P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

That's Your Best Idea Yet!! I'm right into that!

I got my shipment from Stewmac.com yesterday. & guess what, the mini-switch actually fits my tone pot hole perfectly, no alterations required. Unfortunately the larger 3-pick-up toggle switch seems like it might take up just a bit too much space in the cavity. If I was already proficient at soldering and whatnot I'd say let's give it a shot. But since it's my first crack at this, I'm thinking let's just stick to the mini-toggles this time 'round.

I actually ordered a few other items as well, on being a set of Schaller Tuners. Unfortunately they're too big for the tuner holes that are in there now. So I'm looking into possibly ordering a "reamer" to enlarge the holes. But that's another project for another day. Anyways man, yeah, I'm gun-ho and ready to go! Still need to get that soldering station (which I think I'll be purchasing early next week) & then the set-up will be almost complete!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Ok, I think I've got this hammered out - diagram coming soon.
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Ok, give this a shot and tell me how it goes... as you can see you'll have to figure out how to get everything grounded once you get it all on the pickguard.

Corwin.png
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

THANK-YOU Parameter Man!!!! That’s AWSOME!!! I REALLY APPRECIATE That!!! I can’t wait to put this plan into action! But before I do, just a quick question or 2 about the diagram,

#1. I can see where the P-Rails Pup would be and where the 4 (5) wires are coming out of it based on the thick black line beside the word P-Rails and the colour coded wires coming out of it (those are based on Seymour’s Colour’s right?). But I can’t figure out where the little ’59 Pup begins, because the thick black line beside “ ’59 “ on the diagram seems like it’s coming out of the tone pot and into the switch. Could you please clarify that for me?

#2. Also, the pyramid of lines symbol that represents “ground”, so am I supposed to run a wire from every spot on the diagram that that symbol shows up on to a ground (which I’m thinking will be the plate on my Tremolo?)

I think I can understand the rest (I’ll know for sure when the soldering gun’s in my hand), but again, Thanks So Much for actually coming through on this!!! :)
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

1) Yes, the big black line sort of thing that's labeled "'59" is supposed to represent the lead from the '59. The colors are all Duncan, although I had to do some hard thinking as the P-rails is a little different inside.

2) The pyramid-shaped ground points all need to be connected to ground eventually, but it's ok to chain them ie. connect to the tone pot which is then connected to the volume, etc. Most people use the back of the volume and/or tone pots as a place to tie grounds to, although it can be hard to solder to them. The wire from the trem claw needs to tie into this point as well.

I would get everything in the guitar and then figure out where it's easiest to connect the bare wires from the pickups. If your pickguard has a foil shield, the pots and switches will be grounded by that, otherwise it's standard to run a wire from pot to pot grounding them.
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Ok Brother, It Has Begun!

It took me quite a while to get all the parts and tools I need to get 'er done. I picked up my soldering station last weekend & paid a few visit's to the 12th fret in Toronto getting the proper pots (500k mini's). But I think I'm Finally Ready! :)

So yeah, I don't know what you're up to today, but if you get this & have some free time, maybe check in on me periodically, as I may encounter some unforseen dilemas along the way. But I will be documenting the project photographically & I'll post 'em so you can see the fruits of our labour! Alright, wish me luck!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Ack!! I got all the way to my girlfriend's place in Oshawa (where I'm doing the project) before I realized that I left my solder sucker at home :S which sucked, lol. So I did some prep for it instead. I don't have a computer at the moment (virus ate it) I'm writing you from a computer at work on my break. So yeah, the project's been bumped to next Friday or Sunday (likely Sunday).

Ok, one more question. You may have already mentioned this but just to be %100 sure. What are the 2 switches I need to use aside from the Superswitch?? Are they both on/on/on or is one on/on/on and the other an on/on?

Thanks Man!!!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Both on/on/on.

Good luck and I can't wait to hear how it all turns out!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Thanks Brother! You'll be the 1st to know!!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Mr. ParameterMan!!! I'm really sorry I dissapeared completely!! So many things have come up that have prevented me from following through on our project- (work, health concerns, etc.) But I finally have the time required to pull this off :) I have tommorow off work and that's when the madness will finally begin! :) I just wanted to write to you and let you know! I'm going to be using your diagram as the blueprint for it all, so all of your hard work is not going to go to waste!! Thank-You again for all of the help you've graciously gifted me with, & again I'm sorry i dissapeared and haven't done it yet! But that's all about to change as of tommorow! I'll try to take pictures along the way so that I can upload some of them here for you to see and enjoy!!!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

You may find that the P-Rails Hot is a bit too much with the stock A8 magnets. It's a good pup but the A8s really push it over the edge of usefulness. I've worked a lot with that pup (do a search to pull up previous threads that give all the details) and found that putting either a polished A5 or a UOA5 under the P-90 coil makes it a bunch better.
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Hey, a belated "welcome to the forum". And just a side note. Used to live in Toronto in the early 70s. Just a couple blocks down from Maple Leaf Gardens. Played with some really great musicians up there. Can't remember the cities where they lived, but I think it was something like Brampton and Scarsdale or Scarsburough or something similar to that. It's been too long and I'm too old to remember. I DO remember that the keyboard player's name was Mike Brewes. One of the best I've ever heard. He played any keyboard, guitar, bass, trumpet, sax, clarinet, trombone, violin, drums and was an amazing arranger.

Toronto was a fun place. Saw a few concerts in the Gardens. Back in those days it was Grand Funk Railroad, Deep Purple, Moody Blues, Pink Floyd, etc. and a "new" local group...Lighthouse. They only had a couple hits down here in the states, but they were good. We shared their rehersal space.

Everyday we would see a homeless man with epilepsy walking around Younge St. We used to call him Mr. Fits (because he would have so many siezures).

Just rambling on, sorry.
 
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Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Hey there GuitarDoc! Thanks for the message! I had actually check out a bit of what you had mentioned on that magnet swapping a while back when I first joined the forum. Sounds like a good idea, but how difficult is it to do the actual swapping? I’m a newb to the world of guitar electronics. This is my first project, so I’m a mixture of excited and worried that I won’t be able to get it to work. How much does a “polished A5 or a UOA5” magnet cost?

Those must have been some stellar shows you got to see here in Toronto! Especially Pink Floyd! That most have been mind-bending! What album were they touring at the time?
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Alright I’ve got an important question. In the diagram Parameterman has so Awesomely/Graciously designed for me, there is an on/on/on switch labelled “P-90 Both Rail”. The top left lug has a wire connected to it, my question is, where is it running to?? It seems like it’s intersecting with the grey/black wire that’s coming out of the P-Rails and that they’re both connected to the upper right common lug on the Superswitch? Is this right. Was it meant to be connected to the top left common lug of the superswitch instead? Please Help! I’m doing the project tomorrow (Saturday) Afternoon. Thanks!!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Corwin said:
Alright I’ve got an important question. In the diagram Parameterman has so Awesomely/Graciously designed for me, there is an on/on/on switch labelled “P-90 Both Rail”. The top left lug has a wire connected to it, my question is, where is it running to?? It seems like it’s intersecting with the grey/black wire that’s coming out of the P-Rails and that they’re both connected to the upper right common lug on the Superswitch? Is this right.
Click to expand...

That's correct. I drew it that way for clarity - the two lugs you described should be connected and then you can attach the black wire from the P-rails to either end lug or in the middle, whatever works best in your control cavity.
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Parameterman to the Rescue!!! :D You're a life saver man!! Alright I'll let you know how it goes, & hopefully won't have any more difficulties, but soldering iron will be heating up in under an hour!!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Mag swapping is a cinch. Takes about 15 minutes (including loosening strings, taking out the pup, loosening the backplate screws, swapping mags, and putting it all back together again) and costs about $5 for a mag. Just make sure the new magnet is oriented the same as the one it's replacing. There are some excellent threads on here with pics showing how it's done step by step.
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

THanks GuitarDoc!! Once I get through this project I just might make the swap! Do you think they'd carry that kind of thing at my local guitar chain retailer? Or is that a special order from StewMac?
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Hey Parameterman! I'm halfway there! I drilled a new hole for my 2nd on/on/on switch and put it in successfully! I've soldered just over half of the connections from the diagram! :)

But hey, when I was in a desperate rush to find out the answer to that question you answered yesterday I re-posted your diagram in a new thread to see if anyone could help me ( I was worried you wouldn't get it in time!). And this guy ArtieToo scanned the diagram and made a slight alteration to it. DO you think you could take a look at it and let me know if you think it's a good change to make, or if it will mess up your plan!?

https://forum.seymourduncan.com/attachment.php?attachmentid=23998&d=1301838145

I've left all of my tools etc. in Oshawa at my girlfriend's place for the week, but I'll be heading down there next Sunday to complete the project!
 
Re: P-Rails Hot=Bridge+Little '59in the neck (HSS) Fat Korean Squier Strat. HeLp!!?

Artie's alteration will change all instances of the P-rails to series - not exactly what you wanted. The noise antenna issue is legit but can be dealt with easily. Your on/on/on switches may function differently than the ones I was working from, though - I will get you a new diagram that has a greater chance of matching your switches.
 
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