strat/tele hybrid...

[jucas]

So I have a MIM strat that has some sentmental value (ie, its not going anywhere) but the best guitar tone I've ever heard is from a friends telecaster. So, as my strat is from the era of massive swimming pool routes through the body, I was thinking about getting a new pickguard, and dropping a tele bridge pickup in, and a humbucker in the neck.

I love that twangy tele bridge sound, but the way this guitar thumped below that with both pickups on was amazing. Having listened to the samples here, I'm pretty sure I just want a standard STL-1 in the bridge, but needed advice on the humbucker in the neck, and wiring.

Listening to the samples, I'm leaning toward the '59, but had contemplated a pearly gates, or jazz. Any suggestions on picking one of the above? I play just about anything, but distorting well is pretty crucial. I dunno. I may just do a '59. Ignoring the fact that its a squier, can one get a 59 into a cover like this http://www.webcorral.com/Squire_Tele_Fat_Stand_fullfront.jpg? I know looks are the last concern, but if I can avoid the 2 plastic cover look I'd like too.

Finally, wiring... I'll have a 5 position selcetor, and up to three holes for pots. I want a master volume and tone (or 2 tones, or maybe v/v t/t concentrics), and wasn't sure how to do the selector. 5 ways gives

1)neck
2)
3)
4)
5)bridge

how should I hook up 2,3, and 4 for tonal variety? should I do bothe series, both parallel, and something I haven't considered? Thing is, the guitar I'm "copying" had a 5-way switch, and each position seemed at least subtly different. Unfortunately, the kid with the guitar has disapeared, so asking him is out.

Finally, I know that with the strat body, it'll never sound exactly like a tele, and I'm probably stupid for trying, but I think I'm going to give'er anyway. Any suggestions about pickup selection, wiring, or why i should give up are greatly appreciated.

Thanks!

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

Don't give up! I have a Zhangbucker Paul Bunyan Tele lead in my parts strat and it rocks.

If you want tonal variety, get an STL-2 with a tap option. In the neck, go with a Jazz model humbucker.

For wiring I'd use a 5 way to give you:
1. Full bridge output
2. Full bridge & neck
3. Neck
4. Neck and tapped bridge
5. Tapped bridge (similar sound to STL-1).

As far as 3 knobs, use one for master volume, one for master tone, and one for a spin-a-split for the neck humbucker.

 

[jucas]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

Thanks for the tips! Glad to hear this isn't necesarrily total insanity. A few more questions though, spin-a-split? for the neck 'bucker, would that be a pot for selecting/blending coils?

Next question is how would a tapped hot tele bridge pup compare to a standard STL-1? I thought about this, but I loved the samples from the stl-1. Would the tapped coil get me pretty close to that classic twangy goodness?

And finally, why the jazz in the neck over the old 59? I'm not stuck on vintage for any reason in particular, just curious. I had actually considered a pretty similar config, but hadn't been sure how to do the selector.

So thanks for the suggestion, I imagine theres a tonne of great tones in a setup like that.

To anyone else willing to read my ramblings, if there's any non-duncan suggestions, I don't mind forking out a bit more cash... I'm reading about the old brobucker currently, and this zhangbucker mentioned, its by a forum member on here isn't it? websites, or should I contact them directly if I were to be interested? Thanks for dealing with a noob.

Oh yeah, and number of knobs isn't set anywhere. I don't mind concentrics or push/pull pots, I'll be needing to route a pickguard anyway, so as long as the body doesn't need a major overhaul I'm pretty open to suggestions.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

the Spin-a-split mod lets you blend in or out a coil from the humbucker, giving you full humbucker operation,split operation, and lots of shades in between.

the STL-2 when tapped gets very, very close to a traditional tele sound. Keep in mind that tthe clips you heard were recorded using a tele, which will sound different from a strat, even with the same pickups. The reason for that is due to the construction of the guitar. The big metal bridge, lack of tremolo, and single cut construction of the tele give it a very different natural tone than that of a strat.

I suggested the Jazz based purely on y personal taste. The 59 is too boomy for me. Besides, the Jazz was made with 250k pots in mind, which you will want to use with a tele lead pickup to avoid excessive harshness.

Zhangligunn is a member here. Shoot him a PM if you're interested in his pickups. I had a great experience dealing with him. his prices are insanely low for what he does, he winds exactly what you want, and he's a helluva nice guy to boot.

 

[jucas]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

Thanks again for all the help. That all makes perfect sense, and I definately appreciate the tip on the jazz and 250K pots. I love your suggestions, but right now I'm flip flopping between simplicity (ie. 3 position switch, and a push-pull coil tap on the humbucker with just volume and tone) and what you described for versitility. Kind of leaning toward your suggestion as it'll have all the other tones in it (or close to it).


I think I'll have to talk to Zhang, reading around here he seems to have a great rep, and you all know far more than I possibly ever will about pickups.

 

[Artie]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

Thanks again for all the help. That all makes perfect sense, and I definately appreciate the tip on the jazz and 250K pots. I love your suggestions, but right now I'm flip flopping between simplicity (ie. 3 position switch, and a push-pull coil tap on the humbucker with just volume and tone) and what you described for versitility. Kind of leaning toward your suggestion as it'll have all the other tones in it (or close to it).

I like Benjy's ideas a lot, but if you want to consider the "simple" route, you could also do what I've done to my own HS Squier Tele. I use a simple 3-way, and a push-pull pot to split the humbucker. But what I've done different is to make the "split" mode the normal mode. That way, I have a more-or-less, standard Tele, then when I activate the switch, I bring in the full humbucker.

I'm planning on adding a "series connection" to the bridge/split-neck mode, but I've got too many irons in the fire right now. Maybe after the new year.

Artie

 

[jucas]

Re: strat/tele hybrid...

Thanks,

If you don't mind my asking, what kind of humbucker have you got in there? And is it just a straight coil tap, or is there anything fancy going on in there?

I ask as reading on here there seems to be a some complaints about straight up splitting a humbucker that isn't made for it (ie a stag mag). ANy problems running it this way, or does it get close enough to what you want out of it?

Just read your sig, and it looks like it is a stag mag. SOmething to consider I suppose.