From: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!caen!umeecs!news-server!tjs Wed Mar 17 16:15:24 CST 1993
Article: 2950 of alt.guitar
Newsgroups: alt.guitar
Path: geraldo.cc.utexas.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uunet!caen!umeecs!news-server!tjs
From: tj–(at)–ecs.umich.edu (tim stanley)
Subject: Re: Strat Electronics
In-Reply-To: mi–(at)–mx.cc.utexas.edu’s message of 17 Mar 1993 00:56:06 -0600
Message-ID:
Sender: new–(at)–ip.eecs.umich.edu (Mr. News)
Organization: University of Michigan
References:
Date: Wed, 17 Mar 1993 18:43:10 GMT
Lines: 85
In article <1o6i26INNir--(at)--mx.cc.utexas.edu> mi–(at)–mx.cc.utexas.edu (Mic Kaczmarczik) writes:
In article
>I am looking for as many different tones I can get form my Strat without
>having to buy a new amp or pickups. I would like schematics that people
The February ’93 Guitar Player has some Strat rewiring schemes in the
article that starts on page 98. One of them requires no extra
hardware. Or, if you’re willing to exchange the 5-way switch for 3
mini switches, the Dan Armstrong “super strat” scheme is pretty
flexible. It gives you:
– each pickup alone
– three parallel pairs
– three serial pairs
– three pickups in parallel
– three pickups in series
– three pickups in series/parallel
The mini switches go in the slot where the 5-way usually goes. You
have to drill three holes along the slot to make room for the switch
shafts.
BTW, there’s another stock-parts-only project in the February ’87
issue of GP, if you can get hold of a back issue. It uses one of the
tone controls to mix between the usual wiring and some series/phase
reverse combinations. I’ve used this one in the past (I haven’t tried
the Dan Armstrong setup yet), and the series combinations were a nice
contrast to the standard parallel ones.
I did the Dan Armstrong mod last August – it is pretty excellent. I
also used potentiometers with push-pull DPDT switches to also add
phasing capability. Very flexible and interesting, indeed. I seem to
recall that this mod has 12 positions of its own, and with phasing,
provides 24 different combinations. My favorite is all three pickups
in series, with the bridge pickup out of phase – a very funky
frequency response notch seems to be generated.
BTW – the switches you need are available from either Warmouth or
Stewart-MacDonalds (one of the switches is not not available at
Radio-Snark). And the push-pull pots are available at Stew-Mac, too.
And, if you want to get a new pickguard – check out WD Music Products
in Deer Park, NY. Lots-o-colors, custom no-problem, be prepared to do
some final fitting of edges using your own tools. Depending on color,
custom, and size, $20 — $50.
I would say that the Dan Armstrong mod is trickier to get used to than
the simple/standard 5-position switch. To me, the extra sounds are
worth it; to a working axeman, he should think about it before he
switches ;-). But, it is not *that* hard to remember the 12 switch
positions – they *do* have a logical pattern. In fact, I am currently
in the process of wiring up my 3 old Squire strat pickups in this
configuration on a new black-pearloid pickguard just for kicks (hey, I
am an engineer, I can’t help it…spending 4 hours with a soldering
iron in my basement is fun for me…).
To learn more about re-wiring – check out the Guitar Handbook – there
is a fine section on fundamentals. Check out a book that Warmouth and
Stew-Mac sells called “Build Your Own Electric Guitar” (can’t remember
the author, methinks it is Foley, but it is *not* the one by Melvin
Hiscock). There are quite a few rewiring schematics in there – nearly
all the traidional ones (Strat, Tele, Gibson Les Paul/SG, etc) plus
more. Also, in addition to 1/93 GP magazine article, check out these
old GP articles (sorry, I can’t remember the titles, all I have is
this list):
GP 3/81
8/84
8/85
3/86
5/86
11/86
2/87
8/87 (Dan Armstrong Super-Strat that you sent)
1/89 (Ultimate Strat Switch)
IMHO – the Dan Armstrong mod is the coolest and most flexible (my
personal goal – YourMilageMayVary). Also, IMHO, if you are inside
your guitar hacking about, shield the cavity and the pickguard using
something, I recommend the 3 coats of shielding paint (also at
Stew-Mac).
G’luck,
T
