Ideal wiring for hss strat

[philthyphil]

Hello, I'm building a warmoth superstrat, hss configuration. I really want classic vintage strat tones from the neck and middle pickups, but a humbucker for the bridge. I know single coils want 250k pots and humbuckers 500k, how can I make this happen with 3 knobs without sacrificing tonal characteristics? I am willing to give up tone control for the hubucker, I never use it anyway. Is there a way to run 250k for the singles and 500k for the bridge pickup? I am not very well versed in wiring, so not sure what the best option is. Thanks

 

[Strat Avenger]

If you are using 2 true single coils with a humbucker, wire it the standard way, but use a 500k volume control. Wire one 250k Tone control to the neck pickup, and make the other Tone control a 250k NO-LOAD pot. Wire that to the bridge pickup. Don't wire either Tone control to the middle pickup (Eric Johnson has his wired like that).

 

[Hodgo]

There are many ways to skin this cat, from simple (use a 300k pot to split the difference) to convoluted (add a 470k resistor in parallel while the bridge is selected, possibly on a super switch to avoid impacting position 2).

What kind of pickups? 5 way switching? Volume/tone/tone? What do you want in position 2 (SC+HB, SC+Split HB, something else?)

 

[philthyphil]

There are many ways to skin this cat, from simple (use a 300k pot to split the difference) to convoluted (add a 470k resistor in parallel while the bridge is selected, possibly on a super switch to avoid impacting position 2).

What kind of pickups? 5 way switching? Volume/tone/tone? What do you want in position 2 (SC+HB, SC+Split HB, something else?)

I'm thinking fralin vintage hot for neck and mid, and a sd 59 in the bridge. 5 way switching, I'm not concerned with position 2 as it's not a position I have ever liked to use, I want quacky strat tones from 4 and 5, middle pickup only in 3 and bridge only in 1. My main concern is getting a good bridge humbucker tone whilst maintaining classic strat sounds from mid and neck. I'm trying to make this an extremely versatile guitar, for me that means playing srv and hendrix like tones with the single coils, and classic rock/old school metal with the bridge pickup.

 

[philthyphil]

If you are using 2 true single coils with a humbucker, wire it the standard way, but use a 500k volume control. Wire one 250k Tone control to the neck pickup, and make the other Tone control a 250k NO-LOAD pot. Wire that to the bridge pickup. Don't wire either Tone control to the middle pickup (Eric Johnson has his wired like that).

Thank you, that sounds like a good way to go

 

[Strat Avenger]

Thank you, that sounds like a good way to go

It keeps things simple and produces the sounds you want. I have my 1990 Fender Strat wired that way, but using 2 no-load tone pots because it has noiseless single coils in neck & middle positions.

 

[Hodgo]

I'm not concerned with position 2 as it's not a position I have ever liked to use, I want quacky strat tones from 4 and 5, middle pickup only in 3 and bridge only in 1.

I can draw up a schematic for a 4 way switch if you like. Any time I can avoid unnecessary switching positions I’m a happy camper, most of my guitars use 3 ways. The other thing I might do in your scenario is use pos 2 as a bridge split+neck for some Tele sounds.

If you decide not to use the EJ wiring and want something custom drawn up just let me know.

 

[Ribspare]

I generally look at the Fralin and Seymour Duncan wiring diagrams for reference. You may possibly discover that the wirings might be a little different from each other but you can get the same results since potentiometer lugs don’t always have to require the exact wiring configurations

 

[philthyphil]

I can draw up a schematic for a 4 way switch if you like. Any time I can avoid unnecessary switching positions I’m a happy camper, most of my guitars use 3 ways. The other thing I might do in your scenario is use pos 2 as a bridge split+neck for some Tele sounds.

If you decide not to use the EJ wiring and want something custom drawn up just let me know.

I like the idea, of having a split bridge and middle in position 2. A super switch to avoid impacting position 2 would be great I think that setup would give me the most versatility. I have done some more looking into pickups and now I'm leaning toward dimarzio paf pro bridge, and true velvets mid and neck. My guitar body only has one vol 1 tone. I still have a ways to go, I only have the body, but am about to order the neck. If you'd be willing to draw something up it would be greatly appreciated. Thank you.

 

[Strat Avenger]

I had a PAF Pro in the bridge position and was not impressed. It makes a good neck position pickup though.
I don't know why guys split a humbucker in the bridge position on a 3-pickup guitar. You can get plenty of "quack" in the #2 position with a full humbucker and a middle position single coil.
Do what you want, but I like simple. I don't need 15 switching configurations on an electric guitar. Five is one more than I would ever use.