Change Pickups

[Metoo]

I am 68 my mind and fingers are not what they were. I have a MIM HSS standard strat.I would like to put a JB SH-4 in the bridge and 2 MIM Tex Mex, fender TBX 250 toe pot for bridge and middle pickups.I am putting in a new fender american 5 way switch because the mex 5 way switch is wired
much different than the american switch. why is that ? I have never did this before . I need all the help I can get. Thank You.
Semper Fi.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Change Pickups

Welcome to the forum.

The last time that I opened up a Fender MIM Stratocaster, it had the same unsprung lever switch as found in the American Standard model.

I would expect the only major differences between the wiring connections to be;
1) Automated coil-splitting for the humbucker.
2) How the connections to the tone pots are made.

It is possible that your MIM guitar has one of the generic SE Asian, eight-contacts-in-a-line, selector switches. These work the same way as an American switch. It is just that a translation needs to be made when following schematic diagrams.

EDIT - Here is a link to the official Fender diagrams for your guitar. http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/013-4700_02C_SISD.pdf

Unfortunately, with the eight contact switch, connecting the bridge and centre pickups to the lower (TBX) tone pot is not possible. You would require a twenty four contact Superswitch or one of Schaller's nine contact contraptions.

 

[Despair]

Re: Change Pickups

Might want a TB-4 ("TremBucker" or Floyd/Fender spacing) rather than the SH-4 ("Standard Humbucker" or vintage Gibson spacing). Same pickup either way, only difference is polepiece spacing.

I've heard some Mexican strats are narrower, so if poles not lining up well bugs you, you may want to measure your string spacing. Seymour Duncan recommends that with 50mm or less, go with SH, otherwise TB.

As far as why they use different switches? Probably price/availability. Different switches having different layouts can be helpful sometimes (fitting wiring in limited cavity space), but mostly causes a lot of confusion with mismatching with wiring diagrams.

Good luck!

 

[Metoo]

Re: Change Pickups

Could I change my mim pickups diagram to the Seymour Duncan diagram.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Change Pickups

Yes.

You lose the automated coil split but you gain the use of the second pole of the selector switch for the tone controls. Just make a jumper connection between the unused lug (in the SD schematic) and the terminal that connects to the lower tone pot.

 

[Metoo]

Re: Change Pickups

Thanks for all the help. I need all I can get.I have not played guitar in 40 years.I had 59 or 60 P Fender with a 64 Bassman amp.I wish I still had them.I played in a band.
I hope to use the TBX for the bridge and middle toe control.
Semper Fi