I have had a a blacktop strat for about a year and like the looks and feel of it but i really want to get that single coil tone without having to go out and buy another strat. I want to to replace the HH to SSS (CS69's) i was just wondering if anyone has done this or has an opinion about.

The body has a swimming pool route and i know alot of people think that it effects the tone in a negative way. So i would like to hear people's opinions about it and i would really like to know if anyone has done it for themselves. If so pictures would be cool, kind of interested to see what the single coils would like with the black tone knobs. Thanks!

You want to give away the perfect excuse to buy another guitar ??
MIMs are pretty cheap for a great guitar, surely you can fit another one in.

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Blacktop Strat
Ibanez AF95
Laney Cub 12R
Mustang II
Vox Pathfinder 15R

...since the guitar has a bathtub pool route everything is possible

Yes you can swap the humbuckers for a CS69 set. You'll need a new pickguard routed for three single coils.

Personally I opt for an HSS setup having the Blacktop bridge humbucker paired with two CS69s, an S1 switch for a wide spectrum of killer tones and a Passing Lane button for that full blown humbucking crunch and distortion.

Difficult to find a skirted amp knob modded for the S1 capacitor.

.....or just save up a few hundred bucks more and get an American Deluxe HSS. Not cheap, but worth it.

In that case I'll swap the stock trem with a deluxe locking type for optimal tuning stability - used in conjunction with the Fender locking tuners and LSR Roller Nut. I'm also considering to put a matching backplate without the trem cavity hole.



The deluxe locking bridge (Mini Floyd Rose) might be useful when you play a ferocious solo with the humbucker fully open and the blower switch enabled. Unfortunately Fender discontinued that product in 2007 and should reinstate this feature as an option in 2013.