Question regarding HSS Configuration...

blue_evil · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:58 am **Posts:** 4

Hey, I'm new to the Strat forums, but have been a Strat fan for as long as I can remember... I hope I'm posting this in the correct section too.

I just recently bought an American Special HSS Strat, and it just wails with those Texas Specials! Love em!

However, it comes with an Atomic HB in the bridge. But don't get me wrong; it's a decent bucker, but it's just not cutting the mustard with the sound/tone I'm going for, so to speak.

I'm set on getting a Seymour Duncan Pearly Gates TB-PG1b (Trembucker). That's definite.

My question (as simple as it may be) consists of the following:

When I install the Pearly Gates bucker, do I wire it exactly how the Atomic is wired to the single coils? Or is there a different configuration when installing a different bucker? I saw some conflicting posts on other forums and just thought I'd clarify it once and for all, AND before I stuff up the wiring of my new Strat. However I digress. If anyone could shed some light on this it would be very helpful, thanks!

I have a bad habit of making long posts in forums, so I'll wrap it up here.

Cheers!

DetroitBlues · **Joined:** Thu Oct 08, 2009 7:58 am **Posts:** 2187

Wire it up the same, but I must say, the humbucker in the bridge really only serves one purpose, solo boost... The volume difference is huge from the Texas Specials to the Pearly Gates....

blue_evil · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:58 am **Posts:** 4

Yeah okay cool, cheers

chromeface · **Posted:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 8:20 pm

Hi,

From what I see you want transform your guitar into a LoneStar.

blue_evil · **Joined:** Thu Apr 12, 2012 9:58 am **Posts:** 4

chromeface wrote:

Hi,

From what I see you want transform your guitar into a LoneStar.

Really? So by changing the bucker from an Atomic to a Pearly Gates, it's essentially a Lone Star? Do they come with TS and PG's as stock?

That being said; I've always wanted a Pearly Gates, before I sold my Les Paul (more of a strat and tele man myself) I wanted to install a PG in the neck, but didn't get around to it and ended up selling it to fund the purchase of my American Special...

chromeface · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 1:16 am

Yes Lonestars and USA Fat Texas Specials came with two TX Specials and a Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker hooked into a super 5-way pickup switch. Not sure if the super 5-way is also present on the MIM Deluxe version.

93greenstrat · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 4:39 am

chromeface wrote:

Yes Lonestars and USA Fat Texas Specials came with two TX Specials and a Duncan Pearly Gates humbucker hooked into a super 5-way pickup switch. Not sure if the super 5-way is also present on the MIM Deluxe version.

From the specs, it doesn't appear that the super switch is used on the MIM Lone Star. Also, wanted to point out the the Lone Star uses the Pearly Gates Plus....there is a difference:

Quote:

(Seymour Duncan) The Pearly Gates is rather different than the "Pearly Gates Plus" that is on various Fender instruments including the Lone Star Strat®, Fat Strat, Big Apple Strat and some Showmaster® guitars. The Pearly Gates Plus is only available on select Fender guitars or from Fender dealers. The main difference in these pickups is that a Pearly Gates has Alnico II magnets, while the Pearly Gates Plus has Alnico V magnets. Alnico V magnets tend to give a brighter, glassier tone, while Alnico II magnets tend to have a warmer, rounder, more mid-rangier tone. The closest pickup available in our regular line to a Pearly Gates Plus is a '59 Model with 4-conductor cable. The '59 is an Alnico V pickup with a wind very close to that of the Pearly Gates Plus.

chromeface · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:05 am

The '59 is also available as a Trem Bucker:

Quote:

Application
Versatile P.A.F.-type humbucker. Great for country, jazz, blues, funk, classic rock and heavy rock.

Description
Late-'50s, vintage-correct, humbucker sound. Warm and crystalline clean tones. Full and bright distorted tones. Smooth sustain. Classic appointments include plain enamel wire, long legged bottom plate, vintage single conductor cable and no logo. Compared to the SH-55 Seth Lover, the '59 has slightly more scooped mids and is vacuum wax potted for squeal-free performance.

Complete setup
Available in both neck and bridge models. Often a '59 neck is used together with a hotter bridge pickup like the SH-4 JB or SH-13 Dimebucker for extra versatility.

Guitars
For balanced and warm instruments. Works especially well with mahogany bodies and rosewood fingerboards.

Available mods
Four-conductor cable. Trembucker. Nickel or gold-plated cover. 7-string version. Seymour Duncan logo. Available in matched set of '59 bridge and '59 neck. Colors (humbucker spacing).

Players
Ben Harper (neck & bridge), Robben Ford (neck & bridge), Mike Einzinger / Incubus (neck), Robert Smith / The Cure

Cable: 1-Con Braid Shield
DC Resistance: Neck: 7.43 k; Bridge: 8.13 k
Resonant Peak: Neck: 6.8 KHz; Bridge: 6 KHz
Magnet: Alnico V Bar

Martian · **Posted:** Fri Apr 13, 2012 6:22 am

blue_evil wrote:

Hey, I'm new to the Strat forums...

...When I install the Pearly Gates bucker, do I wire it exactly how the Atomic is wired to the single coils? Or is there a different configuration when installing a different bucker?...

Cheers!

Welcome.

A few things you should know:

You will have to drill an additional pickup height adjustment screw hole in between the existing two in your pickguard to accommodate the Duncan.

The color coding of the lead wires of Fender Humbuckers and Duncan Humbuckers are different. Here's the breakdown:

Fender's green wire is Duncan's black wire.
Fender's black wire is Duncan's red wire.
Fender's red wire is Duncan's green wire.
The white wires are the same for both.
The bare wire, obviously is common ground for both.

Your safest way to proceed is to use the 'shot for shot' method. Meaning, unsolder one Atomic pickup lead wire at a time, replacing it with the appropriate Pearly Gates pickup lead wire as you go.

Lastly, once the Duncan is all wired up, if you find it is out of phase with the middle pickup, simply reverse the Duncan's green and black wires.

Enjoy!

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