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Post subject: S-1 switching
Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 4:07 pm
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I'm a beginner-ish guitar player and am looking for possible candidates for a first really serious guitar and, I've seen some Strats with this S-1 switching and i was just wondering what it is.


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Posted: Wed May 14, 2008 4:13 pm
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Joined: Wed Feb 20, 2008 2:37 pm
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I have a guitar with S-1 Switching. It has the basic five position switch to switch among different pickups (the standard strat sounds). By pushing the s-1 button, it changes the way it's wired to give more of a humbucker sound....giving you five more sounds (for the five position switch) for a total of 10.


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Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 8:20 am
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My American Series HSS Strat has the S-1 switch. It gives a total of nine different combinations (nine, because position 5, bridge, is full series humbucker with the switch up or down).

With the switch up it is basically a regular Strat; switch down you get extra variations of parallel and series pickup connections. I won't list them all: you can find out everything you need on this page:

http://www.fender.com/products/s1/

I got the switch because it came with the guitar. I have nothing against it, but I must say, if you look at some of the .pdf diagrams on that page (above) you might begin to realise that on the wing some of it is rather unintuitive. I am not the only player who has trouble remembering what all the switch-down settings are, without the diagram in front of me.

In the end, I tend to play the guitar most of the time with the switch up - regular fat Strat. The exception is the switch-down middle setting, which on my instrument is all three pickups full on. This one gives a particularly broad, meaty tone with lots of oomph. I like it because it gives something extra for a solo, but different to the regular flat-out bridge p/up scream. If you know what I mean.

In essence, I'd say the S-1 is interesting and fun, but hardly essential. Like so many other wiring variations, I think it will settle down to be a specialist option, rather than a core element of the Strat.


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Posted: Thu May 15, 2008 9:13 am
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In my short experience with the S-1 switching, I must say, I'm not too impressed. There are a few decent tones to be had, but I find myself playing with the switch off (or up) the vast majority of the time.


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Posted: Fri May 16, 2008 2:40 pm
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I've got an American Tele HS with the S1 - the tones work well for me on this guitar, through my amp and effects.

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Posted: Mon May 19, 2008 3:39 pm
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I have to agree with Ledzep77. I'm not impressed with the S-1 switching am actually considering replacing the Noiseless pick-ups with a set of Vintage pick-ups or Texas Specials. I think the original Noiseless pick-ups with the S-1 Swtich engaged turn the tone to mud.


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