Pot value HSS strat?

[dreadguard268]

I wanna set up my Tom Delonge strat to be HSS. I want 2 volumes and I'm not really picky about a tone. My question is what pot value should I have 250k or 500k? I've never really used single coils before so I'm not sure how much that would effect the sound to my ears.

 

[Ashurbanipal]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

Which single coils do you intend to use? The Invader is quite hot and dark sounding, so 500k is advisable for it. Most people will tell you that 500k is too bright for single coils - I have a HSS guitar with 500k volume and tone, and don't find the single coils too bright (they're SSL2), your mileage may vary. One compromise that can be done is wiring a 500k resistors in parallel at the switch where the single coils are wired, so that when they're selected, they 'see' 250k.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

...One compromise that can be done is wiring a 500k resistors in parallel at the switch where the single coils are wired, so that when they're selected, they 'see' 250k.

This is what I would do. Standard value is 510K ohms, IIRC. This is the best compromise, IMO.

 

[r34vspec]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

Some bucker sounds great with 250k in a strat, such as the JB. Dimarzio fred&paf pro also works great IME.
Also single coil with alnico2 sounds good with brighter pots, it adds some edge and spank, bring them closer to a5.
Or you could use single sized bucker in the middle and neck, they're designed to work with 500k pots.

 

[dreadguard268]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

I should have mentioned that I replaced the invader with a JB haha.

I'm not really positive as to what single coils I want. I haven't really looked into it yet. I just know I want the single coil sound. Which is incredibly specific I know. I might be looking for fender pups. But again, not really sure yet.

 

[Mr. B]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

300k is often a good compromise depending on how bright your single coils are. I use 300k in my strat with a Custom-Custom bridge and two Fat 50 Single Coils.

 

[GilmourD]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

I tend to like the 500K volume with two 250K tones setup on HSS guitars. Gives a bit more of an edge to the singles without making them icepicky. Oh, I tend to also wire them up like a vintage Strat in that the bridge doesn't have a tone.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

Can you explain the resistor thing for me?

 

[esandes]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

500 for the humbucker and 250 for the single coils. i've experimented with this and this is the best setup, in general. i also remove the tone controls.

 

[GuitarStv]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

This is what I would do. Standard value is 510K ohms, IIRC. This is the best compromise, IMO.

+1, this is also what I would do.

 

[trevorus]

Re: Pot value HSS strat?

Can you explain the resistor thing for me?

The easiest way I have found is to hook a 510K resistor between hot lead on each individual single coil to ground. Then when it is switched into the circuit, it will "see" an approximately 250K load. You'll have to see what you think of it when blended with the bridge humbucker if you use the notch position. Neck/middle notch will also likely sound a little bit different. Those two resistors in parallel with the volume control will see about a 170K ohm load. This might get a bit dark, but try it and see if it works for you. If not, there are some other ways to make this all work, though they will be a bit more complicated.