StRanger7032 Posted October 29, 2016 Share Posted October 29, 2016 Now that I have two Strat type guitars, I'm going to convert one to an HSS configuration. It looks like I need to replace one of the 250k pots with a 500k, but I can't figure out which one, and if I then need to change capacitors too. The wiring diagrams I can find online don't show the pot values. The only one that does shows some weird resistors installed by the switch, but doesn't identify them. Anyone have any ideas? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
surfpup Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yeah, I have found it a bit problematic... The humbucker really needs a 500k pot and the single coils 250k. Best bet might be 500k for volume and no tone control on the humbucker? Or you could do a 500k tone pot on the humbucker and a 250k shared between the other two. The #2 position on a 5 way switch is the problem in my experience. The humbucker and the single coil don't seem to play well together. A 3 way switch could solve the problem perhaps... as long as you don't need/want that position 2 or 4 sound. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Try this site https://sites.google.com/site/phostenixwiringdiagrams/hss-guitars They have a bunch of different types.. Including all different kinds of other pickup configurations for strats and teles Hows this one Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Three stacked singles or single sized humbuckers. One Three Way to rule them all. Done. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Three stacked singles or single sized humbuckers. One Three Way to rule them all. Done. rct Sounds like something from Lord of the Rings ;) My preciouusssss Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Yeah, I have found it a bit problematic... The humbucker really needs a 500k pot and the single coils 250k. Best bet might be 500k for volume and no tone control on the humbucker? Or you could do a 500k tone pot on the humbucker and a 250k shared between the other two. The #2 position on a 5 way switch is the problem in my experience. The humbucker and the single coil don't seem to play well together. A 3 way switch could solve the problem perhaps... as long as you don't need/want that position 2 or 4 sound. Ok. Thanks. Using the 500k as the tone for the humbucker sounds like what I need to do. I want to stick with the 5 way switch and have the humbucker split on the 2 position. I wonder if that would help the issues with the HB and middle working together? I want it to do something different than my other guitars, so I don't want to go with all humbuckers and a 3 way. This wiring is going to take some time to figure out! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 Ok. Thanks. Using the 500k as the tone for the humbucker sounds like what I need to do. I want to stick with the 5 way switch and have the humbucker split on the 2 position. I wonder if that would help the issues with the HB and middle working together? I want it to do something different than my other guitars, so I don't want to go with all humbuckers and a 3 way. This wiring is going to take some time to figure out! How about this one.. Just replace the 250 volume with a 500 id say... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 How about this one.. Just replace the 250 volume with a 500 id say... I'd seen this one before and it confuses me a bit. It shows a Seymour Duncan single coil sized humbucker, which is what I want to use, but it shows all 250K pots. If I change the volume to 500K, wouldn't that have an effect on the single coils too since it controls all 3? Is it possible that the Seymour Duncan Strat humbucker is designed for 250K pots? Their website isn't much help on this topic. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I'd seen this one before and it confuses me a bit. It shows a Seymour Duncan single coil sized humbucker, which is what I want to use, but it shows all 250K pots. If I change the volume to 500K, wouldn't that have an effect on the single coils too since it controls all 3? Is it possible that the Seymour Duncan Strat humbucker is designed for 250K pots? Their website isn't much help on this topic. Well it depends on the specific pickup... If its a loud one then yes a 500k pot will allow it to open up more when in the bridge position.. If its a mellow pickup then 250k may be ok.... . This is another one of those many confusing talked about subjects... Another thing to think about maybe is go for a 300k pot instead? You can read about this for hours and still not get a definitive answer.. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted October 30, 2016 Author Share Posted October 30, 2016 Well it depends on the specific pickup... If its a loud one then yes a 500k pot will allow it to open up more when in the bridge position.. If its a mellow pickup then 250k may be ok.... . This is another one of those many confusing talked about subjects... Another thing to think about maybe is go for a 300k pot instead? You can read about this for hours and still not get a definitive answer.. I'll be using a fairly mellow PAF voiced Strat-sized humbucker (S.D. Lil'59), since the single coils are vintage output. I don't want the humbucker to be overwhelming in comparison to the single coils. I think I'll just try it with a 250K and .022 cap and see what it sounds like. I have a spare 500K pot I can throw in if needed, and I can get a .047 cap for cheap and try that too. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rabs Posted October 30, 2016 Share Posted October 30, 2016 I'll be using a fairly mellow PAF voiced Strat-sized humbucker (S.D. Lil'59), since the single coils are vintage output. I don't want the humbucker to be overwhelming in comparison to the single coils. I think I'll just try it with a 250K and .022 cap and see what it sounds like. I have a spare 500K pot I can throw in if needed, and I can get a .047 cap for cheap and try that too. Well from what I have read.. That's what those diagrams with the resistors are for.. They balance out the 500k pot... But I don't know too much about that... (im sure there are guys on here who do though) But yes, so they say having the 500k pot can make the single coils too bright. But having it all 250k can make the hummer a bit dull... Its one of those things you really just have to try out and try and find the right balance for the individual pickups and wiring scheme involved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rct Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 I'll be using a fairly mellow PAF voiced Strat-sized humbucker (S.D. Lil'59), since the single coils are vintage output. I don't want the humbucker to be overwhelming in comparison to the single coils. It will be. rct Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Californiaman Posted October 31, 2016 Share Posted October 31, 2016 Have you thought about using the Fender S-1 switching system? I have the schematic if you want me to post it. The others from Seymour Duncan are good too. Here's what the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster can do. American Deluxe Stratocaster On the American Deluxe Stratocaster (and its left-handed, HSS, ash-body and V-neck versions), the S-1 switch functions quite differently than it does on Telecaster models, adding five more pickup combinations to the five already offered by standard Stratocaster wiring. With 10 total pickup wiring options then, S-1-equipped American Deluxe Stratocasters offer enormous tonal versatility. When not in use, the S-1 switch doesn’t affect standard Stratocaster wiring, which is: Position one: bridge pickup only Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in parallel Position three: middle pickup only Position four: middle and neck pickups wired in parallel Position five: neck pickup only The S-1 switch offers five additional pickup wiring options when engaged: Position one: all three pickups wired in series Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in series Position three: middle and neck pickups wired in series Position four: bridge and neck pickups wired out of phase, with a special tone capacitor Position five: bridge and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, in parallel with neck pickup Just something else to think about. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
StRanger7032 Posted October 31, 2016 Author Share Posted October 31, 2016 Have you thought about using the Fender S-1 switching system? I have the schematic if you want me to post it. The others from Seymour Duncan are good too. Here's what the Fender American Deluxe Stratocaster can do. American Deluxe Stratocaster On the American Deluxe Stratocaster (and its left-handed, HSS, ash-body and V-neck versions), the S-1 switch functions quite differently than it does on Telecaster models, adding five more pickup combinations to the five already offered by standard Stratocaster wiring. With 10 total pickup wiring options then, S-1-equipped American Deluxe Stratocasters offer enormous tonal versatility. When not in use, the S-1 switch doesn’t affect standard Stratocaster wiring, which is: Position one: bridge pickup only Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in parallel Position three: middle pickup only Position four: middle and neck pickups wired in parallel Position five: neck pickup only The S-1 switch offers five additional pickup wiring options when engaged: Position one: all three pickups wired in series Position two: bridge and middle pickups wired in series Position three: middle and neck pickups wired in series Position four: bridge and neck pickups wired out of phase, with a special tone capacitor Position five: bridge and middle pickups wired in series and out of phase, in parallel with neck pickup Just something else to think about. Funny you mention that. I was just thinking about the fact that I sold an S-1 setup from my old American Deluxe last year. Then I thought about why I sold it. My main complaint about it was that it made lots of sounds but it couldn't make a single good Strat sound. Thanks for the idea, though. I'm still trying to figure out what to do with it. I'm dropping the guitar off for a full re-fret tomorrow, which will officially put me way into the red in terms of total investment into the guitar vs. resale value. I'm going to get a custom pickguard made and change the pickup covers and knobs, too. I'm hoping I can figure out what to do with the pickups while its in the shop for the re-fret. I'm leaning toward a Cool Rails in the bridge now, as the Lil' 59 is probably too hot to balance with the single coils. Here it is stock. Its actually a very rare configuration, probably custom ordered from G&L for the original owner or dealer. Hardtail with an early Strat style "Hard V" neck. Doesn't make it worth more, unfortunately, but it makes me want to hang onto it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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