California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

J

JarickL

New member
So I'm finally getting around to overhauling my Strat. It is a 1997-8 Fender California Strat with S/S/S Tex Mex pickups. I'm a drummer first, acoustic guitarist second, Les Paul player third, and Strat player fourth. However, I love this guitar and am currently refinishing the Paul, and I've got the upgrade bug going.

I swapped out the (broken) nut for an Earvana last night and am going to put a set of graphite saddles on the bridge soon. I'm also going to have a custom Warmoth pickguard and completely shield and overhaul the wiring as well.

So what kind of pickups do I put in?

I'm a Les Paul guy, but my Strat tone preferences are clean and glassy pickup sound with some balls. The current Tex Mex pickups are muddy and have no definition; my Les Paul sounds better in split coil mode (JB/Jazz soon to be C5/JB Hybrid/Jazz). I LOVE the SRV tone (it's the only reason I have a strat) - especially Riviera Paradise and Lenny.

I only play the neck, neck/mid combo, and bridge on this guitar, so I'm thinking SSL-1's neck and mid and either a full size 59 or PG in the bridge for a brighter and snappier PAF/"Texas" tone. However, I've heard good things about TwangBangers in the bridge as well. I believe it's got a swimming pool rout, so I should be able to drop in a bridge humbucker no problem. Also, I'm planning on wiring up 1 volume, 1 tone, 5-way, and either a humbucker coil tap switch or a "neck on" switch ala G&L.

So what do you think? How would those SSL-1's match up against a 59, PG, or TB? Also, with a new nut and saddles, would SSL-2's be a better pick? And how do 59's and PG's sound split?

Thanks!
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Oh, I forgot to add. It's got an alder body with a rosewood fretboard, so it's a bit of a "darker" guitar with some of that Strat snap to it.
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

We're on opposite ends of the spectrum, I like a warmer and middier strat sound, but you did a good job in spelling out what you want so I won't babble about mine.

I'd go with two SSL-1 vintage staggereds in the neck and middle, and a SSL-5 Custom in the bridge. That will give you more power to cut out some leads if you want and give you a bigger Texas tone with normal sized strings. The twangbanger will give your bridge spank and girth in the mids.

If you go with buckers either the 59, or PG would work well, depending who you ask. If you get one in there and later down the road don't like it you can either sell it, or switch out the magnet. That would give you a 59/2 and a PG+.

Also, WELCOME TO THE FORUM!

Luke
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Thanks Luke...

Yeah those SSL-1's sound like they'd be perfect, but there's a million different choices for the bridge. I guess the bridge pickup needs to be thicker than your average strat pickup (I can't stand the thin bridge pickup sound, and I don't use bridge/mid at all) which is why I'm leaning more towards the full-size humbucker. But I'm open to lots of suggestions. I just imagine that a little bit brighter PAF-style would rock in the bridge of a strat...PG seems kinda cool and they're common enough to find.

Anyone else?
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

JarickL said:
Thanks Luke...

(I can't stand the thin bridge pickup sound
Click to expand...

That makes two of us, that's why I ended up with a Custom Shop pup similiar to Texas Hot un-aged antiquity bridge.

Also if you really want some tone, and don't mind forking out the dough get some antiquity surfers.

Luke
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Another question, maybe one for Lew:

I've been reading all day about the TwangBanger (yay for boring jobs), and I am curious about running 3 singles but switching the RWRP middle and normal neck around to get hum-canceling from the bridge/neck combo (via a mini toggle switch). Does this change the sound of that position from a tele-style to a different in-between sound? Also, if I were to put a humbucker in that bridge position, would I still get 60-cycle hum from the neck running the two together?

Man this makes the wiring in my Les paul look easy (even with the On/On DPDT)...
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Alright, I think I'm just playing by myself here :)

I looked at the wiring diagram for the Super Strat, and I might just do that. I don't play live, so I don't really have to worry about fast switching, although I do subscribe to the theory that if you can't get any tone in two switch flips don't bother, but it looks like a lot of fun.

Lew, I'll probably be giving you a PM when I get some spare cash for the SSL-1/SSL-1/TwangBanger trio...

Anyone else want to chime in?
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Cool to see somebody else with a California Strat 'cuz those are kinda hard to find...

Your post pretty much answered all of your questions as well or better than most of the dudes here. If you only like the neck and middle possitions on a Strat i'd definitely get a humbucker for the sake of diversity.

-X
 
Re: California Strat...Overhauling the Guitar

Yeah, those California Strats are fun...I almost want a California Tele, but I keep reminding myself "I'm a drummer...I'm a drummer" and I don't need any more guitars ;)

I just might have to try that Super Strat wiring. I've got to finish refinishing my Les Paul, then rebuild one of my drumkits, then refinish my other kit, THEN I'll get around to this guitar. Might pick up my buddies bass too and overhaul it for active pickups too...

At this rate, I'll never get a new car...
 
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