P-Rails Stratocaster Upgrade

[fortysixyou]

Hey Everyone,

This is my first post on this forum, but I ordered a p-rail today, and I'm excited to be part of the Duncan community.

I'm a proud owner of a 2005 USA Fender Stratocaster Deluxe, HSS. I love nearly everything about the guitar, but grew tired of the one-dimensional stock humbucker in the bridge position. So, I decided to replace it with a p-rails.

I'm a novice solderer, but I'm going to try to install it myself. I want to drop it into the bridge position, keep using the 5-way switch, but take out the 2nd (bridge) tone knob and replace it with a 3-way switch (on-off-on), to switch between the three different modes of the P-rails. The one tone knob would then control all pickups.

I'm removing the S-1 switching system that came with the guitar, which means removing the old super 5-way switch and replacing it with a regular 5-way. I've never found the S-1 system particularly useful after 6 years of attempted use. Engaging it basically takes whatever tone your using and darkens it to the point of uselessness.

So, does this wiring diagram look alright, aside from the piezo business?

http://www.ioportauthority.com/images/parker-revised.jpg

My next question is about my old volume knob. Because of the S-1 system, it has an internal button/switch like the one in this picture:

http://www.google.com/imgres?q=s-1+volume+knob+fender&um=1&hl=en&safe=off&biw=1075&bih=825&tbm=isch&tbnid=WU53KpAZjiQxWM:&imgrefurl=http://www.darrenriley.com/shop/cart.php%3Fm%3Dproduct_detail%26p%3D1915&docid=aaOIWggW2YYxaM&imgurl=https://www.darrenriley.com/shop/images/products/3414.jpg&w=406&h=384&ei=IImdTobUDcuUiAeBx6nACQ&zoom=1&iact=hc&vpx=594&vpy=141&dur=746&hovh=218&hovw=231&tx=164&ty=157&sig=107039811516094470020&page=1&tbnh=142&tbnw=150&start=0&ndsp=20&ved=1t:429,r:3,s:0

Anyone have any creative ideas on what I could use this switch for?


Thanks for your input. Cheers!

 

[Stratman]

Re: P-Rails Stratocaster Upgrade

I suggest that you install it with a triple shot.

http://www.seymourduncan.com/products/accessories/triple-shot-mou/triple_shot_swi/

It will require you to make slight modification to your pick guard, but it will give you the ability to change between the different variations of the P-rails and require only two wires to the 5-way switch. (Make sure you purchase the flat - neck model of the triple shot.)

Enjoy!

 

[fortysixyou]

Re: P-Rails Stratocaster Upgrade

Thanks for the advice, but I'll probably avoid the triple shots since it would require big pickguard modifications, and would get in the way of my volume knob. Plus, I don't mind the extra wiring into the dpdt switch and 5-way. I'll just drop the p-rail in the bridge, wire it all up, and hope for the best. I'll be sure to update this post when I finish.