Any downside to getting the universal route in a Strat?

[stratamania]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

Another argument is that it could lead to the economy heating up as folks rush to buy more " booteek" pickups to swap out at whim and even have HSSH configurations meaning up to four could be swapped out at once exacerbating the problem. Interest rates might increase to cool the growth and slow copper and tin production.

On the other hand demand for bodies and wood production could fall balancing the potential economic crisis that could have ensued.

Other than that if I needed one to fit the pickup selection I'd have one, if I don't I would just get normal routs.

 

[sixstringsamurai]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

Another argument is that it could lead to the economy heating up as folks rush to buy more " booteek" pickups to swap out at whim and even have HSSH configurations meaning up to four could be swapped out at once exacerbating the problem. Interest rates might increase to cool the growth and slow copper and tin production.

On the other hand demand for bodies and wood production could fall balancing the potential economic crisis that could have ensued.

Other than that if I needed one to fit the pickup selection I'd have one, if I don't I would just get normal routs.

I just pull the trem springs, leaves plenty of slack without having to wait for a string change...
That and using a higher end string (like elixirs) on a test bed like that, they take the tension changes well, and stay bright and snappy.

 

[stratamania]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

Another argument is that it could lead to the economy heating up as folks rush to buy more " booteek" pickups to swap out at whim and even have HSSH configurations meaning up to four could be swapped out at once exacerbating the problem. Interest rates might increase to cool the growth and slow copper and tin production.

On the other hand demand for bodies and wood production could fall balancing the potential economic crisis that could have ensued.

Other than that if I needed one to fit the pickup selection I'd have one, if I don't I would just get normal routs.

I just pull the trem springs, leaves plenty of slack without having to wait for a string change...
That and using a higher end string (like elixirs) on a test bed like that, they take the tension changes well, and stay bright and snappy.

Sorted...  ccasion14:

 

[Cederick]

One downside I might think of is that Floyd Rose bushings ends up VERY close to the swimming rout. I've seen pictures in the Showcase where there's almost just a millimeter or two of wood!  That might have been a 7/8 strat body tho, but I cant remember exactly.

 

[DocNrock]

A few years ago I almost bought a swimming pool route on a Strat body.  I ordered it as such, and I got a call from a Warmoth sales guy asking me if I was sure I wanted to do that, because it was such a nice body (it obviously was a top route).  I had planed on an HXH configuration, so I just told him to do that.  No regrets, as it is still and HXH, but I think thw swimming pool route would have been fine.

0.02

 

[rgand]

I can't imagine any drawback to a swimming pool route. My next Warmoth Strat body will have one. It allows me to change my mind down the line when I get in the mood for something else.

I have a Tele body I modified years ago for a humbucker. The humbucker 'route' I did then could use a little cleaning up, not because it affects things but because I know it's there. I may just do a 2/3 swimming pool route for it when I get to it to have the option of a middle pickup later on.

 

[swarfrat]

A major plus of the swimming pool route -is that it doesn't tempt owners to use chisels, dremeles, pocketknives and other hackish methods to drop in whatever pickups suit their fancy.

 

[rgand]

A major plus of the swimming pool route -is that it doesn't tempt owners to use chisels, dremeles, pocketknives and other hackish methods to drop in whatever pickups suit their fancy.

Hey... have you been looking under my pickguard? :icon_biggrin:

Does anyone know of any supplier that sells a swimming pool route template?

 

[Stonker]

Will P90s fit in a universal route?

 

[TonyFlyingSquirrel]

Will P90s fit in a universal route?

There's plenty enough clearance, but mounting them could be a challenge, might want to put the dog ears on them.

 

[Stonker]

Warmoth do make a scratchplate.  I think you just screw them to the body and they protrude through the hole.  I'm not sure if it will work with a tremolo though so maybe only a hardtail.

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

You know, you're joking (I think) about the threaded inserts, but I'm wondering if that could be done.

 

[swarfrat]

I think a few folks have done it. The thing with inserts is they must be absolutely perpindicular to the face of the pickguard/body or there'll be problems.  Even the most indecisive among us probably don't take the pickguard off that often though..

 

[Re-Pete]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

You know, you're joking (I think) about the threaded inserts, but I'm wondering if that could be done.

I had troubles with my 2nd Warmoth build and kept swapping out pickups and changing control placements etc on the pickguard (it was a Jazzmaster). It also had the overhanging fretboard which made it even harder to get the pickguard off.

I did get my guitar repairer to saw off the last fret and make it flush with the neck pocket, and at that stage I did think about threaded inserts for the pickguard screws as a few spots were showing some tearing out on the body...

If I was a pickup/ guitar electronics demonstrator then I'd do that to the demo guitar for the long term benefit, but I'm guessing it's costly and way too fiddly to get installed on a guitar you just wanna make sound right!  :confused4:

 

[rgand]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

You know, you're joking (I think) about the threaded inserts, but I'm wondering if that could be done.

I had troubles with my 2nd Warmoth build and kept swapping out pickups and changing control placements etc on the pickguard (it was a Jazzmaster). It also had the overhanging fretboard which made it even harder to get the pickguard off.

I did get my guitar repairer to saw off the last fret and make it flush with the neck pocket, and at that stage I did think about threaded inserts for the pickguard screws as a few spots were showing some tearing out on the body...

If I was a pickup/ guitar electronics demonstrator then I'd do that to the demo guitar for the long term benefit, but I'm guessing it's costly and way too fiddly to get installed on a guitar you just wanna make sound right!  :confused4:

I'm a big fan of toothpicks and glue in loose screw holes. They get covered by the pickguard so no one will see them anyway.

 

[stratamania]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

You know, you're joking (I think) about the threaded inserts, but I'm wondering if that could be done.

Most of that post was tongue in cheek, lest we take ourselves too seriously about things.

But I am sure at least one person has done this and I think if someone is going to try different combos on different guards it's not a bad idea at all.

 

[Fat Pete]

The biggest argument against the universal rout is that it can lead to a lack of decision and the potential for having threaded inserts and drop in pickguards ready to swap out at the change of a set of strings. (If only a module complete with pickguard could be slotted in from the rear past the Trem rout. )

You know, you're joking (I think) about the threaded inserts, but I'm wondering if that could be done.

Most of that post was tongue in cheek, lest we take ourselves too seriously about things.

But I am sure at least one person has done this and I think if someone is going to try different combos on different guards it's not a bad idea at all.

Yep, threaded inserts for the scratchplate has definitely been done and I'm doing it now on this build. Not a universal route, but one that allows different configurations. Seemed like a good idea at the time...

 

[Jet-Jaguar]

Yeah, I've been looking around the internet to see if others have done the threaded insert thing, and the biggest downside people face seems to be (other than the extra effort) pickguards that are really close, but not quite exactly to spec.

 

[ricrafter]

I think universal routes would be easier to line with cooper tape...................

..............pause for another  back and forth discussion on perceivable difference in sound.......................

 

[musicispeace]

I think universal routes would be easier to line with cooper tape...................

..............pause for another  back and forth discussion on perceivable difference in sound.......................

Ugh, you are right. And at the end of the day the only question that counts to an audience is does it sound like an electric guitar.