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Post subject: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:02 am
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Location: Greece, Athens
Does anyone know why can't I get a clean tone when I roll off the volume on my strat? I have a 2005 MIA standard strat, all original electronics. On my mexican strat I can roll off the volume down to 7 and get a clean-ish sound, while with my American I need to go down to 2 or 3. It seems like above 3 on the volume the guitar doesn't get considerable louder, so 5-10 is just the same.

Is it the volume pot I could swap with another (ie linear vs audio), or is there something with the pickups? They are not ceramic, are they?


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 4:08 am
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Aspiring Musician
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I have done the ´50s wiring on my Blackmore Strat. This does it and more.
It gives you real volume control and usable tone control. It just needs two solder joints to be changed(depending on the guitar). If you can solder give it a try.
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/I ... aster.aspx

All the best,
Robin

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Fri Feb 01, 2013 6:06 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Try a contact cleaner on your volume pot first. then, get yourself an Ohms Meter and electronically check your pots and pickup's resistance. That way you can check both for proper function.

One leg on the pot is grounded the other two are not. You want to measure the two non-grounded pots when the knob is on 10 then rotate the knob down to 1. The 10 should read in the 250k Ohm range and gradually go down from there. write down your readings as you go. If there is a big bump around 5 you may have to replace the pot.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 12:32 pm
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Hi friends,
I created a spreadsheet from the measurements I got out of the bridge pickup of both strats, and made a graph where it is obvious what is happening. Have a look here,

http://s1101.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... sort=3&o=0

and if you need the .xls file send me a pm.

I measured the output gradually from 10 to 0. See the results, I hope you could tell me how I could get a volume response on my MIA strat to match the response of the MIM one. In other words, I want to have the volume of the guitar on the right, to respond like the volume of the guitar on the left.

Thanks


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:17 pm
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Nice chart. Sounds like the volume pot to me.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:21 pm
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should I replace it? If yes, replace it with a linear or an audio one?


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:26 pm
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Send us a pic of the underside of the pick guard first if you can.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 1:28 pm
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Unless it is miswired, the pot is bad. 250 k audio taper is what you'll need.


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 2:23 pm
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here are the photos you need

http://s1101.beta.photobucket.com/user/ ... ite%20lady?

I noticed that the volume pot is not the same as the middle one. Actually, this is what happens when you buy second hand... Anyway, is the wiring correct?


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 5:19 pm
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The only OEM pot of the three is the middle one. Namely, the upper tone pot. From what I can read on the volume pot, it appears to be a 500K which would account for the response you are getting from it. I can only presume that the prior owner(s) had more powerful pickups in there at one point which made 500K(s) appropriate. Replace that pot with a 250K audio pot of at least, CTS quality. On a related note, the lower tone pot just may be a 500K as well. If you find the response from that one unacceptable too, replace it with the same as recommended for the volume pot.

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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sat Feb 02, 2013 6:36 pm
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Thank you Martian, I will replace both.

In the meantime I replaced the capacitor with an orange drop .22 and used copper tape to insulate the insides, so she sounds less harsh and more on the sweet side, yet most of the buzz is gone when using distortion.

:D


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 4:12 am
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Nevermind! :)
Wrong advice, deleted by author.
Should've read all the way to the end before posting! :oops:

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STRATS ROCK!!! but Teles and Firebirds, too!


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Sun Feb 03, 2013 11:43 am
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Aspiring Musician
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Anymore, when I do up a guitar I use the Fender replacement pots which are CTS and I use the caps that come in the bag which for 250's are a .047. I have used Orange drop .022's with great success as well. Fender 3 or 5 way switches and cloth covered wiring with a Switchcraft outputjack and your all set! I redo the whole thing for three reasons, one because it eliminates the used varible of the electronics, two because it's cheap, three because for me it's fun! :D


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Post subject: Re: Stratocaster Am Std pickups
Posted: Fri Mar 01, 2013 3:52 pm
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I finally replaced the two pots with the classic CTS 250K AUDIO TAPER and the volume has come back to what I wanted. The one installed on the guitar by the previous owner was B, therefore it was linear and behaved like one. Not handy for me, anyway.

So I enjoy this guitar more and more everyday, I truly believe it worths every pound spent. :D


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