Hi, Bought a Standard American Strat s-s-s. The manual states that it has DELTA TONE BLAH! I put in a Duncan Hot Rails in the Bridge Pos. Quite unimpressed. The only benefit is noise cancelling. Otherwise the oriinal single pole sounds better. Also the Hot Rails is slightly lower in volume. than the other two and not much crunch. Could it be the Delta Tone thingy? First time user. PLEASE HELP.
delta tone strat
- Thread starter gjt469
- Start date
Re: delta tone strat
Welcome to the forum!
The Hot Rails is lower in volume than the stock single coil? I don't think that the Delta Tone has much to do with that unless you have a wiring problem. IIRC, the Delta Tone system is a tone control setup that uses special pots with center detents so that you can "boost and cut" signal frequency and shouldn't effect the volume much...it will effect the eq, however. Supposedly if you set it on '5' (where the pot feels like it clicks into position) it's neutral eq wise. This is different than standard tone controls in that they only cut out treble.
How close do you have the Rail adjusted to the strings? Are you sure that you have it connected well? Do you have a Hot Rails BRIDGE position pickup?
I personally don't like the Delta Tone system and usually just get an entirely new pickguard and wire it up with 250K CTS pots and a new switch. This is good for 2 reasons. First, there is no Delta Tone system on it. Secondly, if I decide to sell the Strat later you can just drop the original assembly on it and you're good to go.
Hope this helps
Mark
Welcome to the forum!
The Hot Rails is lower in volume than the stock single coil? I don't think that the Delta Tone has much to do with that unless you have a wiring problem. IIRC, the Delta Tone system is a tone control setup that uses special pots with center detents so that you can "boost and cut" signal frequency and shouldn't effect the volume much...it will effect the eq, however. Supposedly if you set it on '5' (where the pot feels like it clicks into position) it's neutral eq wise. This is different than standard tone controls in that they only cut out treble.
How close do you have the Rail adjusted to the strings? Are you sure that you have it connected well? Do you have a Hot Rails BRIDGE position pickup?
I personally don't like the Delta Tone system and usually just get an entirely new pickguard and wire it up with 250K CTS pots and a new switch. This is good for 2 reasons. First, there is no Delta Tone system on it. Secondly, if I decide to sell the Strat later you can just drop the original assembly on it and you're good to go.
Hope this helps
Mark
Last edited:
F
firebirdVII
Guest
Re: delta tone strat
What are you playing it through?
What are you playing it through?
Re: delta tone strat
Thanks for the reply.
It's a bridge pup. In the instructions it said if you have a volume problem switch wires around. This didn't work at all, no sound. I have wired it and soldered it correctly. A guy at work has a 72 strat abd dropped in a hot rails and claims that it screams. So i'm at a loss.
Thanks for the reply.
It's a bridge pup. In the instructions it said if you have a volume problem switch wires around. This didn't work at all, no sound. I have wired it and soldered it correctly. A guy at work has a 72 strat abd dropped in a hot rails and claims that it screams. So i'm at a loss.
SFW
Well-known member
Re: delta tone strat
Actually, with the Delta Tone pots, when the tone is set at "10" it takes the tone pot out of the circuit. So you get a no load pot. Meaning that you are bypassing the tone controls. The Hot Rails should be loud as hell. Something is wrong. Check your wiring.
Actually, with the Delta Tone pots, when the tone is set at "10" it takes the tone pot out of the circuit. So you get a no load pot. Meaning that you are bypassing the tone controls. The Hot Rails should be loud as hell. Something is wrong. Check your wiring.
Re: delta tone strat
I keep on hearing this about the Delta Tone system...if it is truly a delta tone, it will have a 'click' in it at the '5' or halfway position (uses a TBX tone control). It is NOT a no load pot. The Delta tone system is supposed to be neither boost nor cut when it is set at '5'. The no load pot deal was started with the American Series. That setup will have a 'click' at '9'. When it clicks, then it is on the 'no load' setting.
So, poster, does you middle tone knob have a stop at '5' or '9'? Either way you have a screwed up tone pot it sounds like, especially if the same thing happened with the stock pup when you used the controls. If at least you'll tell us where the stop in the pot is we can help you find the proper diagrams should you want to repair the existing system. If the tone pot is busted, you'll need a TBX pot if it's Delta Tone. You'll need a 'no load' pot if it's the no load system.
In the short run, I'd do as Flank suggested. This will tell you how the Rail should sound and whether or not you like it. If it still sounds weak, you may have a broken pickup. As for the long run, as I said in my previous post, I'd spend the $30 and get 3 high quality CTS pots, some good wiring and a solid 5 way switch and just drop it onto your current pickguard or onto a new pickguard.
BTW, I have a Hot Rails in my '76 Strat and it DOES scream.
Try not to get too frustrated bro, it's a learning experience.
Hope that helps
Mark
I keep on hearing this about the Delta Tone system...if it is truly a delta tone, it will have a 'click' in it at the '5' or halfway position (uses a TBX tone control). It is NOT a no load pot. The Delta tone system is supposed to be neither boost nor cut when it is set at '5'. The no load pot deal was started with the American Series. That setup will have a 'click' at '9'. When it clicks, then it is on the 'no load' setting.
So, poster, does you middle tone knob have a stop at '5' or '9'? Either way you have a screwed up tone pot it sounds like, especially if the same thing happened with the stock pup when you used the controls. If at least you'll tell us where the stop in the pot is we can help you find the proper diagrams should you want to repair the existing system. If the tone pot is busted, you'll need a TBX pot if it's Delta Tone. You'll need a 'no load' pot if it's the no load system.
In the short run, I'd do as Flank suggested. This will tell you how the Rail should sound and whether or not you like it. If it still sounds weak, you may have a broken pickup. As for the long run, as I said in my previous post, I'd spend the $30 and get 3 high quality CTS pots, some good wiring and a solid 5 way switch and just drop it onto your current pickguard or onto a new pickguard.
BTW, I have a Hot Rails in my '76 Strat and it DOES scream.
Try not to get too frustrated bro, it's a learning experience.
Hope that helps
Mark
Last edited:
Gearjoneser
Gear Ho
Re: delta tone strat
Strat pickup. Black lead to pot ground. White lead to 5 way switch positive.
Hot Rails. Green/silver to pot ground. Black lead to 5 way switch positive.
The red and white wires should be soldered together and taped off, unless you're getting into coil splitting or phase switches. Hope that helps.
Strat pickup. Black lead to pot ground. White lead to 5 way switch positive.
Hot Rails. Green/silver to pot ground. Black lead to 5 way switch positive.
The red and white wires should be soldered together and taped off, unless you're getting into coil splitting or phase switches. Hope that helps.
