Making a Fat Strat

Wi66Pro

Wi66Pro

New member
Wonder if you can help me, I'm considering installing Seymour Duncan's JB & Jazz Humbuckers to my Lite Ash Strat, making it a double fat Strat. Could you tell me if the pots need to be 250k or 500k, or should there be a different combination and different Caps fitted.

I'm after a heavy classic rock tone and I'm using a Fender Blues Junior Tweed with Celestion Vintage 30 speaker and my neck is Maple. I will also be using an MI Audio Crunch Box. I'm not concerned about retaining that classic Strat tone as I have another for that.

I suppose I'm trying to get as near as possible to that LP tone without using an LP, I prefer the feel of a Strat.

Has anyone achieved this. If you have any ideas or recommendations would be gratefully received as I haven't purchased the pick ups yet.
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

For getting a LP tone in a strat I think the PATB series of pups are meant to be the way to get closest.

As for pots and caps, I'd just use the ones you have and see how you like the sound. You can always change them later.
 
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Re: Making a Fat Strat

Diocletian said:
For getting a LP tone in a strat I think the PATB series of pups are meant to be the way to get closest.

As for pots and caps, I'd just use the ones you have and see how you like the sound. You can always change them later.
Click to expand...

OK, thanks for that one, I never considered them but having just listened to them there definitely an option. It says "Works especially well with rosewood fingerboards:, do you think my maple neck would make any noticeable difference.

Not sure if this makes any difference but my trem is blocked off so it doesn't get used. :)
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

I don't know about the fretboard making a big difference, but I (and Dave Murray) have two humbuckers (DiMarzios) in my Squier strat with 250K pots and it sounds GOOD. :)

3916512524_350de82858_o.jpg
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

Diocletian said:
I don't know about the fretboard making a big difference, but I (and Dave Murray) have two humbuckers (DiMarzios) in my Squier strat with 250K pots and it sounds GOOD. :)

3916512524_350de82858_o.jpg
Click to expand...

Oh yes, very nice, that's the look I'm after. Which humbuckers do you have in there?
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

I have a strat copy with a Custom8 in the bridge and I use 250k, it was too bright otherwise. Now it balances perfectly.

I'd agree with Dio, use the ones you have and change'em later if you don't like them. It's cheap, quick and easy.
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

I put in my fat strat a Pearly Gates in brigde and a 59 in neck.

With a pinnacle 2 wampler pedal I can play VH tones easily.
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

My Double Fat came standard with the Pearly Gates Plus and '59. The standard pots are a 250k tone for the PG+ and a 500k tone for the '59 and a 500k for the volume.
Pic_0002-1.jpg
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

In the past I used a Strat w/a SD Invader, though an early model JCM 800 half stack. It did the trick for a general Gibby heavy tone.

Prior to that, there was a DMZ X2N in there. That worked too, real good.
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

I hate to be a buzzkill but you can't 'really' nail the Les Paul tone unless you play a genuine Les Paul or a reasonable facsimile. (think same dimensions and wood types) Like you, I also found a majority of Les Pauls aren't comfortable to play (large necks) but I got lucky and scored an instrument with a 60s profile neck which is slim and fits the fingers far better. I don't have a strat yet but one of these days . . .

That being said, Fat Strats are awesome!
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

Diocletian said:
Nice. Cool Hamer too Joe!
Click to expand...
Thanks! That pic was from quite a few years ago before I sold the Mesa F-30. I did also sell that Hamer to Travis and took out the 25th anniversary EMG 81 set, but bought it back a few years ago with a Custom 5 and A2P. I'm not normally a big fan of the C5, but it does sound really great in the Hamer.
I've got a love/hate relationship with the Fender due to the 9.5" radius.
 
Re: Making a Fat Strat

Toejam said:
Thanks! That pic was from quite a few years ago before I sold the Mesa F-30. I did also sell that Hamer to Travis and took out the 25th anniversary EMG 81 set, but bought it back a few years ago with a Custom 5 and A2P. I'm not normally a big fan of the C5, but it does sound really great in the Hamer.
I've got a love/hate relationship with the Fender due to the 9.5" radius.
Click to expand...

They don't use the 9.5 raidus anymore IIRC - 12". At least that's what my Highway One feels like.
 
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