Sorry in advance for the long post. Before I bought my strat I played (still do) a dual HB prs. That statement may be relevant once I get to my question.

Within six months of my start purchase my middle pickup went out, or so I thought. I got a hold of the local authorized Fender Service Tech and he advised I check the solder joint before I brought it in. He said there is a good chance the solder joint was bad. I took his advice re-heated the joint and the pickup "came back to life." Good call on his part.

I'm getting to the point here shortly. I've always thought my pickups didn't sound good unless the volume on my axe was dimed. When I turn it down to around 7 they just sound thin and cool, but when I crank it they sound sweet. I like to keep my volume around 7 for normal playing on my prs and dime for solo's. I'd like to do the same with my strat, but the sound just isn't there.

So I am wondering, is this normal, am I just to use to my HB's or is it possible I have a bad volume pot, solder joint etc?

I plan on hitting a local music store this weekend and comparing some of the other strats, but curious if anybody has experienced this before.

I also thought if they made volume knobs that went to 12 I wouldn't have this problem!

Seems normal. The difference that you perceive might be between the 500K pots on the PRS hum-buckers, and 250K pots on the Strat single coils. You might get the feel that you want by changing the Strat volume pot to 500K.

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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.

I should clarify, my guitar is bright enough. It's my understanding a 500k pot with single coils would make it even brighter.

I'm looking for that "full rounded sound" you get at full volume but at around 6 or 7 on the volume knobs position.

Yep, it is what it is, 500K will give more output....until you turn it down, then at some point it would be the same as a 250K. Maybe you could experiment with different tapers for the volume pot. I believe that the standard pot is a linear taper (B), and you might like an audio taper (A) or even a reverse taper (C). Otherwise, it doesn't sound like you have a problem other than the difference in the way that a Strat operates.

_________________
---> "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.

Different tapers. Didn't know that was an option. thanks I'll check them out.

Bluesky636 posted this link for me a couple of days ago because I've been unhappy with the pots on my JA-90 Tele. This might help you also:
http://www.planetz.com/?p=1506

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'10 American Deluxe HSS Sunset Metallic
'10 JA-90 Thinline Telecaster
'15 Music Man JP-15 Blueberry Burst
'07 Les Paul Standard Faded LCPG #82
'14 Carvin ST300
'12 Carvin CS424S
'66 Guild Starfire IV w/Bigsby
'14 Warmouth Partscaster Daphne Blue

Thanks, I think I understood those graphs.