Re-wired my Strat

[fitz]

A while back, I swapped a Shawbucker 1 into the bridge of my SSS Ultra-Strat.
Changed out the pickguard for the HSS configuration and remounted all the original wiring.
The humbucker should really have a 500k volume pot, but I wanted to keep the S-1 volume pot/switch.
The S-1 gives the option of having the bridge pup always on, regardless of the 5-way switch position.

Decided to put in a proper 500K volume pot and lose that bridge always on button thingy.
Scrounged a few parts from the stash:
- Stacked B500k/250k volume pot so I could run the HB at 500 & the singles at 250k
- A500K tone pot with a .022 cap
- a nice .047 cap to go with one of the existing 250k tone pots
- a 5-way super switch so I could pull off my nonstandard pickup selector idea...

Did a little layout so I wasn't figuring this out on the fly with a hot iron.



The existing 5-way in the Ultra was a strange double switch with a normal side and half a super switch.
Not enough options for the desired switching.



Here's a pic of the new layout with the stacked volume pot.
250k tone pot for the singles, and a 500k tone pot for the HB.



Looking down on the super switch - using 3 of the 4 sections.
Bridge to positions 1, 2 & 3
Middle to positions 2, 3 & 4
Neck to positions 3, 4 & 5



I never used the middle only and usually had the position4 setting for neck/middle with the S-1 adding the bridge.
Now I got that all 3 pup option with the Shawbucker through a 500k vol/tone and the singles through a 250k vol/tone.

Doesn't look any different on the outside, but I like the multi-pup selections.
Can still do bridge or neck only, but the center position is all 3 pups.

 

[iblive]

A while back, I swapped a Shawbucker 1 into the bridge of my SSS Ultra-Strat.
Changed out the pickguard for the HSS configuration and remounted all the original wiring.
The humbucker should really have a 500k volume pot, but I wanted to keep the S-1 volume pot/switch.
The S-1 give you the option of having the bridge pup always on, regardless of the 5-way switch position.

Decided to put in a proper 500K volume pot and lose that bridge always on button thingy.
Scrounged a few parts from the stash:
- Stacked B500k/250k volume pot so I could run the HB at 500 & the singles at 250k
- A500K tone pot with a .022 cap
- a nice .047 cap to go with one of the existing 250k tone pots
- a 5-way super switch so I could pull off my nonstandard pickup selector idea...

Did a little layout so I wasn't figuring this out on the fly with a hot iron.

View attachment 108658

The existing 5-way in the Ultra was a strange double switch with a normal side and half a super switch.
Not enough options for the desired switching.

View attachment 108659

Here's a pic of the new layout with the stacked volume pot.
250k tone pot for the singles, and a 500k tone pot for the HB.

View attachment 108660

Looking down on the super switch - using 3 of the 4 sections.
Bridge to positions 1, 2 & 3
Middle to positions 2, 3 & 4
Neck to positions 3, 4 & 5

View attachment 108661

I never used the middle only and usually had the position4 setting for neck/middle with the S-1 adding the bridge.
Now I got that all 3 pup option with the Shawbucker through a 500k vol/tone and the singles through a 250k vol/tone.

Doesn't look any different on the outside, but I like the multi-pup selections.
Can still do bridge or neck only, but the center position is all 3 pups.

View attachment 108662

My Strat came with a push button switch rather than a push pull pot. Brings the bridge into the mix in positions 4 and 5. Gives me 7 distinctly different tones. And I’m one of those guys that uses just the middle pup a lot. Just sound good to me.

 

[iblive]

A while back, I swapped a Shawbucker 1 into the bridge of my SSS Ultra-Strat.
Changed out the pickguard for the HSS configuration and remounted all the original wiring.
The humbucker should really have a 500k volume pot, but I wanted to keep the S-1 volume pot/switch.
The S-1 gives the option of having the bridge pup always on, regardless of the 5-way switch position.

Decided to put in a proper 500K volume pot and lose that bridge always on button thingy.
Scrounged a few parts from the stash:
- Stacked B500k/250k volume pot so I could run the HB at 500 & the singles at 250k
- A500K tone pot with a .022 cap
- a nice .047 cap to go with one of the existing 250k tone pots
- a 5-way super switch so I could pull off my nonstandard pickup selector idea...

Did a little layout so I wasn't figuring this out on the fly with a hot iron.

View attachment 108658

The existing 5-way in the Ultra was a strange double switch with a normal side and half a super switch.
Not enough options for the desired switching.

View attachment 108659

Here's a pic of the new layout with the stacked volume pot.
250k tone pot for the singles, and a 500k tone pot for the HB.

View attachment 108660

Looking down on the super switch - using 3 of the 4 sections.
Bridge to positions 1, 2 & 3
Middle to positions 2, 3 & 4
Neck to positions 3, 4 & 5

View attachment 108661

I never used the middle only and usually had the position4 setting for neck/middle with the S-1 adding the bridge.
Now I got that all 3 pup option with the Shawbucker through a 500k vol/tone and the singles through a 250k vol/tone.

Doesn't look any different on the outside, but I like the multi-pup selections.
Can still do bridge or neck only, but the center position is all 3 pups.

View attachment 108662

Assuming you’ve played/tested it. What do you think?

 

[fitz]

Assuming you’ve played/tested it. What do you think?

Welp, testing has been limited to 5 strings - the high E popped when I was winding back up the old strings for a test.
New strings is a tomorrow project.
But all switch positions and potentiometers are doing what they are supposed to do.
So at least the functional test is a success.

First impressions is: the Shawbucker grew some balls with the 500k vol pot.
Overall, the tone is meatier in all of the switch positions, perhaps a little too much in the singles, but no high E might be skewing the tone.
I might redo the pots to just a 1 volume, 1 tone - all 500k.
That volume right next to the bridge pup sometimes gets in my way.
I did the 1V/1T on my HH Squire with a metal button in the old volume hole



I'm definitely digging the switch selections, and the full super switch is staying.

 

[fitz]

I discovered an issue with my wiring...
Both tone knobs were linked to all the switch positions through the shared volume output to the jack.
Probably explains the dark tone on the singles.

So I yanked the stacked volume and 250k tone - put in separate volumes and a shared tone.



New set of strings and a test run through the Marshall made for Strats.



I don't have 2 volume knobs, so I tried out some chrome Tele-ish dome knobs.



Speed knobs?



Cut some buttons from an old pickguard with a plug cutter bit.



IDK, might have to just buy 2 sets of Strat knobs to get 2 volumes...

 

[iblive]

Knobs on mine were replaced with knobs with no Tone/Vol labels. Also, you can see where they put the push button.

 

[fitz]

Knobs on mine were replaced with knobs with no Tone/Vol labels. Also, you can see where they put the push button.

View attachment 108681

Those look nice on that color body.
I was looking at some similar abalone/cream knobs on Ambazon.



But I also found some cream Strat knobs that are so cheap, 2 sets are still cheap.

 

[Session 5]

I discovered an issue with my wiring...
Both tone knobs were linked to all the switch positions through the shared volume output to the jack.
Probably explains the dark tone on the singles.

So I yanked the stacked volume and 250k tone - put in separate volumes and a shared tone.

View attachment 108676

New set of strings and a test run through the Marshall made for Strats.

View attachment 108677

I don't have 2 volume knobs, so I tried out some chrome Tele-ish dome knobs.

View attachment 108678

Speed knobs?

View attachment 108679

Cut some buttons from an old pickguard with a plug cutter bit.

View attachment 108680

IDK, might have to just buy 2 sets of Strat knobs to get 2 volumes...

I like the chrome/ dome knobs myself.

 

[ibmorjamn]

Welp, testing has been limited to 5 strings - the high E popped when I was winding back up the old strings for a test.
New strings is a tomorrow project.
But all switch positions and potentiometers are doing what they are supposed to do.
So at least the functional test is a success.

First impressions is: the Shawbucker grew some balls with the 500k vol pot.
Overall, the tone is meatier in all of the switch positions, perhaps a little too much in the singles, but no high E might be skewing the tone.
I might redo the pots to just a 1 volume, 1 tone - all 500k.
That volume right next to the bridge pup sometimes gets in my way.
I did the 1V/1T on my HH Squire with a metal button in the old volume hole

View attachment 108664

I'm definitely digging the switch selections, and the full super switch is staying.

“That volume right next to the bridge pup sometimes gets in my way.”

Same for me, the volume that close is a nuisance.

 

[fitz]

Parts ordered for the next round of mods.
Going HH, 1V/1T, 3-way & series/parallel pup switches.

 

[fitz]

The HH pickguard is the long lead item - I hate waiting...

It should look similar to this loaded PG with a coil split (north coil kill switch) for that single coil thing.
I'll have 2 mini switches between the vol & tone knobs that change the humbuckers from normal series coils to parallel coils.



Worked out a wiring diagram. (I think...)

 

[fitz]

Welp, the HH pickguard showed up today.
Stripped out the HSS, mounted all the new stuff in the HH, and put all the original stuff back in the SSS.



Going to rewire the original back to stock configuration and probably put it up for sale.



New HH layout with the Shawbucker1 in the neck, and Shawbucker2 in the bridge.
1V/1T, series/parallel switching for each pup, and a 3-way blade.
Just had to layout and drill two 1/4" holes for the mini toggles.



Empty Ultra Strat factory routed for HSH, so nothing needs done here.



Test fit with the new set-up.
All the holes line up just fine, so props to Musiclily for a decent drop-in $15 pickguard.



Time to heat up the iron...

 

[fitz]

Got it all back together.
Switching options are working as intended.
I think I like the neck in series with the bridge in parallel.



Stumped by knob options again...
Kinda like the black with the zebras.
These are actually amp knobs, but I'm trying for the Tele knob look with what I got in the stash.



Here's some black Strat knobs & switch tip.

 

[Jethro Rocker]

I think I like the strat knobs....
What a cool axe you have there with all the switching.

 

[Session 5]

Sweet axe! Everything on that guitar, I like.

 

[fitz]

I think I like the strat knobs....
What a cool axe you have there with all the switching.

Thanks!

Yeah, I'm leaning towards the black Strat knobs myself.

Here's a pic of the wiring ridiculousness with the series / parallel mini switches.