My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

[MetalManiac]

Basically, the bridge on a MIM is all good for a Humbucker. I had a friend who knows how to use a router take a small circumference Crafstman router and route the neck . We procured a cylindrical router bit 1/4" ( about 10 bucks from the local 'Ace' hardware) and we taped off the body with masking tape, then did the measurements and marked them over the masking tape. We proceeded to route some on the neck ( and it is only messy cause our router bit slipped in the router, and that I do not know why).


In any event, everything seemed fine when we put the pickguard against the body, but afterwards upon final assembly the neck pickup would not move in the route ( I think it may require routing by Forstner bit for depth, but could be the wires got in the way, IDK.), so I had to shim it ( the neck pickup) to be flat.

The guitar is , in a word..FUN! Of course, thats from a vintage Strat guy who has never had a P-90 or a Humbucker Strat /I couldn't put it down! Ah waht a great sounding setup.
Both knobs down equals ( Humbucker) pickups in series. Both knobs up equals ( Humbucker) pickups in Parallel-very Jazy neck tone ( humbucker). Middle knob up is P-90, and last knob up is single rails. Totally delightful!

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[Mincer]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Wow, nice! You are braver than I am. I am useless with power tools. I had someone else do mine.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Love it
Waiting for your review of the p-rails

Is that a brass nut?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

The screws are probably binding in the hole
You can either use shorter screws or deepen the outer edges of the pickup route

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Can anyone tell me what the point of the stock routing is? Single only in the neck, mini-humbucker (?) in the middle and humbucker at the bridge. Why not just HSH instead of whatever that stock pattern is.

In any case, nice... I'd love a p-rails Strat!

 

[Clint 55]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Good work. I wish they'd just put swimming pools in all of them.

 

[Nostalgic Distortion]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Wow, nice! You are braver than I am. I am useless with power tools. I had someone else do mine.

LOL, when I did the same thing to my old MIM I used a chisel & opened up the front two cavities into a pseudo swimming pool route. It works just fine but this is much prettier!!! Plus you have the added benefit of some of that wood still being there, it helps the guard lay down better & the guitar doesn't get quite so hollow sounding acoustically.....

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

I hate the hollow sound of the swimming pool rout.

 

[Mincer]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

I actually don't notice the difference of the swimming pool, but I wish all Stat bodies were at least routed HSH unless it was a vintage spec body.

 

[Matt42]

Re: My MIM body conversion for two Humbuckers

Very nice. I've still got my MIM Strat sitting in the closet with the neck pocket routed to do exactly this. I keep pushing the pickup purchase off, though.

And I agree, the stock routing on Strats is seriously stupid.