American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switch

de_dUKe

de_dUKe

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American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion. pots, caps, coil split switch

Hey guys,

Just got a Duncan Distortion to drop into the bridge of my pure 1999 SSS Ash Fender Stratocaster.

Just need a few pointers and questions on the right components and best way of wiring this up.

I want to add a coil split.. I've seen the push-pull pots but don't like how it raises the volume control knob. I sometimes hit that thing anyways so raising it higher worries me. A good push-push switch maybe doesn't do this.? Also I've seen the Fender HM Strat toggle switch and would rather do this that raise the volume knob higher. So what's a good switch for this..?

Would I need to change the volume pot anyways..? 500k.? I heard the Distortion 'likes' a 300k pot ideally, but in a bright guitar like mine, would the 250k pot in there already help calm the inevitable highs..? I will probably be changing out the single coils in the middle and neck in the near future for either some stacked singles or SC humbuckers (L'il '59. JB jr's etc) so which pots do these prefer.?

Is there a place I can get a wiring diagram to help me out in this case. Seems a simple operation but having this info at hand would be a blessing no doubt.

Many thanks in advance guys... :headbang:
 
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Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

Push/push switches do the same thing. However, you might look into the (expensive) Fender S1 switch, which is a really elegant and ergonomic solution to this. I use it to split 2 pickups on an HH guitar.

stratocaster-s-1-switch.jpg

On my HSS guitar, though, I use a 500k for volume, 250k for tone for the 2 singles and 500k tone for the humbucker. Pots are cheap, so it is worth experimenting to get the right values dialed in.
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

ahh yeah I saw those switches on a video...they're just the thing.. gotta get me one of those..

..and I would need a 500k for tone and volume.? what are audio taper pots..? and what do you think about the Fender TBX tone controls.?

..and do you have wiring diagram for such a setup..?

sorry....so many questions.. :D
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

On my strats I usually do a master tone and volume
Use the extra hole for a three position double pole switch

Wired for humbucker
Hum in series
Hum in parallel
Hum split

Or

Hum always on
Hum controlled by 5 way switch
Hum split always on
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

Well, I think before you look for a diagram (or we can point you to one), you should decide exactly what you want. Pot value is a matter of preference, really. I'd experiment with 500k and 250k with the setup you have (mix and match), and then when you decide, buy the right S1 switch. As far as the TBX, i've heard guitars where it sounds great, and some where I didn't like it. So, if you can, experiment with the pickups you have. I use my tone controls a lot, so I don't use a TBX (I do a lot of 'volume swell' things with the tone control) so it doesn't currently work for me.
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

I have a custom pick guard, HSS with two knobs instead of 3. It has a master volume, 500k, for the HB and a 250k master volume for the singles. I love it.

I can post the wiring diagram if you want.

This works great for single channel non master volume amps because I can have the cleans low volume and the dirty parts loud and driven based on the different guitar volumes.

It doesn't have the HB split and the HB mid single sounds wonky but I don't use that setting anyway, even when it was SSS.
 
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Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

..I have the Duncan Distortion arriving tomorrow with 500k volume and tone pots so I can test along with the 250k ones that are already in the Strat.. Exciting times.)
..Will be straight on it and will test which arrangements sounds the best for my setup..
..Already cued up a Fender S-1 switch supplier in the U.K. with reasonable prices, just need to know the correct value..
..I don't usually use the tone controls either, had it always at 10 on the bridge single coil for as much 'edge' as I could get, but I suspect the DD might need some taming or dialling in.. But this is all new to me so I'm unsure how it's gonna work out..
..I do however like the suggestion for 2 volume controls for extra control between the humbucker and cleans when switching..
..I'm suggesting I could keep a tone control in there too..?

Thanks for the input guys..

Devil horns fingers crossed for tomorrow..:headbang:
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

Linear pots are the way to go. Why wouldn't you want 5 on the control to mean 50%, etc?

Just like VH, why have a tone knob when it's dimed 99% of the time anyways. Life is too short to dial back sweet guitar tones.
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

So I have the Duncan Distortion in my guitar sounding chunky and brutal as i wanted it too... :smash:

Its time to setup my coil split switch, 2 volume controls and maybe a slight alteration to the 5 way switch.. I'd like to try and keep the re-wiring as simple as possible for now..

Ideally i'd like to split the humbucker to get some sort of clean from it.. Will it sound like the old Strat single coil.? Be nice to have a little quack to call on occasionally..) :biglaugh:

Also I was thinking of using two volume controls, as I rarely use the middle/neck tone control, one for the humbucker and one for the single coils. A good idea.?

Since i rarely use the middle pickup, I'd like to make the position 4 (middle/neck) on the 5-way be full humbucker and neck together instead.. Easy as it sounds..? Should be really heavy sounding right.? Escpecially when i drop in a JB. Jr. in the neck or something similar at a later date..?

The split switch would be ok being a standard pull / push (or push/push) switch on the tone control for the bridge humbucker.. ie. the bottom control knob.. Any suggestions for a quality switch is also appreciated.. I was gonna go with the Fender S-1 switch but its overkill for my needs and I read it can be problematic..

Or would this be simpler adding the push/pull to the 500k volume control and then add a resistor for the coil split to reduce it to 250k on the single coil.?

Any schematic diagrams for this setup would be awesome.. The Seymour Duncan site doesn't have quite the right one for me to use. For some reason it doesn't seem include a 2 volume / 1 tone control option..

Many thanks for all the guidance on this.. :headbang:
 
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Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

..Any ideas chaps..? : popworm:
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

If yours is a standard strat switch
You won't be able to exchange middle/neck position with middle/bridge
But as I said earlier making the switch do an "always on" instead
Will get you those combinations

The push pull or push push switch can do this

But you have to decide which you want either "bridge split always on" or " bridge him always on

Replacing the second tone with a three position toggle switch "on-off-on"
Will give you what I said earlier.
All the standard switch settings plus neck bridge combinations
And all pickups on
With the bridge either spit or not

The reason there are so few two volume wiring for strats
Well no one really wants that

I myself prefer a master volume master tone setup
 
Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

Thanks for the reply EHD..

1999 Strat is standard apart from the trembucker just installed in the bridge with a 500k volume pot.. 5 way selector, 1 master volume, 2 tone controls (bridge, middle/neck)..

Got a suggestion for 2 volume controls and thought it was a good way to deal with differences between the humbucker and singles.. They would be on their own different circuits so to speak.. If it can be done a better way and keep the extra tone control that would be cool.. Guessing you'd use a 500k pot and drop a resistor in the circuit for the single coils..?

The humbucker and neck combo selector is with the full humbucker and neck for the biggest possible sound I could get from the guitar, like a HH setup with both pups on.. Looking to change out the single in the neck in the near future for something like a JB Jr or lil '59 hence the interest in pairing this with the bridge..

Been researching this and found the Mustang/Jaguar style 3-way slider switch to be a discrete and viable option for this desired setup. Thinking maybe the 3 positions would be (1) All normal, full humbucker (2) Split coil humbucker (3) Full bridge & neck together. Is this all now possible with this simple switch..?


Rock on guys..:headbang:
 
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Re: American Fender Stratocaster SSS To HSS Conversion.. pots, caps, coil split switc

Anyone have any schematic diagrams or component advice please..? :biglaugh:
 
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