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Post subject: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 9:28 pm
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I'm looking for some info on a Strat I just picked up in a pawn shop. I'm told it's a Powerhouse model and has an active preamp card installed.
I haven't been able to find out much else about it - any info or leads will be greatly appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sat Mar 01, 2014 10:26 pm
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Beneath the pickguard you'll find a 12dB active pre-amp module and a dummy coil to provide hum cancellation while on the backside of the body is located a battery box for a 9V energy cell. Early editions of this guitar had a 9.5" radius fretboard while later variants featured a 12-inch radius. The upper tone pot functions as a master control for all three pickups and the lower (former) tone pot is used to dial in the amount of boost from the pre-amp. The selector switch is configured for standard 5-way Strat switching.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 2:03 am
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Cutting two resistors from the boost pot will increase the gain to 25dB (Clapton mod).

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 4:46 am
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Welcome to the forum. I had one of those Deluxe Powerhouse Strats and should have kept it. Knowing what I do now, I would upgrade the Tuners, Nut and replace the Bridge assembly with a Callaham.

From the outside the only clue (if the decals have been peeled off) is the battery compartment on the back side like this:

Image

Mine had come with a White Pearloid Pickguard which soon got replaced by a Black one and Black Pickup Covers.

Image

I did the Clapton mod that chromeface refers to, which increases the boost from 12db to 25db. You can find pictorials on the net if you decide to try it, it's easy. Then I installed a TBX pot for Master Tone, new Pups, etc. This is a shot of the mid-boost card in situ.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 5:27 am
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Since the guitar is routed for a bridge humbucker you can install a DH-1 Atomic to match the two Noiseless singles in the middle & neck. This configuration is great for the early Bon Jovi repertoire.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 7:46 am
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lkindel wrote:
I'm looking for some info on a Strat I just picked up in a pawn shop. I'm told it's a Powerhouse model and has an active preamp card installed.
I haven't been able to find out much else about it - any info or leads will be greatly appreciated.

Hello, and welcome to the Forums. Nice find. I've always maintained that the circuitry on this guitar was in the original Buddy Guy Signature Strat before they boosted it to the 25db version and changed the finish options. FYI, save for the Clapton, all the guitars in this discussion are now discontinued. As my colleagues have pointed out, you have the flexibility in modding this guitar to the Clapton electronics or that in Richie Sambora's guitar. In other discussions I have also commented that it would have been a classier design had the guitar been fitted with a battery box that had a flip top. However, the routing requirements might have made it difficult. As a matter of interest, the spot for the battery had been place in two different locations on the Powerhouse guitar. The other location being above the lower horn, if memory serves. Perhaps Chromeface can supply us with the details of which version had which. BTW: The example shown in the photograph is rather nice.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 12:59 pm
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Yep - mine is black too and still has the pearloid pickguard. The battery box rout is below and aft of the trem cover. The serial # indicates a '98 model.
I've been looking for a site for details on the 12 to 25 db mod (who wouldn't want that!) but have not found it. Anyone have the URL?
Thanks again for all the great info.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:08 pm
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I don't know of a site that shows how to do it, but the 25dB mod is very simple. On the bottom knob there are two resistors -- one 47K, one 24K. Simply remove them -- you can unsolder them or cut them off. You only really need to disconnect one end of each resistor and tape off the other end -- that way if you ever want to put it back to stock you won't have to try to remember where you put them or buy new ones or have to remember which goes where.

On this service diagram they're parts number 19 and 20:

http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-9500_02A_SISD.pdf


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:15 pm
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Thanks much strayedstrater - I can be dangerous with a soldering iron and wanted to get all the info I could before I lite her up.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 1:35 pm
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lkindel wrote:
Yep - mine is black too and still has the pearloid pickguard. The battery box rout is below and aft of the trem cover. The serial # indicates a '98 model.
I've been looking for a site for details on the 12 to 25 db mod (who wouldn't want that!) but have not found it. Anyone have the URL?
Thanks again for all the great info.

OK, here's the Fender Service Diagram for the Deluxe Powerhouse Stratocaster, http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-9500_02A_SISD.pdf

On page two the resistors are on the lower Pot, marked as 19 & 20. Clip those off and you've doubled your boost. I did it and didn't really like it, but ymmv.

It's always a good idea to have the Service Diagram for your instrument to specify parts and in this case, find them in the first place.

A good source of information can be found here at the Strat-Talk Deluxe Powerhouse Strat Owners Club, http://www.strat-talk.com/forum/guitar-owners-clubs/73924-deluxe-powerhouse-strat-owners-club.html.

I'm sure if you do a search on this forum you'll find they have been discussed at length as well.

I modded the heck-a-moly out of mine, I was 'sperimentin' and it turned into quite a guitar, but again it really needed a Bridge upgrade and new Tuners couldn't hurt.

Here's how my bidness under the hood turned out, the dummy coil removed, new Amalfitano Pups w/RWRP middle, TBX Master Tone Pot and resistors clipped. (note the lower Pot has solder remains on either side where the resistors formerly contacted)


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:02 pm
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@ZZDoc

The battery location remained the same except later Powerhouses featured a battery holder compartment in place of the 2-screw backplate.


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Sun Mar 02, 2014 11:45 pm
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chromeface wrote:
The battery location remained the same except later Powerhouses featured a battery holder compartment in place of the 2-screw backplate.


Correct. The removable cover was white while the hinged flip-open style was black. Mine is a 2006 model and has the latter type.

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 6:12 am
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Retroverbial wrote:
chromeface wrote:
The battery location remained the same except later Powerhouses featured a battery holder compartment in place of the 2-screw backplate.


Correct. The removable cover was white while the hinged flip-open style was black. Mine is a 2006 model and has the latter type.

Arjay

My memory was that they had reoriented its position but obviously not relocated it. Better.

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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 6:37 am
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@ZZDoc

I think the Elite Strats had also a pair of resistors in their boost pot.

Not sure if the 25dB mod is also applicable on the Elites. :roll:


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Post subject: Re: MIM Powerhouse model Strat
Posted: Mon Mar 03, 2014 11:38 am
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chromeface wrote:
@ZZDoc...I think the Elite Strats had also a pair of resistors in their boost pot. Not sure if the 25dB mod is also applicable on the Elites. :roll:

Can't speak to that. I can say that the body routing for the Elite was carried forward to the Clapton with respect to accommodating the boost circuit board, though the pickup routing was SSS for the Clapton. It appears that is was HSS for the Powerhouse. Can't speak for the Sambora. There were two versions. MIA and MIM.

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