Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

[NoMoreMKIV]

I've seen some schematics that have tone control #1 for neck, and tone control #2 for middle. I've seen some simple "mods" described for moving tone #2 to the bridge (by moving one wire on the pickup selector switch). And then I've also seen schematics that have the second tone control operating the middle AND bridge (by jumpering together two posts on the pickup selector).

My question is this:

Why would you NOT want to have the latter configuration (tone #2 on bridge AND middle)?

Is there some interaction or resistor divider thing that happens here that has a negative effect? I saw that some years of the American Standard Strat were drawn this way.

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

I never understood the lack of tone control on Strats and I always wire mine up master volume/master tone. There is no reason you cant jumper the terminals on the switch and piggyback the bridge pickup with the mid pickup tone control.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

Well, the "problem" with the jumper approach is that both tone pots are in the circuit in position 4 (neck & middle), making the tone somewhat muddier. The problem with the other approach is that you have no tone control for position 3 (middle alone). Just depends on what is more important to you.

G&L's treble cut ("normal" tone) and bass cut alternative is a pretty cool way to use the two tone knobs.

Chip

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

I use the jumper because the bridge is unbearable otherwise

and, here's the drawing that shows the jumper:
http://tokairegistry.com/pup_replace.html

G & L's approach seems good in theory, but their cap values are different - I find them brighter

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

A third option that I like, is for those that don't use the middle pup much by itself. And that is to wire a tone for the bridge, a tone for the neck, and none for the middle ... then the only consideration is if the neck and bridge are blended (blender pot), but that to can be gotten around somewhat by going with a 1Meg-A tone pot for the neck tone (bring it down to about 200k ),
and as that is where you'd want your brightest tone most often, plus you can always turn it down some.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

A third option that I like, is for those that don't use the middle pup much by itself. And that is to wire a tone for the bridge, a tone for the neck, and none for the middle ... then the only consideration is if the neck and bridge are blended (blender pot), but that to can be gotten around somewhat by going with a 1Meg-A tone pot for the neck tone (bring it down to about 200k ),
and as that is where you'd want your brightest tone most often, plus you can always turn it down some.

That's the way I do it with my '63 Strat: tone on neck and tone on bridge...no tone on middle. I like the neck and middle combined tone better now, because with the stock wiring (tone on neck and tone on middle) when you combine the neck and middle pickups you also combine the two 250K tone pots in parallel making a 112K resistance that loses some highs. That's a classic Strat tone, but still, I like it even better with the "new" wiring.

Lew

 

[jpage]

Re: Strat Bridge/Mid Tone Control Question

I dropped this into a Strat I built with Fralin Vintage Hots. I love it.

http://www.torresengineering.com/bluesdelwirn.html