Pickup route

[moobox]

Hello everyone
Is there a problemn with getting the swimming pool rout? I/ve always been shopping the S/S/S rout but just wondering what if I want to change the config?
Cheers - Ed

 

[Updown]

Is there a problemn with getting the swimming pool rout? I/ve always been shopping the S/S/S rout but just wondering what if I want to change the config?

Oh you must mean the Olympic Size Swimming Pool.  :doh:

I personally get the HSH rout when ordering a Top routed, which gives me enough options..
But if you intend on going 3 x Humbuckers or some angled Hum pickups, I suggest the pool is for you.
Could always fit other bits for GK-3 or Ghost setups in there too.

Anyway you could always hide your car keys or stash in there.  :icon_biggrin:  :icon_jokercolor:

 

[Johnfv]

I also prefer HSH (flexible but leaves the body wood more intact) but I do have a Fender with the universal rout that is just fine.

BTW, the size of the neck pup rout is important with a 22 fret neck. If you want to be able to get the pickguard on and off without removing or loosening the neck you want the rout to be larger than your neck pup. For that reason I have learned to avoid a single coil rout for the neck pup.

 

[moobox]

Thanks guys. I learned good stuff. I was never aware of the pickguard issue with the single routs. And with my stash in there I dont want to be taking the neck off all the time hey?
Cheers - Ed

 

[pabloman]

I also prefer HSH (flexible but leaves the body wood more intact) but I do have a Fender with the universal rout that is just fine.

BTW, the size of the neck pup rout is important with a 22 fret neck. If you want to be able to get the pickguard on and off without removing or loosening the neck you want the rout to be larger than your neck pup. For that reason I have learned to avoid a single coil rout for the neck pup.

That's a pretty good tip. I use an hss setup so I get the hot tub route.

 

[Strat Avenger]

So I read in other threads that single-coils won't fit in a HB rout. Do they, or don't they?

As for the "swimming pool" rout, I don't see what the big deal is; It's not like that tiny bit of extra wood removed from center is gonna affect the tone.

 

[Cagey]

So I read in other threads that single-coils won't fit in a HB rout. Do they, or don't they?

No. Humbucker routes are narrower.

As for the "swimming pool" rout, I don't see what the big deal is; It's not like that tiny bit of extra wood removed from center is gonna affect the tone.

Right. In fact, the G&L guys facetiously call it a "Tone Chamber" as that's their standard routing because it makes perfect sense and they don't want to hear any argument about it. So, they put a false "feature" name on it to make it sound desirable. Sort of a Tom Sawyer trick.

I'm surprised Warmoth doesn't charge more for it since it eats up more machine time. I suspect in the long run, they'd save a lot of time if they routed everything that way, but they do advertise authentic replacement bodies so perhaps doing it the old-fashioned way makes more sense for them.

 

[Johnfv]

So I read in other threads that single-coils won't fit in a HB rout. Do they, or don't they?

No. Humbucker routes are narrower ...

Is the double negative playing tricks on me here?  :icon_scratch:  I have standard single coil pickups mounted in humbucker routs on more than one of my top rout Strats, they fit no problem.

This one for example:

 

[Cagey]

Is that a Warmoth body?

I have 4 open bodies here right now. Two are rear-route VIPs, and two are top-route Strats. The VIPs are routed for humbuckers, and you couldn't put single coils in the VIPs even if you wanted to because there's no pickguard to hide the hole(s), but if you could, the holes wouldn't be wide enough. On the Strats, one was routed H-S-S and the H hole is ~2 7/8" wide vs. the S holes which are ~3 1/2" wide. The other was routed S-S-S, and I re-routed it to take a humbucker, which left some space. Out of curiosity, I went and grabbed a single coil pickup and tried to fit it into a humbucker route, and it it wouldn't go. I've got another Strat that's already assembled where it was routed H-S-H and I had to route the neck H hole to fit the S.

So, that's what I'm basing my answer on.

Warmoth may be routing their humbucker cavities differently now from when these were cut, and judging by the picture you show, that seems to be the case. Unless that's not a Warmoth body, which is why I asked. It would be possible to route the way yours is and use single coils without compromising the ability to use humbuckers, so that's the way they should do it. But, it would rely on a pickguard to hide your decision.

 

[Mor Paul]

John, your guitar shown was routed for both H/H and SSS

 

[Johnfv]

Interesting... The one I'm showing here is definitely a Warmoth and while it is true it was originally SSS look at the width of the routs - the humbucking ones are plenty wide for a single (and they look like any other humbucking rout to me. I have a Mighty Mite that is "stock" HSH also (it currently has a single coil in the neck). Perhaps a direct question to Warmoth could put this to rest?

 

[Johnfv]

Here is my most recent build, the humbucking rout appears plenty wide for a single coil to me, even with the top rout:

 

[Cagey]

If it was originally routed S-S-S and they opened up the holes for 'buckers, that would explain why they're so wide. Normally, they're not. But, as I mentioned, you can have wider humbucker cavities if you have a pickguard you're going to mount them to. That's why the "universal" or "swimming pool" route works. Make the whole hole as wide as a single coil with no height restriction, and anything will fit in any orientation. It's just a matter of having the right pickguard made.

 

[Mor Paul]

Interesting... The one I'm showing here is definitely a Warmoth and while it is true it was originally SSS look at the width of the routs - the humbucking ones are plenty wide for a single (and they look like any other humbucking rout to me. I have a Mighty Mite that is "stock" HSH also (it currently has a single coil in the neck). Perhaps a direct question to Warmoth could put this to rest?

If you look at the top of the neck humbucker, you can see where the single coil rout still is. You may be able to put an angled bridge pup in the humbucker rout.

 

[Cagey]

Here is my most recent build, the humbucking rout appears plenty wide for a single coil to me, even with the top rout:

No, it's clearly much narrower without even measuring. little over half an inch, judging by the bodies I have here. Grab a single coil and try fitting it into that hole on the angle that position is supposed to be in. It won't go. You could jam it in perpendicular to the strings if you took advantage of the mounting ear hole space, but then you'd need a very custom pickguard.

 

[Johnfv]

I see your point about the angled bridge, the Firebust Strat I showed is the only HSH rout guitar I have with an angle single in the bridge. So maybe that's the trick, find a SSS guitar in the showcase and get it routed to HSH? It looks to me like a single would fit in a humbucker route straight (like a neck pup).  My "Raven" (the black dye rear rout) is at my guitar tech getting milled/dressed so I can't try it now but as you said a rear rout is not really a practical example. I sent an email to Warmoth mentioning this thread so hopefully we can get some input from them also. Here is my Mighty Mite HSH, it is possible they rout theirs a different size:

 

[Updown]

This was for Strat Top Routed Bodies … wasn't it.
:doh: Oppps, what I meant to say was ….
When I get a Top Routed Strat body FROM the Showcase, which MOST of those are already cut as SSS.
With a pickguard.
Then when I get it routed for HSH.
I still have room for the original Single coils (because that was the 1st routing already done)
So then I have plenty of options.

Yep the routs look just like Johnfv Warmoth (Orange Flame) guitar.  :icon_thumright:

But …. If you get one custom made this would NOT work !!

Other note...
I have a Tele here that was TXT showcase Top routed and is now routed as HXH.
So there's nothing stopping me using Tele pickups or the Hum's.  :toothy10:

 

[Cagey]

So maybe that's the trick, find a SSS guitar in the showcase and get it routed to HSH?

That would be one way to get a semi-universal pickup cavity scheme in place. The other would be to have the "universal" route done, which would let you do anything you wanted. Also, as has been mentioned, it makes it easier to remove the pickguard to make various changes without having to remove the neck. I think the next time I put together another Strat, that's what I'll be doing.

 

[Johnfv]

Hey, I learned something and didn't even have to bust out my Dremel router!   I thought a humbucker rout was essentially "universal" for that position but did not realize I was getting the added benefit of a humbucker rout done on top of an existing single rout. Now that I go back and look closely it maked more sense, the remnants of the original finish shows the outline of the single routs:

If I get any more details from my email to Warmoth I will add here.

 

[Cagey]

While you're talking to them, see if they can find it in their hearts to get rid of that little peninsula that sticks down below the middle pickup between the pickup cavities and the control cavity. It never needs to be there, and it's almost always in the way.