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Post subject: Project Strat Help Needed!
Posted: Fri Oct 22, 2010 9:04 am
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Hey guys,
So I'm planning on buying a cheap S/S/H MIM standard strat to use as a project guitar. I already have a list of mods I want to do to it but I ran into a problem with a couple of them that I wanted to get some help/opinions on before actually buying the parts only to find out it was a waste of money. Ok so here's my dilemma. I want to put EMGs into the strat. Here's the link to the exact set up I want to put in for reference:

http://www.emgpickups.com/products/index/90/7/1

Also I want to put in a Shadow Kill Pot in place of my volume control. Here's a link to that mod for reference also:

http://www.shadow-electronics.com/viewp ... id=&id=266

Now here lies my problem:
The EMG pickups employ EMG's "quick connect" solderless system (as seen in the pictures on the EMG link I posted above). The Kill Pot isn't compatible with EMG's solderless system (as seen in the Kill Pot link). So I was wondering how I would go about installing (soldering if needed) the Kill Pot with the EMG pickup set up. Is it even possible? My first inclination was to de-solder mini circuit board off of the volume pot and re-soldering it onto the Kill Pot but I'm not sure if there will be enough clearance in the strat cavity or if it will even work. Ok, I think that's all the info I can give at the moment. If anyone has any info or ideas, please let me know. Hope to hear from someone soon!

-Ruzz


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:57 am
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Hi Sirtoshira

Welcome to the forum,

its a bit hard to see exactly from the pics (even expanded) but the wires that would normally plug into the pots look like they would be able to be soldered direct to the kill pot once you have snipped off the plug.

Cant see any problem doing this they both appear to be 3 wire jobs, now the selector switch looks a bit more complicated :roll: hopefully youll be using all that gubbins as EMG intended lol.


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:13 am
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Al 87,
Thank you so much for the reply. Yeah, aside from the Kill Pot, the other mods I want to do on this project guitar won't interfere with the EMG system so I'm not worried. This was one of the only things that stood out. I was thinking about adding a battery box (to eliminate the need to stuff it under the pickguard like EMG suggests), but that would require routing out a hole for the box and I'm trying to keep this as non invasive as possible. Other mods I am thinking about doing to this strat are:

- Adding a hipshot tremsetter
- Adding a set of graphtech string saver saddles and nut
- Switching out the tuning machines for schaller locking ones
- And various little mods (strap locks ect)

Over all I think it'll be a good project. Do you know of any other good mods to do to a strat?

-Ruzz


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:49 am
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Why not just ditch the quick connect system at the control cavity. EMG do or did supply their pickups with the clip on connecters at the pickup only.

Or use the killpot in the place of the volume control but have EMG's volume control wired into the circuit, hidden under the scratchplate.


I'm pretty sure if you order the 25K killpot and just wire the EMG's to it as you would a normal set of pickups you'll be ok.

I wired the 81/85 set to my Jackson Dinky as though they were normal pickups. Bit of a game figuring out seperating the braided wire from the white wire, but thats about it.

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 5:59 am
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sirtoshira wrote:
I was thinking about adding a battery box (to eliminate the need to stuff it under the pickguard like EMG suggests), but that would require routing out a hole for the box...

Hi Ruzz: nuttin' wrong with making a cavity for a battery box, and ultimately it is the tidiest long-term solution if you need onboard 9v power.

I have done it using chisels; Forum user AndyBigHair has done it with a router. We can both post pictures and instructions if you require.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:06 am
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Yeah routing out a cavity for the 9v battery seems daunting but while i might give it a miss on the 58 reissue i use, heck that uses a butterfly string tree so lipsalve comes in handy there! if its a project ur doing its a good time to experiment.

Just go steady, measure twice (at least) and drill/cut once.

Dont suppose ull have room to wedge it near the trem springs especially with the tremsetter?

... .Al


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 6:26 am
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Nikininja:
That's actually not a bad idea. I looked on the EMG site and I did not see pups w/o the quick connect system. Although i was only looking at the sets. Maybe they sell them w/o the quick connect system if you buy individual pups which I really don't want to do. I'll give it a look though. Might be cheaper.

Ceri:
Yeah, I agree, it is a tidy solution for an active pickup system, but then again, this is my first project guitar and I don't want to mess it up. Pics and instructions would help and I would greatly appreciate it, but if it's too much of a hassle don't worry about it. Thanks for the info :P

Al 87:
yeah I guess it does manke good practice, and you're right, there is no room in the trem cavity with the trem setter there. I was thinking the same thing :P Haha maybe routing and installing a battery box is the way to go.

-Ruzz


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:08 am
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sirtoshira wrote:
Ceri:
Yeah, I agree, it is a tidy solution for an active pickup system, but then again, this is my first project guitar and I don't want to mess it up. Pics and instructions would help and I would greatly appreciate it, but if it's too much of a hassle don't worry about it. Thanks for the info :P

Hi again Ruzz: or come to think of it, no need for pix and instructions. We just need a couple of links. Halfway down this page you will find my hand-chiselled approach to a battery cavity:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... &start=165

And (hopefully he doesn't mind me posting it) here is Andy doing a similar job with a router. Again, about halfway down the page:

http://www.fender.com/community/forums/ ... &start=225

Very do-able, though you'll need to take a bit of care doing it on a guitar that already has its lacquer on.

Cheers - C


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 7:12 am
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Ruzz

They are a fiddley pickup to install but you get that snap in connecter at the back of the pickup. Which I think is a tremendous design. You can swap pickups around with no more than a screwdriver.

We'll just have to wait for Martian or Andy to see the thread and give one of the idea the ok.

Did you ever consider just wiring a light dependant resistor circuit as a switch to the output of the guitar? That way theres no mechanical process to off/on circuit. Simply cover the LDR and have the signal killed.
There was something similar that the hair metal shredders used in the 80's. I don't know the exact details of it.
Obviously the system had it's faults. But with modern advancements in technology theres no reason it couldn't be ressurected and bettered.

From what I can remember of the circuit, placement of that sensor was everything.

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:02 am
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Ceri:
Thanks for the links. They helped out a lot in visualizing what I want to do with this project. I think I might go with the routing way just cause it seems wasier than the chiseling way. I'll keep you posted as to how it goes once I get the parts and actually start this project.

Nikininja:
I never thought of doing that. I'll have to check it out. It definitely sounds doable/interesting.

-Ruzz


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:31 am
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Without wanting to disagree with anyone, because I too found battery placement to be a big issue on strats.
But EMG's don't use batteries up like a lot of onboard circuits do. The same battery has been in my Jackson for close on 2 years now. Guess what I'm saying is access isn't really that much of a issue with em. Rather than theres no need to go carving wood.

When I put the clapton boost in one of my strats I struggled like hell with the battery. I tried the control cavity, didn't have enough room with the boost circuit in there too. I went with inbetween 2 trem springs for quite a while. I found it to interfere with the trem too much.
In the end I bought a body with the battery cavity routed in.

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 10:45 am
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Nikininja:
Yeah i was reading some reviews on the EMGs I want and a lot of people have been saying that their batteries have been lasting 1-2 years with normal use. Maybe a battery box is a waste of time if I'm not going to be changing it out that much. Seems like a pointless mod that could potentially get screwed up if I'm not going to be using it that much. Thanks for the input. I think i might try the back trem cavity (wedged by the trem block if there's room) since I don't think I'll be using the tremolo that much, or maybe just follow EMGs suggestion and put it in the cavity where the tone/volume knobs are.

-Ruzz


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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 12:14 pm
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Ruzz

If you do go with that trem cavity idea. Wedging the battery intbetween 2 springs rather than the block and side wall is a much safer option. Theres no real chance of the battery coming under pressure and splitting.

I really do implore you to have a good look at the route a cavity idea. If you can get someone to help, or are confident of doing it yourself, it is by far the best option. Like I said previous I ended up buying a Powerhouse strat body, just for the battery cavity.

Good batteries always a help and when you hear the 81/89 you'll likely want to do a load of squeals and dives.

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Posted: Mon Oct 25, 2010 4:07 pm
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Hi Ruzz

Sounds like a cool project! :D

Regarding the EMG and the Kill Pot, that's a tough one. I've had a quick look at both products and unfortunately I don't think they are compatible with out voiding the warranty on the EMG's.

I like Nick's idea of a photo-sensitive switch or some other kind wired to the output jack. I'm currently experimenting with different switches to see which works best. I've found cutting the internal spring on a non-latching push switch makes rapid switching easier.

Regarding your battery placement, If your going to take a router to a finished body make sure you score an outline with a craft knife or something similar to try and prevent the paint chipping off. I also recommend making a good template and testing it on a scrap piece of timber first.

I'm presuming you are competent with a router. If not, please take the time to find some who is to either carry out the work for you or be there to supervise. Routers are seriously vicious bits of kit and can very quickly ruin your prospects of ever playing guitar again. So play safe. :wink:

Good luck and keep us posted!

BTW:
Ceri wrote:
And (hopefully he doesn't mind me posting it) here is Andy doing a similar job with a router. Again, about halfway down the page:

I don't mind at all. Lord knows I spend most of my time here posting links to your threads!

Enjoy! :D

Andy

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Posted: Fri Oct 29, 2010 11:53 am
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Nikininja:
I agree, the last thing I need is for my battery to split while I use the trem bar. I don't think that there will be any room between the springs seeing as I am adding a tremsetter so I think the best be would be either a battery box, or putting the battery under the pickguard like EMG suggests.

Andybighair:
Thank you so much for the info. On second thought, I don't know if I want to add the kill pot to this project anymore. I don't know. We'll see.

On another note, I was looking at the standard strat SSH online and i noticed that the humbucker hole in the pickguard is a bit rounded on the corners to accommodate the humbucker and have it fit snuggly. I don't know what made me think of it, but i went to the EMG website to check out the Pickups I want and I noticed that the humbucker that's included in the set is more square. My question now is: Will the humbucker fit the pickguard without me having to modify the pickguard? More specifically will I have to make the humbucker hole bigger? I don't understand why they would sell a "Strat" set and not have the humbucker fit, but you never know. What do you guys think? I would hate to have to make the hole in the pickguard bigger.


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