HEY! i have a 3 single coil strat with a maple fingerboard. I m gonna get a invader pickup real soon and i was wondering if there is a different soldering method for humbuckers. I know i have to get a new pickguard but is there any other info i need to know before installing a humbucker on a 3 single coiled guitar?
change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
- Thread starter izx2
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PFDarkside
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Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
If you aren't going to be splitting the Invader, solder the R + W together and tape them off to prevent shorting, wire the bare and green to ground and the black to the volume pot. Currently, all the pickups go to the switch, then to the volume, just go directly from the pickup to the volume. Are you going to use tone controls or go with a Delonge style guard? (vol. only) If you want a tone, disconnect it from the switch and attach it to the same lug on the volume that goes to the output jack.
Easy enough.
I'm sure someone can link to a diagram if you have any questions.
If you aren't going to be splitting the Invader, solder the R + W together and tape them off to prevent shorting, wire the bare and green to ground and the black to the volume pot. Currently, all the pickups go to the switch, then to the volume, just go directly from the pickup to the volume. Are you going to use tone controls or go with a Delonge style guard? (vol. only) If you want a tone, disconnect it from the switch and attach it to the same lug on the volume that goes to the output jack.
Easy enough.
I'm sure someone can link to a diagram if you have any questions.
maxdave2010
New member
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
I'm doing the exactly same thing myself! So from my experience, I'd say probably the most important thing is whether your guitar is correctly routed to take a humbucker.
When you lift off your existing scratchplate, you may be unluckly enough to find that there are three cavities in there that your stock single coils slot nicely into. This is BAD. What you want is either a guitar that's designed to accomodate humbuckers in the neck and bridge position. this is characterised by large rectangular holes with even deeper holes either side for the screws to go into. Ideally, you may even have "swimming pool" routing, which is essentially a large rectangular hole with screw groves going the whole way along either side. This will allow for almost any configuration of pickups.
Another potential issue is that your replacement scratchplate's screwholes may not be lined up to the holes in your strat (esp. if its a squier) but this can be remedied if you're willing to improvise.
But 1 humbucker strats are extremely easy to wire. You basically just connect it to the volume pot, then connect that to the output, then ground everything. You'll need to sort out the seperate wires inside the humbucker's cable to configure it, but this is fully explained on the website.
If you're doing this yourself, don't hesitate to ask questions if you're not sure about something. Good luck!
I'm doing the exactly same thing myself! So from my experience, I'd say probably the most important thing is whether your guitar is correctly routed to take a humbucker.
When you lift off your existing scratchplate, you may be unluckly enough to find that there are three cavities in there that your stock single coils slot nicely into. This is BAD. What you want is either a guitar that's designed to accomodate humbuckers in the neck and bridge position. this is characterised by large rectangular holes with even deeper holes either side for the screws to go into. Ideally, you may even have "swimming pool" routing, which is essentially a large rectangular hole with screw groves going the whole way along either side. This will allow for almost any configuration of pickups.
Another potential issue is that your replacement scratchplate's screwholes may not be lined up to the holes in your strat (esp. if its a squier) but this can be remedied if you're willing to improvise.
But 1 humbucker strats are extremely easy to wire. You basically just connect it to the volume pot, then connect that to the output, then ground everything. You'll need to sort out the seperate wires inside the humbucker's cable to configure it, but this is fully explained on the website.
If you're doing this yourself, don't hesitate to ask questions if you're not sure about something. Good luck!
maxdave2010
New member
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
I haven't actually built this guitar yet. But I'm only awaiting a couple of parts, and it should be done within the next couple of weeks. If I get it done before you, I'll let you know how it sounds! I think it should be just fine. The guy from Blink182 has a single Invader in a Strat, and his tone sounds pretty good (shame about the music! imo)
Are you aiming for a tone similiar to a particular guitarist?
Personally, one of the clinchers for me choosing the invader was that I've heard numerous claims that Metallica's Master of Puppets was recorded with them. I don't know how true this is, but I know Hetfield has definitely used the Invader. MoP is the ballpark i'ld like my tone to be in. Sick, chugging rhythm with sweet lead action and palm mutes that sound like a car speeding past you on the motorway!
I haven't actually built this guitar yet. But I'm only awaiting a couple of parts, and it should be done within the next couple of weeks. If I get it done before you, I'll let you know how it sounds! I think it should be just fine. The guy from Blink182 has a single Invader in a Strat, and his tone sounds pretty good (shame about the music! imo)
Are you aiming for a tone similiar to a particular guitarist?
Personally, one of the clinchers for me choosing the invader was that I've heard numerous claims that Metallica's Master of Puppets was recorded with them. I don't know how true this is, but I know Hetfield has definitely used the Invader. MoP is the ballpark i'ld like my tone to be in. Sick, chugging rhythm with sweet lead action and palm mutes that sound like a car speeding past you on the motorway!
maxdave2010
New member
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
Yeah man, Tom Delonge is famous for using a Strat with a single invader at the bridge. I think Blink182 fans are the ones keeping the single humbucker scratchplate in construction! Personally, I'm doing it to emulate Van Halen (who was doing this YEARS ago) and because I'm too cheap to buy a bridge pickup
If you like Blink, that's fair enough, they're just not my style
Travis is a superb drummer, but I wish he would stop appearing all over the music stations giving his opinion about everything, despite being the most... sorry man, wrong venue to vent my angers about one of your favourites. I'm supposed to be helping you here!
Well, you certainly are in luck if you're looking for a Delonge style sound, since you're basically building an exact replica of his main axe! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Yeah man, Tom Delonge is famous for using a Strat with a single invader at the bridge. I think Blink182 fans are the ones keeping the single humbucker scratchplate in construction! Personally, I'm doing it to emulate Van Halen (who was doing this YEARS ago) and because I'm too cheap to buy a bridge pickup
If you like Blink, that's fair enough, they're just not my style
Travis is a superb drummer, but I wish he would stop appearing all over the music stations giving his opinion about everything, despite being the most... sorry man, wrong venue to vent my angers about one of your favourites. I'm supposed to be helping you here!Well, you certainly are in luck if you're looking for a Delonge style sound, since you're basically building an exact replica of his main axe! I'm sure you won't be disappointed!
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
can i use the same volume pot and volume knob or do i have to switch them? If i do then should i get a 500k or 1 meg for my axe(which will be a strat w/ an invader on the bridge)?I want to sound exactly like tom from blink 182!
can i use the same volume pot and volume knob or do i have to switch them? If i do then should i get a 500k or 1 meg for my axe(which will be a strat w/ an invader on the bridge)?I want to sound exactly like tom from blink 182!
Last edited:
maxdave2010
New member
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
From the Fender website, here are the wiring diagrams for the official Tom Delonge signature strat: http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdfs/DELONGESTRAT/SD0138200APg2.pdf
and for what the numbers mean, go here http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdfs/DELONGESTRAT/SD0138200APg3.pdf
So Tom uses a 500k audio taper pot, and he's soldered on a .220k resistor and a 680pf capacitor to refine his tone. If you're going for total tom emulation, you'll have to do this as well. However, I don't know exactly why he does this, so I can't advise you on how best to go about it!
From the Fender website, here are the wiring diagrams for the official Tom Delonge signature strat: http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdfs/DELONGESTRAT/SD0138200APg2.pdf
and for what the numbers mean, go here http://www.fender.com/support/diagrams/pdfs/DELONGESTRAT/SD0138200APg3.pdf
So Tom uses a 500k audio taper pot, and he's soldered on a .220k resistor and a 680pf capacitor to refine his tone. If you're going for total tom emulation, you'll have to do this as well. However, I don't know exactly why he does this, so I can't advise you on how best to go about it!
greendy123
New member
Re: change Strat config to just 1 humbucker
I'm guessing a few minutes if you know what your doing. I would just get a guitar tech install that stuff for you.
I'm guessing a few minutes if you know what your doing. I would just get a guitar tech install that stuff for you.
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