Putting Humbucker in strat

[iamthesuck]

Hi all, I was wondering if I bought a new pickguard for an SSS 2009 American deluxe strat, could I drop in a humbucker in the bridge? I would swap in the other two pickups and maybe add new pots and a jack. I want to do this as a present for my dad, but I can't actually see the instrument until spring break. Is this possible?

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

yes...as long as the body routing allows it.
If it does...also make sure you have a regular short legged humbucker rather than the vintage correct long legged ones. Most aftermarket humbuckers are the short legged variety but it worth just having a quick look. Gibson 57s for example have long legs.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

Maybe someone on here will know if the 2009s American Deluxes have an HSS route under the pickguard. Anyone?

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

Don't know off the top of my head (I want to say yes...) but my advise is CALL FENDER AND ASK.

your idea sounds great, get a pickguard, wire it all up minus the single coils (new pots and switch too, why not? unless they have some cool switching system in there) then you can just drop in the singled.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

The JB sounds just fine with the stock 250m pots

But if you must I would suggest a 500m linear pot for the volume
Those are noted as 500B
the 500A pots are audio taper,

The tone pots should be fine
Although I would dedicate one to the bridge and share one for the singles

There is a trick for making the singles see the 500m pot as a 250m by adding a resistor to the switch

 

[Kamanda~SD]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

ehdwuld is correct in the above. With that said I run 250k pots with my JB's, tames them just enough for me. I also use linear pots for everything, but that's more of a personal preference.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Putting Humbucker in strat

The JB really doesn't have much treble. Listen to it clean. It's a mellow sounding pickup. It's not bright and snappy like a PAF.

What everyone thinks is treble is upper midrange. 250k pots will lower the resonant peak more.

A pickup with the resistance that high should be using a 1M pot. But that would make the single coils too bright sounding.

It's not a very balanced pickup combination IMO.


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