Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

[Dedalus Cave]

Hi everyone.
I'm currently customizing a Strat-copy I picked up some months ago. I do have some treads showing the whole process on reddit (here).

Basically, as the title says, I'm a bit lost on designing the wiring scheme and the actual possible options of the above configuration; so here I am seeking for some advices from people with more experience than me.

Every contribute is appreciated!

Thanks a lot!

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

Maybe i am wrong person to answer your question, because i don't see the need of SSL-5s in neck and middle. The ssl-5 is so dark that its hard to match with any bridge pickup.
My ssl-5T, -1, -1 strat uses a wiring scheme with autosplit in the bridge and 500k volume.

 

[Dedalus Cave]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

What do you mean by SSL-5 being "dark"?

 

[Dedalus Cave]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

Lurking in the forum I found a pretty commonly suggested configuration beeing SSL-1 in neck and middle and SSL-5 in bridge position; do you guys think that having a JB jr and an SSL-5 in the humbucker slot at the bridge would be not advisable? My fear is that the 2 would be too much similar, resulting in an excessive redundancy of the tone.
This of course would be a problem in both the all-SSL-5+JB Jr and 2 SSL-1, 1 SSL-5 + JB Jr configuration.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

i think the ssl5 can be fine in the neck with 500k pots and a bucker in the bridge. the ssl5 and jb jr dont sound all that similar to me so i dont know if they would be redundant.

as far as what wiring to use, it depends on what you are trying to get from the guitar. you could wire the 5way normally then use a mini switch to choose which bridge pup is active, which is probably what id do, but there are lots of options

 

[Dedalus Cave]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

That's exactly the configuration I have in mind: the standar 5-way Strat switch would be the best fitting to my needs.
Also, in the hum slot of the HSS pickguard I'm plannig to fit both an SSL-5 and the JB Jr: which one you guys recommend closer to the bridge itself? Does it make any real difference?

As you mentioned, my idea is to use a push-push pot to swith between the JB Jr and the SSL-5 on the bridge.

When it comes to tone and volume though, I'm kinda lost. 2 volumes, one for each of the bridge pu (and the other single coil in middle and neck)? 1 tone for all 4 pu? or maybe 1 volume for everthing and 2 tones, one for each of the bridge pu (and also for the other 2 single-coil)? Any suggestions?

Also, I'm kinda noob: what are 500K pots and what do they do?

That's my very first pu swapping/wiring experience every, forgive my noobness

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

Now i got it: you want an jb jr. and a ssl-5 in the double bobbin bridge slot mimicking a full humbucker? This is kind of strange but not unheard. Both in series is, of course, mud city, but in parallel or alternatively makes more sense to me. Since the ssl-5 is the briter and lower volume one, i would put the jb jr. nearer to the bridge. With the pots i am kinda lost, too. Altogether 4 pickups and 3 pots....

 

[Dedalus Cave]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

Now i got it: you want an jb jr. and a ssl-5 in the double bobbin bridge slot mimicking a full humbucker? This is kind of strange but not unheard. Both in series is, of course, mud city, but in parallel or alternatively makes more sense to me. Since the ssl-5 is the briter and lower volume one, i would put the jb jr. nearer to the bridge. With the pots i am kinda lost, too. Altogether 4 pickups and 3 pots....

Yeah exactly. 4 pu and 3 knobs.
JB jr and SSL-5 in the bridge slot would work alternatively, since, as you said, I do not have any fancy desire of a super muddy grunty tone. What I’m looking for is a not-too-thin Strat sound with some grit and punch.

Sorry if I didn’t explained myself clearly before, English is not my main language.
Thanks for the help

 

[jeremy]

Re: Strat. HSS: 3 SSL-5 + JB Jr, volume, tones and 5 way switch: please help

500k is the value of the volume control and tone controls, or at least the value id suggest.

id setup a master volume, one tone for the neck and middle pups then the second tone for the bridge pup. i would also put the jb jr closer to the bridge