1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

[Luke Duke]

I was searching for info earlier and saw that .047 and .022 are the most popular values. .047 makes it brighter by cutting out bass? I have experiented with caps but it was on my old LP custom. I went from .047 to.1 to .05 or .06 but never anything on a strat.

I've never wired a sss strat from scratch before but the threads I saw talked about having 2 caps currently my double bucker strat uses 1 cap .022 I think. I was wondering why 1 or 2 caps (reasons and logic) I also saw Curly has a jumper from the middle leg on his bridge pot? Also what works best for you guys neck/middle on one pot or bridge/middle on one pot? I'm thinking neck/middle.

Thanks for any help in advance.

Luke

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Luke: a capacitor blocks bass and passes highs through it. In a tone circuit in a guitar, a capacitor blocks bass from escaping the circuit but allows highs to escape and return to Earth or Ground when the tone control is turned down. The tone control is like a gate that when on "10" is shut and when on zero is wide open.

As the value of a capacitor gets larger that cap will still block bass from passing through it but it will start to let more mids through it. So when you turn the tone control down, a .02 cap will block more midrange from escaping than a .047 will. The .047 value will allow highs to escape but also will allow more mids to escape than the .02 would.

Use a single .02 cap. I think that's the best value for use in guitars.

I think the very best way to wire a Strat with three controls is to use amaster volume and master tone. Then all three pickups have a volume and tone control.

On a stock strat you cannot combine the bridge and neck pickups: that's the classic middle setting on a Les Paul or Telecaster and that tone is unavailable on a Strat.

So use the third control as a blender pot to combine the neck and bridge pickups.

I can post a wiring diagram if you'd like to try it.

Lew

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Now Lew I'm man enough to admit when I'm clueless...so I'll admit I know nothing about blender pots. :smack: How do they work what kind of pot are they etc.? What kind of cap/s do you use. I'm wantting a stratty sound but don't want it to sound weak, I like my midrange but want a vintagey but pushy sound.

Luke

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Here ya go Luke: http://www.fralinpickups.com/images/blendschem2.jpg

Ignore the "volume kit" and do not use the ".002 cap" on the tone control: use .02 instead.

I have the Blender Pot in stock for $10. if you'd like to give one a try.

Many of my friends here, like John (STRATDELUXER97) , are now using a blender pot on thier Strats and I don't know of anyone who has tried it and didn't find it extremely useful.

I use it on all of my Strats with three pickups.

Lew

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

As far as what kind of caps to use, I prefer Sprague Orange Drop .02 caps. I can help you with those too if you need one. Lew

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

So Lew you use a single cap then? Or...does the blender circuit get its own cap as well? As far as the usefulness what does the tone sound like? kind of Tele like? Like I said I'm charting new ground here its (whoosh) over my head right now. Does this affect the volume? Does it work in the 1rst and 5th position? This might be something very useful so I don't wanna gloss over it, get it wrong, and then rip it out.

Luke

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

So Lew you use a single cap then? Or...does the blender circuit get its own cap as well? As far as the usefulness what does the tone sound like? kind of Tele like? Like I said I'm charting new ground here its (whoosh) over my head right now. Does this affect the volume? Does it work in the 1rst and 5th position? This might be something very useful so I don't wanna gloss over it, get it wrong, and then rip it out.

Luke

All standard Strats use a single cap for the tone control...never two. In a Strat with two tone controls both controls share one cap.

There is no cap on the Blender Pot...it is NOT a tone control.

The Blender Pot does not affect the overall volume.

What it does is:
1. when your switch is set for the neck pickup only or the neck and middle pickup combined, the blender pot allows you to blend in the bridge pickup.

2. when your switch is set for the bridge pickup only or the bridge and middle pickup combined, the blender pot allows you to blend in the neck pickup.

 

[Luke Duke]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Lew I wanna ask you a few more questions as far as useability. Are you in your shop today to take calls/orders? I figure it would be easier than making you type 40 thousand messages.

Luke

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Lew I wanna ask you a few more questions as far as useability. Are you in your shop today to take calls/orders? I figure it would be easier than making you type 40 thousand messages.

Luke

Nope. Today is my day off and I'm heading for the hills in a few minutes. I'll be in tuesday. Give me a call: 303-443-2030.

Thanks! Lew

 

[skh515]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

I thought you were already in the hills Lew.

I'd like to see that diagram (w/ the blend).
In my Mahogany Strat, I used a three-way Tele switch for the neck and mid pups. They share a Vol and TBX control. I gave the bridge it's own Vol (no tone control). This way I can blend in as much or as little bridge pup as I like (Hot Rail) with the Duckbuster and/or Lil 59er (m).

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

I'd like to see that diagram (w/ the blend).

Here it is again: http://www.fralinpickups.com/images/blendschem2.jpg

But read the message posted in post #4 of this thread. Thanks, Lew

 

[skh515]

Re: 1 or 2 Caps for SSS strat and wiring

Cool Lew. Thank ya, Thank ya very much.