It's taken forever, but I'm now in a position to comment on the MM3's sound after fitting a Warman 5-string pup, EMG BTC, dpdt switch and CTS 500k vol. The delay is because, after satisfying myself that all was wired well, restringing and tuning, I turned the new CTS for about it's 5th time (all unamplified) and it snapped. Can you believe that? No ham-fistedness, I was apoplectic. In the meantime, I've had to cannibalize the nasty 250k from the OLP.
Even with the old, dead strings still in place (until a new, hopefully different batch #, CTS vol arrives) and the BTC set flat, the stock OLP is eaten alive by the Warman. Also, I'd make it mandatory to fit with the DPDT; in combo the versatility is great. Parallel Stingray sound, series "trouser flap", even a close to Jazz bridge on single coil mode; it's all there.
The dpdt switch is a cheap and well-worthwhile mod (series mode on the E and low B dirty in a good way) but, for £16 -
ca $25 - I'm glad I did the pup swap as well. The EMG BTC isn't usually cheap (my parts bag to the rescue) but it boosts and cuts, which is nice. Also, it just about makes it in there without additional routing. The only layout that works - and the scratchplate looks distinctly "pleased to see me" is:
- stereo jack (no lead = disconnect)
- vol pot
- EMG BTC
- series/single/para switch
and the (wrapped) 9v just makes it in the shallow area between the pup and the controls routing. It's just possible to unscrew the scratchplate and lift/pull aside to effect a battery swap without loosening the strings. For now, I'll take that and the cost of a mega-lifetime Duracell over routing for a separate battery box in the rear.
