First Ever Strat Build!!!
- Thread starter Richard
- Start date
Richard
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Quick Question!!! When i wired this baby up i noticed that on the diagram there was no ground going from the pots housing to the bridge claw. and also on my american strat i noticed that there is a wire going from the pots housing (ground) screwed directly into the body under the guard. I went ahead and did the ground to the bridge claw but will i need the ground to the wood also?
Quick Question!!! When i wired this baby up i noticed that on the diagram there was no ground going from the pots housing to the bridge claw. and also on my american strat i noticed that there is a wire going from the pots housing (ground) screwed directly into the body under the guard. I went ahead and did the ground to the bridge claw but will i need the ground to the wood also?
Sanford
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Just make sure all the grounds go to the same place. Most guitars will have them terminating on the back of a pot. Personally, I like the idea of mounting a screw with an eyelet somewhere in the control cavity and have all the ground wires soldered to it instead of repeatedly heating up the back of a pot. The wood itself doesn't require a ground.
Just make sure all the grounds go to the same place. Most guitars will have them terminating on the back of a pot. Personally, I like the idea of mounting a screw with an eyelet somewhere in the control cavity and have all the ground wires soldered to it instead of repeatedly heating up the back of a pot. The wood itself doesn't require a ground.
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
I do have the same wiring on two of my guitars.I´m not quite shure whats happening electronelly,but in practical terms it means you will have a buzz when not touching the string and it will be quiet when you lay your hans on the string.The main reason to "ground" the string this way is to protect you against failure in your tubeamp.Some amp design can give you as much as 400v and a lots of ampere up your ground wires(If the amp brake up in the wrong way), and actually kill you.
I do have the same wiring on two of my guitars.I´m not quite shure whats happening electronelly,but in practical terms it means you will have a buzz when not touching the string and it will be quiet when you lay your hans on the string.The main reason to "ground" the string this way is to protect you against failure in your tubeamp.Some amp design can give you as much as 400v and a lots of ampere up your ground wires(If the amp brake up in the wrong way), and actually kill you.
Richard
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Welp... Just orderd my neck from USACG and all the rest of my hardware (FRO and Gotoh tunners) from Warmoth.. that was another $600. So The total damage is $825. That isnt bad for my dream strat. Cheaper then an American Standard and everything is brand new exept for the body and pickups. I cant w8 to get this thing togather and play it. The guy at USACG says it will take about a month. 2 weeks to build and 2 weeks for finnish.
Welp... Just orderd my neck from USACG and all the rest of my hardware (FRO and Gotoh tunners) from Warmoth.. that was another $600. So The total damage is $825. That isnt bad for my dream strat. Cheaper then an American Standard and everything is brand new exept for the body and pickups. I cant w8 to get this thing togather and play it. The guy at USACG says it will take about a month. 2 weeks to build and 2 weeks for finnish.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Very cool. Glad to see your project is coming together.
About the ground wire, that one that goes to the body cavity in your American Standard is just to connect the shielding to ground. Since the Warmoth body doesn't have that shielding, there's no need to put that wire there. What you have now is fine.
Lots of pics when you have it completed.
Very cool. Glad to see your project is coming together.
About the ground wire, that one that goes to the body cavity in your American Standard is just to connect the shielding to ground. Since the Warmoth body doesn't have that shielding, there's no need to put that wire there. What you have now is fine.
Lots of pics when you have it completed.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Actually, the way guitars are wired now can kill you if a tube amp goes bad and high voltage comes down the instrument cable line. Grounding the strings does not protect you in any way from that possibility, rather it connects you right to ground. The way to ease the shock or sting and give some protection is to put a cap between the bridge/strings and ground. You want a high voltage .33uf cap, about 600V or so.
Aside from that, the only way to totally disconnect your body from ground without much modification is go use a wireless unit.
Actually, the way guitars are wired now can kill you if a tube amp goes bad and high voltage comes down the instrument cable line. Grounding the strings does not protect you in any way from that possibility, rather it connects you right to ground. The way to ease the shock or sting and give some protection is to put a cap between the bridge/strings and ground. You want a high voltage .33uf cap, about 600V or so.
Aside from that, the only way to totally disconnect your body from ground without much modification is go use a wireless unit.
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Great looking guitar! I know you'll be really happy with the USACG neck
With metal knobs, there is still a risk of electrical shock. The problem/risk usually isn't an amp going bad - it's faulty electrical wiring.
GuitarNuts.com has a really good discussion of the risks and one approach to wiring and shielding your guitar. (Note: I no longer think that the "star ground" approach described on GuitarNuts is necessary, but the safety, wiring, and shielding stuff is all good info.)
Chip
Great looking guitar! I know you'll be really happy with the USACG neck
With metal knobs, there is still a risk of electrical shock. The problem/risk usually isn't an amp going bad - it's faulty electrical wiring.
GuitarNuts.com has a really good discussion of the risks and one approach to wiring and shielding your guitar. (Note: I no longer think that the "star ground" approach described on GuitarNuts is necessary, but the safety, wiring, and shielding stuff is all good info.)
Chip
Richard
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
The guy I talked to when I orderd my neck was really helpful and cool.
Great looking guitar! I know you'll be really happy with the USACG neck
The guy I talked to when I orderd my neck was really helpful and cool.
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
what's the difference between this and:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_2s_1v_2t_5w
which one gives me this:
pos 1: full bridge in series
pos 2: inside coil of bridge in parallel with middle pickup
pos 3: middle pickup
pos 4: middle pickup in parallel with neck
pos 5: neck
sorry to threadjack, but a very interesting issue for me was raised
Jason
Quick Question!!! When i wired this baby up i noticed that on the diagram there was no ground going from the pots housing to the bridge claw. and also on my american strat i noticed that there is a wire going from the pots housing (ground) screwed directly into the body under the guard. I went ahead and did the ground to the bridge claw but will i need the ground to the wood also?
what's the difference between this and:
http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_2s_1v_2t_5w
which one gives me this:
pos 1: full bridge in series
pos 2: inside coil of bridge in parallel with middle pickup
pos 3: middle pickup
pos 4: middle pickup in parallel with neck
pos 5: neck
sorry to threadjack, but a very interesting issue for me was raised
Jason
KeeperOS
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
The one above.
The one you posted is a simple HSS where everything else works like a normal Strat with the two tones and 1 volume.
The one above uses only one master tone and autosplits the bridge in the 2nd (middle + bridge) position.
If you want to have two tones that can be done as well.
The one above.
The one you posted is a simple HSS where everything else works like a normal Strat with the two tones and 1 volume.
The one above uses only one master tone and autosplits the bridge in the 2nd (middle + bridge) position.
If you want to have two tones that can be done as well.
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
so i should use the one that is posted with the autosplit and i'll get bridge in series as well as the autosplit?
Jason
so i should use the one that is posted with the autosplit and i'll get bridge in series as well as the autosplit?
Jason
Richard
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Actually I got a quartersawn with a regular maple board... U shape, .830 @
1st with a .070 taper to the 12th. 12" fretboard radius 6100 frets satin finish with a gloss front headstock. USA logo. I would have gone over my $400 dollar budget with a birdseye or flame board!
Actually I got a quartersawn with a regular maple board... U shape, .830 @
1st with a .070 taper to the 12th. 12" fretboard radius 6100 frets satin finish with a gloss front headstock. USA logo. I would have gone over my $400 dollar budget with a birdseye or flame board!
KeeperOS
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
A humbucker in series is the norm. That's how it's usually wired.
In this schematic the humbucker is wired as normal and the red and white (the end of the first coil and the beginning of the 2nd) are wired in the 5-way instead of being taped so that, when you switch to the 2nd pos (bridge + middle) then those two wires are used to (unless I'm mistaken) short one coil thus, only leaving one to function.
Like I said, in this schematic there is only one vol and one tone but doing it with two tones shouldn't be any problem
EDIT: Here it is: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_2s_1v_2t_5w_as
A humbucker in series is the norm. That's how it's usually wired.
In this schematic the humbucker is wired as normal and the red and white (the end of the first coil and the beginning of the 2nd) are wired in the 5-way instead of being taped so that, when you switch to the 2nd pos (bridge + middle) then those two wires are used to (unless I'm mistaken) short one coil thus, only leaving one to function.
Like I said, in this schematic there is only one vol and one tone but doing it with two tones shouldn't be any problem
EDIT: Here it is: http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=1h_2s_1v_2t_5w_as
ganzosrevenge
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
hey richard, saw the progress pics.... Sweet axe! Put up a tone sample when she's complete!
Jason
hey richard, saw the progress pics.... Sweet axe! Put up a tone sample when she's complete!
Jason
Richard
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Ok, Time for some updates... Here is the OFR and tuners i ordered. I went with a set of $24 gotoh tuners because i didnt think i needed anything better because of the locking nut.
I get the floyd on and install a D-Tuna... Man this axe is starting to look good.
Only one thing to go and its a big one... My neck.. After USAGC messed up and sent me the wrong neck I finaly got the one I ordered and I have to say WOW they do good work. And im glad i went for a gloss headstock.
Ok after some heart pounding drills on a $400 neck i finaly get her on the guitar and string it up.
Well i need to order some locking nut shims before i can really get to play it. When the nut sits on the shelf the strings sit on the first fret. i made a shim with an old credit card but it was to thick and made the action really high. I have alot of bugs to work out but so far I can tell its going to sound real good. Only thing is... I wanted this guitar to feel like my Schecter Hellraiser so i Emailed schecter and they sent me the specs on there hellraiser neck... and those where the specs i gave to USAGC but its not even close... This neck is way to FAT... Oh well... i guess ill have to get the sandpaper out and make it feel right... Anyone know what kind of finish i can get in a can to protect the wood once im done?
Ok, Time for some updates... Here is the OFR and tuners i ordered. I went with a set of $24 gotoh tuners because i didnt think i needed anything better because of the locking nut.
I get the floyd on and install a D-Tuna... Man this axe is starting to look good.
Only one thing to go and its a big one... My neck.. After USAGC messed up and sent me the wrong neck I finaly got the one I ordered and I have to say WOW they do good work. And im glad i went for a gloss headstock.
Ok after some heart pounding drills on a $400 neck i finaly get her on the guitar and string it up.
Well i need to order some locking nut shims before i can really get to play it. When the nut sits on the shelf the strings sit on the first fret. i made a shim with an old credit card but it was to thick and made the action really high. I have alot of bugs to work out but so far I can tell its going to sound real good. Only thing is... I wanted this guitar to feel like my Schecter Hellraiser so i Emailed schecter and they sent me the specs on there hellraiser neck... and those where the specs i gave to USAGC but its not even close... This neck is way to FAT... Oh well... i guess ill have to get the sandpaper out and make it feel right... Anyone know what kind of finish i can get in a can to protect the wood once im done?
Fresh_Start
New member
Re: First Ever Strat Build!!!
Looks great!
Did you get the neck finished in nitrocellulose or polyurethane? I can't tell from the USACG website. You can get nitro in a can and fantastic information at ReRanch.com. You can get poly almost anywhere. WARNING: refinishing can be frustrating! Trying to blend your new finish with the original finish can be a stone-cold beatch if it's poly. Just getting the colors to blend with nitro is a real art...
Sorry to be discouraging - just don't want to see you start messing with the neck and end up with something you hate to look at.
Chip
Looks great!
Did you get the neck finished in nitrocellulose or polyurethane? I can't tell from the USACG website. You can get nitro in a can and fantastic information at ReRanch.com. You can get poly almost anywhere. WARNING: refinishing can be frustrating! Trying to blend your new finish with the original finish can be a stone-cold beatch if it's poly. Just getting the colors to blend with nitro is a real art...
Sorry to be discouraging - just don't want to see you start messing with the neck and end up with something you hate to look at.
Chip
