Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

[Troy T. Blues]

I posted a while back about which pups to use for my H-H Strat. I decided to go with a JB Trembucker and a '59 neck.

This has been somewhat of a frustrating project. :smack: I had to get a new pickguard made, had to get a megaswitch so can have split coil options, etc, etc.....My guitar tech was confused about the wiring, some of it vague (megaswitch paperwork) , etc, etc...On another forum, someone suggested some schematics for me and now my tech has the guitar. The scheme was for Fender a Big Apple or HH Strat which I though was safe.

1 - Neck HB
2 - 'B' coil of neck HB
3 - Neck and bridge HB
4 - 'A' coil of both HBs
5 - Bridge HB

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/big_apple.php

The was what I wanted! .. Especially #3 to have neck & bridge as well as the other splits. I told him if this gave him alot of trouble, I would be OK with just a simple 3-way switch and call it a day.

On the above link the author suggests using all 500K pots, but my bridge is a JB...

After doing some more reading here, I've found that it may be suggested to use a 250K pot for the JB? I know my tech is using .022 caps and all 500K pots. Am I in trouble here? We've been going back and forth for days and this guy is gonna kill me if I have to make another change. I thought we had it all figured out and now this...Damn! :yell:

So, is the verdict a 250K pot for the JB? Also, if that is the case, do I just use a 250K on the bottom tone knob (bridge)?? Man, is this confusing and driving me nuts..Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

since time is of the essence, we'll give this a bump ..

not having tried a 2 hb strat, I'll leave the wiring question for those who know


as far as pot values, there is Duncan schematic for 1 volume, 2 tones, and a 5-way. Although the switching is different, it shows all 500k pots with 2 - .047 caps

hopefully, others will have more input

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Thank you Curly!

Bump.....

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

try this :
2 hums/ 5 way

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Thanks again Curly!

However, at this point, I'm not worried about the switching as I am about the pot values and caps. That is what I need to know at this point.

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

well, the caps are an easy switch if you don't like the values ... the pots are more work, but not as tough as on other guitars ...

I'm still hoping for more input, but sometimes you have to try, and see how you like it

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Curly, I'm gonna give Duncan a call shorty. I just spoke with my tech and he is willing to do whatever is necessary. He ended up just using a 3-way switch because I didn't give him the correct switch for the other options. He also used a .022 cap to share both tone knobs since it is not a five way, if that makes sense. Apparently, I needed a "Superswitch"...Anyways, like I said, I'm not so concerned with that, three way is fine with me.

I can't wait until this is done, my goodness...very frustrating!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

I liked the JB with 500k pots and .047 caps in my friends Alder/maple Carvin hardtail DC127. If your tech has just put in a three way switch, you might want to ask him (nicely ) to install push/pull pots as the two tone knobs. This will give you the ability to split both pickups independantly of each other while still using a relatively simple three way switching system. Besides, if you find the JB to be too bright with the pots wide open, you can always roll them back a bit.

Good luck, bro. :burnout:

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Hi Benjy!

I picked up the guitar during lunch (work) and I went home and plugged it in. The tone is great, I have no problems with it at all. Whew, what a relief!

I picked up my other guitar as well (I added a full sized '59 Trembucker in place of a Little '59) The full sized '59 sound much better IMO. In the HH Strat, the JB has way more gain (output) and is middier than the bridge '59 in the S-S-H Strat, but I really like it.

In the H-H Strat, the '59 neck is awesome!! I think the JB and the '59 work very well together. So far, so good! I will re-visit the switching options later.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Cool, glad you liked the results.

 

[Curly]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

cool,
hang around here, and pretty soon you'll be doing your own wiring!

StewMac should have the Super switch, or Mega switch, or whatever it is, for doing the 5-way thing

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

I posted a while back about which pups to use for my H-H Strat. I decided to go with a JB Trembucker and a '59 neck.

This has been somewhat of a frustrating project. :smack: I had to get a new pickguard made, had to get a megaswitch so can have split coil options, etc, etc.....My guitar tech was confused about the wiring, some of it vague (megaswitch paperwork) , etc, etc...On another forum, someone suggested some schematics for me and now my tech has the guitar. The scheme was for Fender a Big Apple or HH Strat which I though was safe.

1 - Neck HB
2 - 'B' coil of neck HB
3 - Neck and bridge HB
4 - 'A' coil of both HBs
5 - Bridge HB

http://www.guitarnuts.com/wiring/big_apple.php

The was what I wanted! .. Especially #3 to have neck & bridge as well as the other splits. I told him if this gave him alot of trouble, I would be OK with just a simple 3-way switch and call it a day.

On the above link the author suggests using all 500K pots, but my bridge is a JB...

After doing some more reading here, I've found that it may be suggested to use a 250K pot for the JB? I know my tech is using .022 caps and all 500K pots. Am I in trouble here? We've been going back and forth for days and this guy is gonna kill me if I have to make another change. I thought we had it all figured out and now this...Damn! :yell:

So, is the verdict a 250K pot for the JB? Also, if that is the case, do I just use a 250K on the bottom tone knob (bridge)?? Man, is this confusing and driving me nuts..Any help would be GREATLY appreciated. Thanks!!

Troy ... I checked the schematic, it's correct, although the one at gear head is the fender schematic ... much more clear, especially the switch ... Yes you'll need the superswitch from stew mac, or order the switch from fender (4P5T) ... Harris-Teller carries it amoung other jobbers, any music store can order it for you from them. The magnet must be reversed on one pup, the wiring is correct, but the fender oem model pups had one of the magnets reversed. You wire it as is, and then turn the magnet on one pup, doesn't matter which one, but I recommend the neck; as it's a bit easier to loosen the strings, pull out the pup and make the change there, rather than trying to do it at the bridge.
Maybe the tech did this, maybe not, maybe you haven't noticed it, maybe the tech did a reverse engineering thing (if he actually had trouble with the schemtic ... well, that's a bad sign).
Concerning the controls ... well change the volume to a 250k for the JB if you want, a 250 tone control will work well there as well, the 223 cap should work just fine. For the neck you might want to use the 500k tone pot, as you can always deal with the neck having the ability to be a bit brighter.
So I'd change to volume to a 250k, but leave the other two the same.
Either way, those are no big deal, I would use the cap as is in there.

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

My Strat has a JB and 500k pots with .022mf caps.

You'll have no problems with those values. if you find the JB too bright (and you shouldn't) try rolling the volume pot back just a little. That will roll off some of the top and presence. You can then roll the pot back up to cut the mix during lead work. There is a lot of tonal variation in a volume pot between 8.5 to 10 if you don't install one of those girlyman top-pass caps.

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Thanks Kent,

It actually worked out fine. I will eventually get a Superswitch or a push/push on the tones to get both hums split....Right now, I'm fine with it, IT SMOKES!!!! It is so great, I may even consider converting my newly converted S-S-S to H-H as well. I love the '59 and JB on this Strat, it sounds fantastic.

Robert, thanks for chiming in, I love the tone as is with 500K pots and .022 cap, it's great. The bottom tone knob is wired to the bridge, so if it does get bright, I can roll of on that too...I'm totally happy with the results and I will get the split options soon. Thanks for the help guys!

 

[Kent S.]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

My Strat has a JB and 500k pots with .022mf caps.

You'll have no problems with those values. if you find the JB too bright (and you shouldn't) try rolling the volume pot back just a little. That will roll off some of the top and presence. You can then roll the pot back up to cut the mix during lead work. There is a lot of tonal variation in a volume pot between 8.5 to 10 if you don't install one of those girlyman top-pass caps.

Robert, just so you know ... Since so many people suggest the use of the 250k volume with the JB, I thought it to be a good thing (considering it's extra mid presence) to include not only the 250k as a volume, but the 250k tone pot kept stock as well ... I still hold to keeping a 500k in the neck tone control for full brightenss when needed. But, if someone does find the JB a bit overly peaky in comparison then, well the 250k volume, and the 250K tone will take care of much of that. That's the reason behind that, A 500k in the volume will work great also, a BTW, I like the fact that you remind people that a volume control is useful in many ways other than being on *10*

Kudos Robert! :cool3:

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Troy,
As you know, I'm also converting my Strat to H/H; just can't decide between the JB and the '59 for the bridge. (I'm going to try a Jazz in the neck.) Since you now have both of these pups installed, maybe you could help me...

Does the '59 trembucker have what it takes for classic/southern rock, or would the JB be better? How about playing clean? BTW, I'm also considering just using a basic 3-way switch...I have another Strat for the single coil sound. Thanks!

 

[Troy T. Blues]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Hi Stratfan!

I think the '59 Tembucker is great for classic/southern rock. The JB has more output, but sounds great as well. If I had to choose one for your application, it would be the '59. IMO, the '59 is the better choice for clean as well.

Another however...the Jazz and JB are a great combo. I personally love the JB bridge and the '59 neck in my H-H Strat. I think I hit the nail on the head with that choice.

 

[Stratfan]

Re: Strat Humbucker Project - Problems?

Thanks, Troy...now I want both! Oh well, now instead of having only 2 guitars I might need to buy a third. (Good thing the wife can't see this!)