Pickups for a MIM Player Series HSS Stratocaster

[mark681137@aol.com]

I bought a Player series HSS Strat about 6 months ago, I figure what the hell let the fun begin, I'm looking at the JB Model Humbucker and 2 Alnico II Pro Staggered to replace mine. I plan on using an Obsidian Custom 7 way switch and Pots. I'm new to electric guitars so I sure could use some advice on my first build. Thanks in advance for comments.

 

[Mincer]

Welcome to the forum, and the fun world of guitar modding!

The JB is a good choice for all things hard rock, and the Alnico II Staggered are wonderful Strat pickups. They will give a 'best of both worlds' thing. Only issue I see (which might not matter at all to you), is that the JB is much louder than the single coils. So, you will hear the volume jump quite a bit when the JB is engaged. This can be like a built in boost, but to those use to the way a normal Strat sounds, it can be annoying.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

What Mincer said and:

1. Take advantage of the superswitch (mine had one) to auto coil split the humbucker in P2 or you might find it overwhelms the single coil middle.
2. If you buy one of the single ccoilsas a reversed wired/wound reverse polarity (RWRP) pickup, fit it in the neck not the middle. That will make the middle "south up" (normal polarity) hum canceling when you coil split the bridge leaving the slug ("north up) humbucker coil active in P2. When you go to P4, the "south up" (normal) middle will also be hum canceling with the RWRP neck.

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

PS My 2020 Player has a 59/Custom and two SSL-1s. I forgot the RWRP for the neck. I've got it wired as above, 1 volume, 1 tone, plus a blender for the neck IIRC.

 

[soulforger]

Always been extremely fond of the Pearly Gates in a Strat bridge position, and it can definitely rock, nothing wrong with a JB in there either though!

 

[mark681137@aol.com]

Thanks for all the quick replies, as to the volume jump, the Obsidian 7 way switch is supposed to take care of that, we'll see. Thanks everybody

 

[Mincer]

Thanks for all the quick replies, as to the volume jump, the Obsidian 7 way switch is supposed to take care of that, we'll see. Thanks everybody

I've never heard of that switch...what does it do?

 

[mark681137@aol.com]

I've never heard of that switch...what does it do?

https://obsidianwire.com/products/cu...42249598927024

I would have cut and pasted but the browser won't let me. I had never really noticed the volume difference but it does it on my standard HSS Strat.

I pulled the plug on everything should have it together by the weekend.

 

[misterwhizzy]

I wish you wouldn’t have posted that Obsidian link. Now I have GAS.

 

[mark681137@aol.com]

Reporting back......I got some happy sounds coming out of my guitar! Every time I play it, I like them more. I haven't even scratched the surface.

The Obsidian switch is 7 way, it splits the humbucker, so there is no overpowering volume coming from the humbucker detracting from the classic start sound, unless you want it.

It also gives the bridge/neck combo. There is also so much noise cleaned up with all the new parts. I'm going to replace the bridge also, so it's gonna be awhile before I have the guitar finished. I'll keep gloating..I mean posting

 

[ThreeChordWonder]

Is it genuinely a 7-way switch or a 5-way plus a push-pull?

 

[mark681137@aol.com]

it is push/pull on the bottom tone knob with a 5 way switch

 

[Mincer]

I have to say, that switch is pretty cool, and neatly implemented. That's the way guitars should look inside!