New pups for HSS

[Ashland]

Hi, I'm looking to mod my Swamp ash,1998 Custom Shop Washburn HSS. [WM-200]
I'd like to keep the bridge pup that came with it. it's a Duncan Custom Custom (SH-11)
The neck and middle have the original Duncan SSL2 VINTAGE.
My plan is to put a Duncan Cool Rails™ Strat in the middle and a Duncan Little ’59™ Strat in the neck.
I've contacted 920D Custom for their feedback on a pre-wired harness.
Any thoughts or ideas? Thanks

 

[Artie]

Welcome to the forum. You shouldn't really need a pre-wired harness. The old pups will simply be black & white, with black being ground. On the CR and Lil 59, bare and green tie together and go to ground. Red and white tie and solder together and get taped off. Then black goes to where the SSL-2 white wires went. (Probably the switch.)

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Are you seeking more output and thicker, smoother tone, or is the issue mostly about hum rejection?
If you want to stay closer to your present sound only noiseless you might consider the Classic Stacks.
They still sound recognizably Stratty and come in a variety of strengths, from classic to fairly beefy.

I love an iconic Strat neck tone myself.

Welcome to the community.

 

[uOpt]

Yeah, are you aware of what will happen to the guitar sound-wise? That's a dramatic change.

 

[Ashland]

Thanks for the warm welcome!

When I first saw the SD everything axe concept, that may have started all this. That and I've been window shopping new guitars but with inflation, etc., I doubled down on the everything concept.

With the CC bucker locked in, I know I still have a lot of options. I saw one YT where someone had a filtertron mixed with whatever.

I've been down a few rabbit holes researching this, so please forgive my naivety.

ArtieToo, your snapshot of a new install - very helpful. I'm wondering about pot values. All my pots are 500k, which is a bit confusing to me because I've read that single coil do better with 250k... so why did washburn use them? .047 caps?

eclecticsynergy, First, it's not about hum rejection. I like Strat tones as well. What do you think of a Duckbucker in the middle?

I appreciate all input. I'm trying to have some fun during all this. Thanks

 

[Ashland]

Yeah, are you aware of what will happen to the guitar sound-wise? That's a dramatic change.

It is dramatic. In a bad way? Do you see any good potential?

 

[Mincer]

Also, the Cool Rails is closer to the sound of a Jazz humbucker rather than the middle Duckbucker on the Everything Axe set. The Cool Rails is, well, cool, but doesn't sound like a Strat pickup at all.

 

[jeremy]

i think the lil 59, cool rail, cc setup could be sweet

 

[Ashland]

Thanks all for insight and opinions, that's what I'm here for!

 

[zionstrat]

Also, the Cool Rails is closer to the sound of a Jazz humbucker rather than the middle Duckbucker on the Everything Axe set. The Cool Rails is, well, cool, but doesn't sound like a Strat pickup at all.

Mincer is absolutely correct about the cool rail wired normally.. in my mind, a cool rail isn't very cool at all.. however a cool rail parallel to self has a rather stratty tone and might help you get somewhat more stratish 2 and 4 positions

 

[Ashland]

Came across something... the SD Everything Axe set -- all pups are ceramic. Whether I use a Cool Rails or a Duckbucker in the middle, both are ceramic.
The pup I want to keep in the bridge, CC, is alnico 2.

In what way could this be a problem, if at all?

 

[Mincer]

Thing is, you can't judge what a little humbucker sounds like by the magnet like you can a full size humbucker.

 

[Ashland]

How would it work if I left the SSL-2 in the middle and the CC in the bridge? The only addition would be the Lil 59 in the neck.
If this sounds like a good mix... any tips on wiring?

 

[jeremy]

i think that would be a cool setup. i would wire it so you can get the neck and bridge pups on together. not sure if you like using the middle single coil alone or if youll just use it mixed with another pup

 

[Mincer]

Yeah, I love the neck & bridge together on an HSS, but you need a special switch to do it. I think one of the Schaller Megaswitches can do it, as well as a Super Switch.

 

[Ashland]

Very helpful. I'll look into it. Thanks

 

[Ashland]

I really like this concept for the Schaller Megaswitch! I just need to know if the Lil 59 can be split to work like the diagram shows.

I'm counting the "59 as a humbucker, hence, I'm going for the HSH E+ configuration. Workable? Thanks