Hi

I'm looking for some tips & advise on any modifications I could make to a 2000 circa American Strat to add "extra" capabilities to it ? I guess I'm looking at the pickups mostly but I'm open to other options. What mods have you done ? What did it bring to the mix ?

Ta

J.

Alot has to do with what sound you are looking for as far as pup's. And then as far as if your just looking for a look(pickguard/pup covers/knobs)

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I'd like quite a versatile range of sounds. I think I find the sound for rock, esp. crunchy rock, lacking a little "oomph". The neck pickup is a little mushy. I'm partial to the second position pickup selection, which gives quite warm sound. For metal & riffy rock, the bridge pick gives a nice tone. I was just curious what other people have done & what effect it had for them.

Before you do anything, make sure that your current pickups are properly adjusted with regard to their relationship to the strings. If the neck pickup sounds "mushy" try raising it a few turns, particularly the treble side, to get it closer to the strings. A Google search on "adjusting Stratocaster pickups" or something similar, will reveal many articles on how to get the best sound from your pickups.

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Bill

Cheers Bill - will do ! Other than change strings & adjusting the string tension when putting heavier gauge strings on, I've done nothing to it since I bought it 10 years ago. I think what I might do is take for a setup service at my local store & see what they advise. I was interested in hearing how other people use their strats & how they've modified them, and for what purpose.

Ta

J.

Have you ever thought about doing an HSS configuration with your strat? I find it to be super versatile. I can get those super bluesy tones from the neck, sparkling cleans in the mid, then just throw down with the bridge humbucker. It would be a little more work though...

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Kid: "Hey Smokey! Where did you get your name?"
Smokey the Bear: "Well..."
(former user jimbo612)

+1
I know many Strat purist say that this is not a real Strat ..
I have both H.S.S and S.S.S there is no doubt that the S.S.S is the traditional strat tone and design..
If you are a purist then i would suggest that you have mods done such as a push pull put installed so you can have all three pickups on as well as the neck and bridge only..

Another mod i really like is the boost that Clapton and Gilmour use..

I myself have no problems playing a H.S.S strat with a coil split on the bridge Humbucker..

The extra pick up selections you pick up selections are as follows
All three pick ups in S.S.S and H.S.S
Neck and bridge In both S.S.S and H.S.S
Humbucker and Single in the Bridge position

As well as all other positions in both single and humbucker configuaration..So you basically pick up 6 more tone options..

Something else i really like is a master tone that controls all pickup selections instead of two different tone dials..

I use my other tone knob as a mater for for a booster mod i had done to control the amount of boost..It is like having a clean boost pedal in your guitar when done this way...

Cheers guys - this the kinda of information that I seeking - the mods done & the effect. As I was saying above, I quite like the sounds I can get from the straight bridge pickup - good for metal/rock riffs. I always like the "warm" sound of the second position, good for a "indie" type stuff. Think I will take Bill's advice, get a professional setup done first & explore my options later.

On a H.S.S type setup - what sort of sound would that bring ? Who uses a similar setup ?

i have a HSS setup in my Select Stratocaster and the bridge is pretty hot, its a diamondback, with custom wound texas specials in middle and neck.

i find that the bridge can be a bit too powerful if you like to switch between neck and bridge for solos etc, like i do...

it makes the guitar very versitile though and can tackle all genres really..

im ordering my lace sensors though (red,silver,blue) to drop in as i prefer the tone of them and dislike hum from singles...