Weird Strat question...

Electricblue · #1 09-25-2011, 12:51 PM

Is there a 250k slider which is suitably sized to go in place of the 5-way switch on a strat? I was thinking of having 3 volume controls, and a slider tone control.

Thanks

**line6man** · #2 09-25-2011, 12:53 PM

Why would you want three volumes and no pickup selector? That won't be as practical as you think it will be.

**SoComSurfing** · #3 09-25-2011, 01:04 PM

I take it by "slider" you mean a switch like those found on the lower bout of the Jaguar or Bass VI? Or are you looking for something with a smooth gradient? I think the closest you'll find to that is the sideways rollers like on the upper bout of the Jaguar.

Electricblue · #4 09-25-2011, 01:22 PM

Line6man, why not? And I mean slider, like a potentiometer, but flat and will fit in the pickup selector hole

synaesthesia · #5 09-25-2011, 01:25 PM

They exist, short throw graphic EQ sliding pots will work, viz. if you can find one.

SGD Lutherie · #6 09-25-2011, 02:03 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Line6man, why not? And I mean slider, like a potentiometer, but flat and will fit in the pickup selector hole

What would that do, master volume?

Electricblue · #7 09-25-2011, 02:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

What would that do, master volume?

Master tone. A volume for each pickup, and a master tone. More than one tone is pointless.

**line6man** · #8 09-25-2011, 04:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Line6man, why not? And I mean slider, like a potentiometer, but flat and will fit in the pickup selector hole

Like I said on Facebook, it's not functional.

It's more important on guitar than bass to quickly change the pickup selection, and with three volumes and no switch, you would end up spending a lot of time twiddling knobs.

Practically, there may not be a useful range of tones from controlling the pickup volumes individually. Aside from potential impedance mismatch issues and insertion loss issues, you might end up with variations subtle enough that it's really not worth your while.

Plus there is the thing with the wiper terminals wired as inputs, placing a variable impedance load on the pickups. This is avoided on most guitars since multiple volumes and blend pots are uncommon.

If you do want to do this, however, it would probably be easier to just get a new pickguard with four or two pot holes and no blade switch route.

SGD Lutherie · #9 09-25-2011, 08:35 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Master tone. A volume for each pickup, and a master tone. More than one tone is pointless.

What I would do is put three mini toggle switches into the slot where the knife switch was, and then you can switch al three pickups on and off. Mixing doesn't work all that well, and four volume controls will make your tone darker.

If you want to get fancy, you can use DPDT center off switches, and have them also do phase reversal, or series/parallel with the other pickups.

If you are worried about having a slot in the pickguard, order a new one from WD Music with no slot, and the control holes exactly where you want them.

**line6man** · #10 09-25-2011, 09:15 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

What I would do is put three mini toggle switches into the slot where the knife switch was, and then you can switch al three pickups on and off. Mixing doesn't work all that well, and four volume controls will make your tone darker.

If you want to get fancy, you can use DPDT center off switches, and have them also do phase reversal, or series/parallel with the other pickups.

If you are worried about having a slot in the pickguard, order a new one from WD Music with no slot, and the control holes exactly where you want them.

A guy on the Warmoth forum tried three on/off switches on one of his Strats, and ended up hating it. It's too complicated to switch pickups quickly when you have to flip up to three switches.

SGD Lutherie · #11 09-25-2011, 10:40 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by line6man

A guy on the Warmoth forum tried three on/off switches on one of his Strats, and ended up hating it. It's too complicated to switch pickups quickly when you have to flip up to three switches.

That's a bit presumptuous. Just because some guy doesn't like it doesn't mean someone else wouldn't love it. Some guitarists are simple when it comes to controls.

It never slowed down Brain May!

And he had six switches to contend with.

And it would be easier than three volume knobs.

If you really need to be able to switch to the bridge pickup in a hurry, which is what most people tend to want, you can have an on-on-on switch to choose between the bridge and neck, and then another on-on-on switch to add in the middle, or solo it. That's a lot faster.

You can also have a "lead switch" that bypasses all the other switches and goes right to the bridge. Assuming you want to play lead on the bridge pickup. You can use that to kind of do two presets. I did this on a Fender Mustang for someone back in the 70s, where he had a 5 position rotary for pickup selection, and series/parallel and phase reversals, and then a toggle switch to switch between the rotary and the bridge pickup.

But it's easy enough to switch several switches at one with your thumb and index finger. I used to do it all the time. You just have to learn to work the switches. Like anything else, it talks practice. Guitars can be as simple or complicated as you can handle. Some people want one pickup and a volume knob, and others want more.

Strats sound very cool with all three pickups on.

Muzoid · #12 09-25-2011, 10:50 PM

^^ +1

I love my custom Strat copy perfectly - 1 volume, 1 tone, 3 pup switches and a kill switch.

Others might hate it, but it's just the way I likes it!

Electricblue · #13 09-26-2011, 10:03 AM

Hmm, I've taken it all into consideration, I'm just itching to get some variables in my strat's tone. I really want a Neck/Bridge combination.

I was thinking a 3 way switch between neck/neck+middle/middle and then a pot to add some bridge pickup to the mix separately? With a master tone and master volume.

That way, I could have any combination of the 3 pickups. I havn't tried independent pickup volume blending on a strat. Is it worth it? If not, I could fit a push/pull to add the bridge to the final mix.

SGD Lutherie · #14 09-26-2011, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

Hmm, I've taken it all into consideration, I'm just itching to get some variables in my strat's tone. I really want a Neck/Bridge combination.

I was thinking a 3 way switch between neck/neck+middle/middle and then a pot to add some bridge pickup to the mix separately? With a master tone and master volume.

That way, I could have any combination of the 3 pickups. I havn't tried independent pickup volume blending on a strat. Is it worth it? If not, I could fit a push/pull to add the bridge to the final mix.

If you want the neck/bridge combo, and aren't interested in using the middle pickup by itself, get one of these:

STEWMAC.COM : Megaswitch E-Model

When used with three single coils, it gives you the usual 5-way positions, except that position 3 is the neck and bridge, instead of the middle pickup. This is what I use in my 3 pickup Tele style guitar I built. If you also want to get just the middle pickup, you can rig up one of the pots to have a push/pull to select the middle, or a mini toggle to select just the middle, or all three.

Electricblue · #15 09-26-2011, 10:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

If you want the neck/bridge combo, and aren't interested in using the middle pickup by itself, get one of these:

STEWMAC.COM : Megaswitch E-Model

When used with three single coils, it gives you the usual 5-way positions, except that position 3 is the neck and bridge, instead of the middle pickup. This is what I use in my 3 pickup Tele style guitar I built. If you also want to get just the middle pickup, you can rig up one of the pots to have a push/pull to select the middle, or a mini toggle to select just the middle, or all three.

That would result in nearly the same setup as I said, apart from toggling the middle pickup rather than the bridge pickup?

SGD Lutherie · #16 09-26-2011, 10:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

That would result in nearly the same setup as I said, apart from toggling the middle pickup rather than the bridge pickup?

The point was there it is, you just install it, and now you have the neck and bridge pickup. No need to add anything else. The middle pickup by itself is fairly useless IMO. And it's a five way switch, so it gets the 2 and 4 positions.

Electricblue · #17 09-26-2011, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by SGD Lutherie

The point was there it is, you just install it, and now you have the neck and bridge pickup. No need to add anything else. The middle pickup by itself is fairly useless IMO. And it's a five way switch, so it gets the 2 and 4 positions.

That is tempting, do they ship to UK? Has anyone tried all 3 pickups at once? Liked it?

SGD Lutherie · #18 09-26-2011, 02:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Electricblue

That is tempting, do they ship to UK? Has anyone tried all 3 pickups at once? Liked it?

Those switches are made by Schaller, so I'm sure someone over there carries them.

Here's one:

The Original Megaswitch (E model) NEW! | eBay UK

Darkstrike · #19 09-26-2011, 02:54 PM

I'd wire it up with a four way switch, for the neck and bridge pickup, giving the options of neck, neck/bridge parallel, neck/bridge series, bridge, have the first knob be a volume for whatever the switch has selected, second knob a volume for the mid pickup, and the third a master tone.

Pretty much a telecaster setup, with the extra switch setting, and a mid pickup you can mix in, out or solo as desired.