Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

Ragamuffin23

Ragamuffin23

New member
I'm considering doing some customization on my guitar (a Fender FSR Blacktop HSH /w/ hardtail), but have never done any work under the pickguard. Here's a quick look at my desired upgrades:

•P-Rails in neck and bridge
•Triple Shot mounting rings for both P-Rails
•Liberator Solderless Pot (I've never soldered and this seems cheaper/easier/safer)
•4-way blade switch (to replace current 5-way [will explain below])

Here's how I want the switching to work (top to bottom/neck to bridge):

1-Neck P-Rail (operated by Triple Shot)
2-Middle p/u (a Tele rhythm)
3-Both P-Rails on (again, operated by Triple Shots)
4-Bridge P-Rail (w Triple Shot)

I couldn't really think of any use for a 5th switching option, I think the 4-way will be sufficient for everything. I'm not really interested in blending the Tele p/u with either P-Rail, but I'd still like to keep it just for versatility's/convenience's sake (I don't want to take it out, find a new pick guard, etc.).

I have a few questions/concerns with these upgrades:

•Firstly (and most importantly), how on earth would I go about wiring this? I have 1 volume, 2 tones, and a Fender Passing Lane button (that goes straight to the bridge p/u and bypasses the vol/tone controls for a slight treble boost). I have no idea where to even start on diagrams, and I'm not knowledgeable on how anything is hooked up, so any help would be greatly appreciated. Worst case scenario, I could deal with losing the tone controls, and even the Passing Lane, but I'd really like to keep those around if at all possible.
•How hard is it to put the Triple Shot rings on with a pickguard? Would it potentially mess up the guitar or any of the wiring to drill custom mounting holes?
•I've heard from a couple commenters that the Liberator won't fit in a Strat (it's too tall, the pickguard crushes it, etc). Is this true?

I'd rather keep the guitar as-is (it's a fantastic guitar, very versatile already) than spend a bunch of money on custom pups, etc and botch it. I'm not completely set on this project, but I'd love to do it. A lot of my decision will come down to the response from this thread (will it work, can I pull it off, etc).

Thanks so much for any help! I can answer any questions you have about the guitar, this project, or anything else you're confused about. Have a good one!
 
Re: Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

Welcome to the forum.

The first problem with your suggested circuit is having Triple Shots and the Liberator together. Normally, the output conductors of the humbucker are soldered to a PCB within the Triple Shot. Your version would involve a 4-con + shield cable from each pickup to the Liberator and another run of 4-con + shield back to each Triple Shot. Then, a run of 2-con + shield from each Triple Shot to the selector switch.

Can you squeeze that much cable under your scratchplate?
 
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Re: Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

Sorry, I know only the bare basics about wiring, so most of that was Greek to me. I can sort of picture the problem, though. I doubt I'd be able to pull that off. I've yet to look under the guard to see whether I've got an HSH rout or a universal, but I expect it's the former, so I'll bet it wouldn't fit.

If I go with soldering, should I attempt it myself with no experience (I'd look up tutorials, obviously, I wouldn't go in blind)? If not, how much would it typically run to get someone to wire that for me? I might have a buddy who can do that for me for much cheaper, but I don't want to count on that.

Thanks for the response!
 
Re: Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

One more question I forgot to post: for the bridge, should I get a standard P-Rail (in a set) or a Hot P-Rail with the Alnico 8? I've heard a lot of people say the Hot PR is way too powerful, but I don't know enough about it. I play a lot of different music styles and love to keep my options open, but I really love pop-punk, post-hardcore, and harder indie, among other types of rock. I will mainly use the bridge for distortion and rely on the middle and neck for cleans, but again, I don't want to go over the top. Which better suits my needs?
 
Re: Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

I'm going to give you my advice on this my friend.

You ask advice for an extremely complicated setup that many who have been doing this for years probably couldn't navigate. Then proceed to tell us you have no experience soldering and have never done this before. I honestly think that is a recipe for disaster. Why don't you start with something a bit more simple? Or have someone with experience do it for you. I'm just afraid that you're going to give yourself hours and hours of frustration.

I know you are looking for help with your wiring scheme and I apologize that what I've gave isn't that. I just had to say this as I can see a lot of trouble coming for you and am trying to save you from that.

If you choose to go down this route I wish you the best of luck. I'm sure someone here can give you great wiring/schematic advice.

Jeff
 
Re: Help With First Pickup Change/Complicated Setup

That's completely valid and what I was afraid of (and really, kind of expecting). Thanks for the input! If I do decide to do this, it will be a very long-term project. In all likelihood, though, I probably won't. This was more out of curiosity. Thanks again!
 
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