I'm going to attempt to swap pups in my Amer Deluxe HSS strat. it has the S1 switch, so this might be more difficult than normal. I am replacing with Texas Specials and a Seymour Duncan humbucker.

I don't use the S1 switch and I have read that using the S1 adds another wire, so when I open up the strat I'm sure there are going to be 3 wires, but my new pups will only have 2. Any tips for when I attempt this tonight? I know some unexpected stuff is gonna come up when I open up the strat. What can I expect? Thanks a lot for the help!!!

FWIW, this is not the ideal project to delve into the world of pickup swaps. However...

The third (green) wire from your existing two single coil slot pickups are a second ground. Once these are removed, they don't get replaced with anything.

The remaining wires of the two single coil slot pickups will be a 'shot-for-shot' replacement. In other words, with your existing neck pickup, unsolder the black wire and replace it in the exact same spot with the black wire from the Texas special you've chosen as the neck pickup. Do the same 'shot-for-shot' procedure with the middle pickups. Next, do the same 'shot-for-shot' procedure with both pickups' hot wires.

I've never seen or heard of a Dunlop humbucker so I cannot advise you any further. Suffice it to say that you may run into phasing problems and if said HB only has one positive lead, this will confound your installation. Further, if the mounting holes on the pickguard for said HB don't line up with the original, this will confound your installation all the more.

Good luck!

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My bad, I meant Seymour Duncan, not Dunlop. Duh!

Well, alrighty then, let us proceed!

You are going to have to drill a hole centered in between the two existing pickup screw mounting holes on the bass side of your pickguard to accept the Duncan HB.

On to the wiring:

The bare wire of the Duncan is a ground wire (of course) and I premise that your Duncan has the four, different colored wires.

The rest is again, 'shot-for-shot' but the color coding of the HBs are different. Meaning:
- The black wire of the Fender is now the red wire of the Duncan
- The green wire of the Fender is now the black wire of the Duncan
- The red wire of the Fender is now the green wire of the Duncan
- The white wire of the Fender is also the white wire of the Duncan (Hey, you had to get a break somewhere, right?)

Wire accordingly.

Once everything is wired up, test it. Now, lay the guitar down, put the pickguard back on the guitar without screws and then, put only one string on; it doesn't have to be to pitch. See, there's a possibility that your Duncan pickup might be out of phase (you'll hear a weak, hollow, nasal sound) with the middle pickup. If it isn't, fine. Button the pickguard up, finish stringing and enjoy. However, if you do find that it is out of phase, simply reverse where you have the green and black wires of the Duncan soldered. Then, test, button the pickguard up, finish stringing and enjoy. That's it.

If you have any questions, just yell.

Good luck again!

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Wow, I appreciate the help so much. I'm gonna print this out. This is great info - thanks!

Anytime!

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The first thing I would do is by a Fender Strat pickgaurd. Leave the orig. pickups in the pick gaurd.

worst idea ever

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My Gear:
Hamer f/t2 with upgrades *FS*
Washburn XMPRO-FR in tobacco-burst
3-string cigarbox
Handmade "butcher block" super Tele
Fender Excelsior
Fender Mustang I
Orange MT*FS*
Want:
Fender Vaporizer
Fender Ramparte
Fender MIM plus top strat

don't burn your self

_________________
My Gear:
Hamer f/t2 with upgrades *FS*
Washburn XMPRO-FR in tobacco-burst
3-string cigarbox
Handmade "butcher block" super Tele
Fender Excelsior
Fender Mustang I
Orange MT*FS*
Want:
Fender Vaporizer
Fender Ramparte
Fender MIM plus top strat

why?