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Post subject: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 7:10 am
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UNIVERSAL ROUTE


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FENDER CHROME OR GOLD PLATED BRASS PICKGUARD


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This is my favorite Strat setup now. I just did this to my 89 American Standard but I have done it to even Mexicans with same results.

I got my first American Fender Stratocaster in 1980 for my 16th birthday.
It was a 1976 American Standard


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As most of you know a 70s stratocaster had a s-s-s route and was a sonic assualt weapon. I played this guitar and modded it out of existence.


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It was time for my next strat. I got a 90s strat with a universal route.
I noticed this strat was lighter and was sort of sonically challenged compared to my 70s strat. I installed Dimarzio Virtual Vintage it still just at high volume didnt sound near as good.
So I began enginering ideas. I first looked at the sustain plate a brass plate that bolts directly to the peghead but this made the guitar neck heavy, I hate that.
So I cut a 1/8 brass plate sort of like a solid trem cover plate and used little brass wood screws to affix it inside the universal route below the pickups and it sounded better.
Then I came across this Fender official strat brass pickguard chrome plated it comes in gold plated too.


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I put it on and had just installed a Dimarzio Super Distortion S



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We had a show that friday at the VooDoo Lounge, if your not familiar with the venue its a place were smaller national acts play like Slash, Danzig, Godsmack, Marlyn Manson, Rob Zombie, etc.
Its a pro stage all pro gear and crew.
The sound man that was on stage running inputs and monitor feeds after our set ran over to me and told me that was the best sounding strat he had ever heard.
He was one of the sound men for Guns n Roses he said so he been out there a bit heard a few.

Well there you go if you play rock n roll or metal and have a universal route.
Install the Fender brass chrome plated pickguard and a Dimarzio Super Distortion S in bridge.
It sounds actually nothing like a heavy muddy Super Distortion more like a tanky strat.
Brass is a musical metal thats why they make drum cymbals out of it.
The guitar sustains and cuts through amazingly.
I have had simular results on other strats with differnt Dimarzio blade strat size and Duncan Hot Rails and LIL JBs and LIL 59s for other people.
I do not use the brass plate at the bottom of the universal route with this pickguard.
Only way I can discribe it is like a resonator.

A Stratonator :lol:

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 8:40 am
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Great idea donnycraven. I thought that the universal route contributed somewhat to the tone of the Blacktop Strat that I have. It's almost like it has a touch of an echo or delay type sound, and I like it. Your description of "resonator" sounds about right, and I imagine that the brass PG enhances the effect. I remember reading that Billy Gibbons preferred the universal route for this same reason. I think that it is also one reason why some people don't like the universal route.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:38 am
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Im wiring up one for a friend with a blacktop right now.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 9:55 am
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Sounds interesting! :)

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 10:02 am
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Good info. I have a body laying around with a universal route that I may actually do something with now. It's a beautiful ash 3 TSB body, but I've just never been a fan of the swimming pool.


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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Sat Feb 09, 2013 11:03 am
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Like I said they make that in gold too that would look nice also on that color.
Either or chrome be nice lookin.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 1:37 am
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Is this one available in HH/HSH form as well? It can then come useful for a Blacktop Strat for those who want two full humbuckers.


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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 4:24 am
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No just S-S-S

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 5:07 am
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Interesting, I have a brass /chrome Fender pickguard from a black standard I traded some time back . I will have to check into this at some point.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:11 am
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I have seen a company online making brass and aluminum ones with different pickup configurations. i dont think aluminum would sound as good. Another company on ebay uses stainless there again I doubt the effect is the same. I suspect only brass will sound like that.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 6:19 am
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I also know for fact this only works with the universal route configuration. With any other route the plastic sounds chunkier.
With single coil sized blade and standard humbuckers the h-s-h effect can easily be achieved.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 7:00 am
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http://www.metalpickguards.com

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 9:18 am
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HHH with coil tap/split

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Mon Feb 11, 2013 10:12 am
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Hello chromeface my friend! :) Exactly, those pickups work best because the more brass the better.

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Post subject: Re: How to make a Universal Route a tank
Posted: Wed Feb 13, 2013 1:55 am
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There are also very versatile.


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