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Post subject: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:33 pm
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I have an Am Texas Special with the HSS configuration. I bought it used at a pawn shop and probably would have bought the SSS configuration if that option was open to me at the time, but I figured I'd try it out for a while and see how I liked it before I made any rash decisions. I also just bought a Mustang 2 V2 as a practice amp, which seems to be very versatile if not very user friendly.

Anyway, I was wondering if someone else has done a mod like this and if so, how did they like the results?

And what pickup did they put in the bridge position or just put a switch between the existing humbucker and the 5 way to open the second coil of the humbucker? and Which coil of the two in the humbucker would be the best one to put the switch on?

I know all this is probably heresy to some HSS afictionados, but my little 50 dollar Squier with the SSS configuration and the neck and bridge only switch in it says that it might be worth a shot.

To my old ears the humbucker is pretty edgy all by itself, and rather than turn down the tone knob, I think it might be faster and sound better with the option of the bridge and neck only (humbucker configuration)


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Feb 26, 2015 5:52 pm
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Tillerman6 wrote:
I have an Am Texas Special with the HSS configuration. I bought it used at a pawn shop and probably would have bought the SSS configuration if that option was open to me at the time, but I figured I'd try it out for a while and see how I liked it before I made any rash decisions. I also just bought a Mustang 2 V2 as a practice amp, which seems to be very versatile if not very user friendly.

Anyway, I was wondering if someone else has done a mod like this and if so, how did they like the results?

And what pickup did they put in the bridge position or just put a switch between the existing humbucker and the 5 way to open the second coil of the humbucker? and Which coil of the two in the humbucker would be the best one to put the switch on?

I know all this is probably heresy to some HSS afictionados, but my little 50 dollar Squier with the SSS configuration and the neck and bridge only switch in it says that it might be worth a shot.

To my old ears the humbucker is pretty edgy all by itself, and rather than turn down the tone knob, I think it might be faster and sound better with the option of the bridge and neck only (humbucker configuration)



I just did that to my American Standard, I bought it new and they just sold the SSS so I got the same color in HSS. I changed it after I demoed it out and made sure it was ok.

Image

Image


Image


All you need is a pickguard and Texas Special bridge pickup. I believe yours is wired with a super switch too so you will need a Fender 5 way, I like the pure vintage one.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:10 pm
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donniecraven,

Thanks for the comeback.

How do you like the SSS configuration now that the job is done? and do you have a part number for the bridge single pickup? I used to live in KC most of my life.

I would send you some picks if I could figure out this BB system?

Tillerman 6


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:18 pm
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Tillerman6 wrote:
donniecraven,

Thanks for the comeback.

How do you like the SSS configuration now that the job is done? and do you have a part number for the bridge single pickup? I used to live in KC most of my life.

I would send you some picks if I could figure out this BB system?

Tillerman 6


I have 3 strats the conversion from HSS to SSS was on my new American Standard. Its got Seymour Duncan Antiquity Texas Hots they sound very vintage and good through the 500k. My older American Standard has the Atomic in it again from my Highway 1 which now has Texas Specials. I run 500k in all my strats because it only brightens up the signal and that gives the deception of more output. I like the result better into a vintage tube style preamp. Older Les Pauls ran 550k and most vintage strat pots spec out much higher than 250k as well.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:36 pm
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It looks like this mod would take a little more trial and error than I expected. the Texas spcial I have is using the "greasebucket" Fender technology on the 250K pots right now. If you are playing in a room full of carpets and stuffed furniture it might need the 500K pots to sound right in there. But that is just a guess on my part. I was playing in the kitchen today because we are waiting for the carpet to dry in the living room where I usually set up on the couch and jam with the Youtube. But with the same treble settings as were used in the livingroom,
the amp sounded way too shrill and harsh in the hard tile floored kitchen. I had to turn the treble all the way down and bring the base up a bit to get it to sound even half as good as it does in the living room. And forget reverb altogether if you're playing on hard surfaces.

But that's just my humble opinion.


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 9:39 pm
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I don't like grease bucket, I wire everything American Standard. If you play clean you will like 250k better maybe. I play dirty classic rock. That's where the 500k make it shine into my marshall.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Thu Mar 05, 2015 10:17 pm
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I wish I could hear your sound as that would give me some idea of what you are trying for.

Sounds like Metallica or SRV? Any way I will probably never have a big Marshal to play with for real, although my Mustang 2 is supposedly trying to mimick the Marshal. What I'm hearing is that the Marshal can be set up to stay fairly clean when your're not hitting the strings hard, but breaks up nicely into distortion at some pre determined level.

But I'm just trying to stay out of the distortion and make it sing like Mark Knopfler with that sweet sort of hollow sound like Sultans of Swing. Not that I will ever be that good, but it's something to shoot for. I also like some of the original Steely Dan stuff in the Jaz world and things that "cry" or sing, but distortion is not my bag.

What's not right with the "Grease Bucket design??"

Any suggestions would be much appreciated.


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 4:20 am
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Im just not a fan of grease bucket, american standard is just the standard strat wiring with the tone wire jumper from middle to bridge. Its what every American Standard Strat is wired. I go for a Classic Rock sound not Metallica that would be Classic Metal. Deep Purple Jimi Hendrix Jeff Beck. Anyway with those expectations I would say stick with the 250k you have just clean it up with American Standard wiring.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:51 am
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Just a suggestion that may make life easier, though a little more expensive. Rather than trying to find a single coil bridge pup, that will mate well with what you have, and get into an endless circle. Why not buy a fully loaded pickguard online. Swap in the new pickguard, solder the output jack and your ready to go, and you have your old setup to either sell of swap back in when you have an itch. If you're looking for a nice clean, Fat 50's might do it for you. There's several places that will make up any combo you want.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Fri Mar 06, 2015 8:58 am
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I totally agree.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 7:16 am
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I simply changed out the loaded pickgaurd. I went to http://www.twilightguitars.com/ and had one custom built for me according to pickgaurd choice, pickup choice, and knobs/pickup cover choice.
I have aged white pearl pickgaurd, with Custom Shop Texas Special pickup's, and aged cream knobs/covers for $200.00 all guarantee genuine Fender parts with packages included (the original is black on mint which is now in my 09' Squire Bullet).
If you know how to solder it is quick and painless.

Here's the original:
Image

And finished product:
Image

P.S.- Not sure why the size difference in photos...I resized each to match in Photobucket...but this is how they came out. Oh well...you get the jist.


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Sat Mar 07, 2015 10:58 am
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So do I, I have plenty of them wired up, its just 4 wires one hot and 3 grounds, easy task. Makes a lot more sense than sticking resistors and transistors in like on the other thread I commented on. :lol: Every time I get one with Grease Bucket I rip it out first thing and go American Standard Wiring. Its the way Leo wired it with a bridge tone jumper.


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 10:57 am
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From what I have seen in the comments (and I' sure they are valid) I still can't understand what is wrong with the "grease bucket" type of wiring? Not to get too technical, but the only difference I can see is that there is a fixed resistor across (in parallel) with the individual capacitor for each tone pot. The tone pots on my Texas special are already 250K.

The grease bucket system uses the M&M's style ceramic capacitors, which are physically smaller, but so far I haven't heard why I would want to change that arrangement except maybe to get the SSS configuration back.

The "Atomic" humbucker is fairly "hot" as far as the sound goes and for my tastes is a bit thin and twangy, so I stay out of it most of the time.

I do agree that the best way to go would be to order a whole pick guard already set up, but I already blew my piggy bank on the guitar and a new Mustang 2 v2, so that will have to wait for a bit.


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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:37 pm
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Tillerman6 wrote:
From what I have seen in the comments (and I' sure they are valid) I still can't understand what is wrong with the "grease bucket" type of wiring? Not to get too technical, but the only difference I can see is that there is a fixed resistor across (in parallel) with the individual capacitor for each tone pot. The tone pots on my Texas special are already 250K.

The grease bucket system uses the M&M's style ceramic capacitors, which are physically smaller, but so far I haven't heard why I would want to change that arrangement except maybe to get the SSS configuration back.

The "Atomic" humbucker is fairly "hot" as far as the sound goes and for my tastes is a bit thin and twangy, so I stay out of it most of the time.

I do agree that the best way to go would be to order a whole pick guard already set up, but I already blew my piggy bank on the guitar and a new Mustang 2 v2, so that will have to wait for a bit.



You would have to post a picture of your pickguard rear components side but Im almost positive you have a super switch? Not a standard 5 way? If this is the case and you are happy with all but the humbucker you would need a 5 way a pickguard and a texas special bridge pickup. I HIGHLY recommend all of these items be Fender products. If you have the American Special which is what I think you have because the Texas Special fat strat did not come with a Atomic nor did it come with grease bucket. if so then you have a standard 5 way not a super switch. in that case order a fender american standard SSS pickguard in your desired color and a Texas Special bridge pickup and its a simple change out.

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Post subject: Re: Hss Strat converted to SSS?
Posted: Tue Mar 10, 2015 2:39 pm
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PS. There is no need to change the grease bucket at all if your happy with it.

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