it is.

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1984 Squier Contemporary Stratocaster
1986 Peavey Envoy 110
1967 Kingston Acoustic