Best Strat wiring for most versatility?

[tonegeek]

Here is what i currently have to work with:
I have a G&L Legacy, a 59n and 59b pickup and the original Alnico V pups.

what i want to accomplish:
I want a Strat that has a fat lead tone in the bridge.
I want to retain some of the quack of the 2 and 4 switch positions if possible.
I also want a good bluesy neck pup tone.

Currently I have the 59b in the bridge and the n is in the neck. The mid position has the original pup in there but it is out of phase and I havent bothered to correct it as i am thinking it is coming out anyway. Neck tone is good but I want a little more meat (midrange) out of the bridge. I am thinking a JB jr. will give me the lead tone I want. I would put the 59b in the mid position but I am thinking that is not really going to give me the quack I need (well maybe it will if I put the coils on a splitter switch - is it worth the effort?). Also anytime I have tried splitting coils, it was too thin. I am a bit indecisive at this point and need some help on this part. Should I get a different pup for the middle position, or try and make the lil 59b work there or reuse one of the single coil pups? Vintage wound Alnico does not seem to work for my playing style which is ironic because I do a lot of SRV, and Hendrix stuff. I guess I sacrifice a little to get a fatter sound for the EJ, ZZ top and other styles that require a fatter lead tone.

In a perfect world hum cancelling would work in all positions.

BTW I have a Mex Strat with stock ceramic pups (except I overwound the bridge pup to 10.5K) and it pretty much already does all of the above although it can be a bit dark on the neck. Also there is no hum-cancellation of course. The G&L is just a better all around guitar and if I can get the tone right and get the benefit of hum reduction, I think it will be a step up.
thanks

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Best Strat wiring for most versatility?

In my opinion, stepping up from a Li'l '59b to a JB Jnr may be too much of a power hike. Consider something of intermediate output such as the Li'l Screamin' Demon.

The regular MIM single coils with underslung ceramic bar magnets should be hum-cancelling in selector switch positions 2 and 4. OTOH, your overwinding mod will have put the bridge and centre PUs out of balance. Hence, hum-cancellation will be well below 100%.

If you are at a loss about what to do with the soon-to-be-replaced Li'l '59b, Try it on the MIM Strat.

 

[tonegeek]

Re: Best Strat wiring for most versatility?

In my opinion, stepping up from a Li'l '59b to a JB Jnr may be too much of a power hike. Consider something of intermediate output such as the Li'l Screamin' Demon.

I hear you on the output, but the Demon looks like it has even more highs than the 59 and I am really wanting a bit more mids.

The regular MIM single coils with underslung ceramic bar magnets should be hum-cancelling in selector switch positions 2 and 4. OTOH, your overwinding mod will have put the bridge and centre PUs out of balance. Hence, hum-cancellation will be well below 100%.

It doesnt seem to be an issue. It is still pretty quiet.

If you are at a loss about what to do with the soon-to-be-replaced Li'l '59b, Try it on the MIM Strat.

But wouldnt I lose the hum cancelling on 2 and 4 if I did put the 59 in the bridge of the MIM? I am sure I will find something that will benefit from this pup

 

[tonegeek]

Re: Best Strat wiring for most versatility?

Oops I read the tone chart incorrectly. :smack: Now the screamin demon makes more sense. Looks like it tames the highs/mids a bit from what the 59 puts out. I listened to the clips too and it sounds good. I also liked the Hot rails but it too looks like the output would not balance well with the others.

I am getting closer to working this all out. Tonight I moved the 59b to the mid position and played it for about an hour and compared the 59n in the neck with the 59b. The combined pups sound OK and there is still some Strat character although it is a bit dark. The individual pups sound great though so I can live with the combined sounds lack of quack. The Legacy has a bass rolloff control and it will help out when I need more of the Texas sound or when the pups are combined.

I also looked at the Dimarzio Tone Zone pup but am hesitant to go there as it is hard to tell if it would balance well with the 59's. The Demon is looking very attractive right now.