I'm changing the pickups out in my one strat. I'm putting a hot rails in the bridge, a classic stack in the middle and a hot stack in the neck. What size of pots should I be using, I'm thinking 500K but was looking for a little feedback. Also what suggestions for tone cap/caps.
Changing strat pickups
- Thread starter Huntermb
- Start date
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: Changing strat pickups
Well, hot rails with a 500k would be loud and sharp I'm guessing, although that may be what you're looking for. Some people use 250k pots with the sharper humbuckers to mellow them out a bit, I'd say if you're really on the fence take the time to try them both,
Well, hot rails with a 500k would be loud and sharp I'm guessing, although that may be what you're looking for. Some people use 250k pots with the sharper humbuckers to mellow them out a bit, I'd say if you're really on the fence take the time to try them both,
NutsInFreddy
New member
Re: Changing strat pickups
I've got a similar setup in my Strat. I had a 500K pot and it sounded fine and now I have a 250K pot and it still sounds fine. I may have lost a bit of treble or clarity but it doesn't sound muddy by any means. I also hooked the hot rails up to the middle tone pot, so that is probably bleeding some of the high frequencies off too.
If you've got 250K pots now, I'd try that and see what you think. You may want to record some samples to compare the before and after.
Not sure if that helps but I wouldn't stress out about it like I did!
I've got a similar setup in my Strat. I had a 500K pot and it sounded fine and now I have a 250K pot and it still sounds fine. I may have lost a bit of treble or clarity but it doesn't sound muddy by any means. I also hooked the hot rails up to the middle tone pot, so that is probably bleeding some of the high frequencies off too.
If you've got 250K pots now, I'd try that and see what you think. You may want to record some samples to compare the before and after.
Not sure if that helps but I wouldn't stress out about it like I did!
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: Changing strat pickups
Well with rail pickups, you should expect a uniform sound, cause there's no individual magnets, just 2 big ones. Just take a leap of faith and if all else fails, resale!
Well with rail pickups, you should expect a uniform sound, cause there's no individual magnets, just 2 big ones. Just take a leap of faith and if all else fails, resale!
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: Changing strat pickups
that's gotta sound cool man. Record that and put up a clip. People have done that before, but it's still gonna sound a bit different.
And if that doesn't suit you, why not go full Humbucker/Humbucker like myself & MasterKtulu (check out my profile pic)
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that's gotta sound cool man. Record that and put up a clip. People have done that before, but it's still gonna sound a bit different.
And if that doesn't suit you, why not go full Humbucker/Humbucker like myself & MasterKtulu (check out my profile pic)
.Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: Changing strat pickups
Stay with the existing pots. If too dull, move up to 500k. Or possibly mix them, e.g., 500k volume, 250k tones, etc.
Stay with the existing pots. If too dull, move up to 500k. Or possibly mix them, e.g., 500k volume, 250k tones, etc.
Re: Changing strat pickups
That is actually what I was kicking around. Picking up another pickguard and going with the dual hums. I've got a TB-4 and PGn sitting around that would probably do the job nice for old school metal, hard rock/classic rock stuff.
that's gotta sound cool man. Record that and put up a clip. People have done that before, but it's still gonna sound a bit different.
And if that doesn't suit you, why not go full Humbucker/Humbucker like myself & MasterKtulu (check out my profile pic)
That is actually what I was kicking around. Picking up another pickguard and going with the dual hums. I've got a TB-4 and PGn sitting around that would probably do the job nice for old school metal, hard rock/classic rock stuff.
El CHupacabra
New member
Re: Changing strat pickups
MasterK will tell that the PGn is amazing. I prefer the A2P neck but oh well. Go with your muse.
MasterK will tell that the PGn is amazing. I prefer the A2P neck but oh well. Go with your muse.
Re: Changing strat pickups
OKay I got a chance to put her all back together tonight. Hot Rails in the bridge, classic stack in the middle and hot stack bridge in the neck. I left the stock pot and caps, and moved the tone from the middle to the bridge.
I am really impressed with the way she sounds right now. It is really great. I've got tons of crunch and bite in the bridge, the middle is very stratish and the neck covers everything else. I don't think I'm going to change anything around for awhile (maybe put two tone caps, leave the one the way it is for the bridge and put something to roll off a little less highs on the neck), other than that..wow I like it alot.
OKay I got a chance to put her all back together tonight. Hot Rails in the bridge, classic stack in the middle and hot stack bridge in the neck. I left the stock pot and caps, and moved the tone from the middle to the bridge.
I am really impressed with the way she sounds right now. It is really great. I've got tons of crunch and bite in the bridge, the middle is very stratish and the neck covers everything else. I don't think I'm going to change anything around for awhile (maybe put two tone caps, leave the one the way it is for the bridge and put something to roll off a little less highs on the neck), other than that..wow I like it alot.