50s wiring in strats and teles

[Chickenwing]

I dont know if 50s wiring is the right name for this because this was not how fenders were wired back in the 50s.
I think it is to do with the way gibsons were wired even though they were not wired like this either (being completely different 2H, 2volume, 2 tone setups).
Either way, I ran across this thing called the "Fezz-Parka" mod on tdpri. I thought I'd give it a go because i use a 5e3 tweed deluxe a lot, and being able to keep my high end as i roll down the guitar volume is super useful because it means i can just plug in and play and get all the sounds I need for gigs that way.
Long story short: It works great. To me it seems like how volume controls should have worked on guitars my whole life.
Now both my teles are wired like this.
Dug it so much, I did it to my strat too and that is super cool.
Might seem like a small thing, but for me being able to use my volume control and not lose top end (and not use a treble bleed) is invaluable and I wish I had discovered this earlier.

Best thing: super easy (1 wire) and reversible.
Cheers!

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

Yeah, it is definitely a cool mod if you don't use your tone control all that often.

 

[Discharged]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I've always '50s wired all my strat-like instruments... is this an unusual thing?

/Peter

 

[AlexR]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

It is for some, as its not a part of Fender stock wiring or typically part of most diagrams.

I have tried it a couple of times, but didn't like the result. My strats are almost always SSS, and the vintage strength singlecoils I have don't seem to suffer the tonal rolloff to the same extent as humbuckers - or at least I can use it as an advantage.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I think its a great idea with humbuckers, although I prefer “modern” wiring with a 180 pf. cap added across the volume control. Thats how PRS does it.

For me, single coils are bright enough and to my ears don’t need 50’s wiring or a bright cap.

 

[jeremy]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

Yeah, it is definitely a cool mod if you don't use your tone control all that often.

why do you say that? i dont notice much difference in how the tone control reacts

 

[Mincer]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

OK, for someone who is not that versed in how this sounds different than 'normal' Fender wiring, can y'all explain what it does?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

why do you say that? i dont notice much difference in how the tone control reacts

It's really one of those things that depends on the individual and how they use their guitars. Most of my guitars are HH with master volume and tone, I also like to set my neck pickup so it has a slight volume drop. I set my rig so that my neck is just on the edge of breakup and my bridge so that only cleans up if I pick really softly.

Given I use my tone control quite often, you can see how 50s wiring would negatively affect my setup. I still use it on my more vintage correct Gibson builds however. There's nothing wrong with 50s wiring, but I prefer either modern wiring or a good treble bleed.

Edit: Pot values also affect the degree of the control interaction., just to put that out there.

 

[Chickenwing]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

OK, for someone who is not that versed in how this sounds different than 'normal' Fender wiring, can y'all explain what it does?

You know how when you roll back the volume from 10, you also lose treble? When you do this mod, it wont do that anymore.
Tone control works nice too, you can even still use it for a fake "wah wah".
To me, it just means the whole thing works the way it should. If i want to lose treble, I'll roll off the tone.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

You know how when you roll back the volume from 10, you also lose treble? When you do this mod, it wont do that anymore.
Tone control works nice too, you can even still use it for a fake "wah wah".
To me, it just means the whole thing works the way it should. If i want to lose treble, I'll roll off the tone.

But rolling back the tone starts to cut the volume as well. Also, I've noticed that the lower the volume is, the deeper the tone control cuts. It also affects the taper of the pots, which may require a change of pots depending on the user.

As I pointed out earlier, the degree of this interaction depends on your pots. I forget the trend for 50s wiring, but it's kinda like how 500k volume pots lose more treble as they are turned down than 250ks when you have modern wiring.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

Yep the tone does seem to roll back a little volume too, but I find that I use the tone control to make the sound less present which means im trying to sit back further in the mix, which means that it is more effective for me in this application. It also makes the "wah wah" effect more prominent. I really like the arrangement, but for those who may find they don't, it is simply one wire to change.

 

[Mincer]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

Hmm, interesting...I have never noticed a problem with rolling back the volume...and my tone control has always done the wah-wah thing. Maybe I am on to something?

 

[Ayrton]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I notice more of a difference with humbuckers. Moving the second tone to the bridge however, is a worthwhile strat mod.

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I notice more of a difference with humbuckers. Moving the second tone to the bridge however, is a worthwhile strat mod.

Always, or alternatively wiring the neck and middle together and giving the bridge its own tone control.

 

[Ayrton]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I may fiddle fart with the 50's again just to see, but I remember it not making enough of a difference in that guitar.

I haven't wired a strat 50's in some time, but all my strats have T1 to the neck, and T2 to bridge. You can combine the middle (or neck) but I don't prefer it that way.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I notice more of a difference with humbuckers.

That's because of the 500k pots.

 

[dystrust]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

I have 50s wiring in both my Strat and Tele, though neither have vintage-style singles in all positions.

My Tele has a SM-1n Firebird pup in the neck and a Tele Hot Stack in the bridge with 500K pots. My Strat has SSL-2s in the neck and middle with a tapped SSL-6 in the bridge and 250K pots; master volume, master tone, and Fralin blender.

 

[treyhaislip]

Re: 50s wiring in strats and teles

Best thing: super easy (1 wire) and reversible.
Cheers!
View attachment 90661
View attachment 90662

Thank you for sharing! Sounds like something I should try, I'm with you on not wanting to lose treble as you roll the volume down.