software

Howdy fellas,

In order to have more versatility I decided to mod my warmoth walnut hardtail fat strat. It used to have BB1 and 2's and they were great. But I needed more positions for my rythms.

I ended up with the following:
The bridge is a PG (8.75K with an a5 mag). The middle is a Fralin vintage hot (underwound version) 5.80K. And the neck is a 8.10K PGb with an a3 magnet.

I have 2 volumes, 2 tones (a dual concentric pot) all 500K; a 3 way tele blade switch and 3 DPDT miniswitches.

I ended up getting 21 positions. I don't think I will be able to remember them all !!!!

Ok here it goes:

(1) the blade switch is on the bridge: (now all these positions have their own volume and tone)

(1-1) the DPDT (on/off/on) is off: I get the PG full HB mode;
(1-2) DPDT switch down: get the bridge's screw coil! Great tele kinda tone. I am real surprised did not expect that of a good tone!
(1-3) DPDT switch up: I get the PG full and middle pickup only.

(2) The blade switch is on the neck: (again all these positions below have their own volume and tone different from the one listed above)

(2-1) If the second DPDT is off and the third is down I get only the middle pickup;
(2-2) If the second DPDT is off and the third one is up I get only the slug coil of the neck HB;
(2-3) If the second DPDT is up and the third is off I get only the neck HB in full mode;
(2-4) If the second DPDT is down and the third is down I get full HB in the neck and the middle pickup;
(2-5) If the second DPDT is up and the third is off I get only the screw coil of the neck HB;
(2-6) If the second DPDT is up and the third one is down I get the screw bobin of the neck and the middle pickup. Great strat neck middle tone. Again I was surprised to find out how good it is.

(3) Now the middle position on the 3 way blade switch:

(3-1-i) I can mix (1-1) with all (2-i) i=1,...,6 with independent volume and tone controls. That is for (1-1)amp;(2-3) I get the usual LP tones with 2 volumes and 2 tones!
(3-2-i) I can mix (1-2) with all (2-i) i=1,...,6 again with independent volume and tone controls. Two great positions here: (1-2)amp;(2-1) because then I have the screw of the bridge and the middle pickup with independent volume and tone controls!!! Really useful. Since the vol pots are 500K, I end up using them in this position at 8. Great strat sound. I can do quot;I looked awayquot; tones quite easily. And when I turn the bridge volume to 10, it is as if I hit a treble boost! Am really happy with this position. Then for (1-2)amp;(2-5) or (1-2)amp;(2-2) I get real good tele middle tones again with 2 volumes and 2 tones. The first one (the one with the screw coil of the neck HB) is brighter I and like that one more. And with (1-2)amp;(2-3) I can get quite close to a fat tele middle position. I like that one quite a lot.
(3-3.i) Well here I get (2-i) i=1,...,6 but with the full bridge HB and the middle pickup. So these 6 positions are almost wasted. But there is only one new position: full bridge, middle and neck's slug! Indeed the total number of positions is not 21 but 22. Vow that I did not know. I just have figured it out. Cool!

Anyway, I am sure I am not going to use more than 5 of these positions! And it is highly probable that I will make a fool of myself on stage forgetting that switching scheme!

Best,

B

Malcom Young said it best: quot;that kind of guitar would just interfere with my drinkingquot;

Cool. And thank you for not asking me to make a diagram.

Artie

How come you went with pickup rings instead of just mounting the buckers directly in the pickguard?

Thanks guys.

I used pickup mounting rings because with them the pickups sit tight. Otherwise in that pickguard (I used a dremel to convert a s/s/s pickguard into a h/s/h one) the pickups were loose in the sense that with my palm the bridge was moving left and right.

That's why.

B


Originally Posted by ArtieTooCool. And thank you for not asking me to make a diagram.

Artie

Artie,

You might remember, that wiring of mine dates back to the times (lika a year ago? ?) when I was talking with KentS about splitting and using independent vol/tone controls. The critical part of the discussion was about the use of resistors to get the vol controls to 250K when split. In this wiring I did not do it tho.

I gotta give him the due credit for opening up my quot;horizonsquot;. He even made a full diagram calling it quot;Barlo's Boogie Machinequot;.

KentS if you are around and reading this: Thanks again my friend.

B

Wow-I've never seen anything like that before-and it's a beautiful guitar to boot! I still like how your H-S tele is wired.

I'll bet you will get used to more than just 5 on that one!


Originally Posted by dr.barloYou might remember, that wiring of mine dates back to the times (lika a year ago? ?) when I was talking with KentS about splitting and using independent vol/tone controls. The critical part of the discussion was about the use of resistors to get the vol controls to 250K when split. In this wiring I did not do it tho.

I gotta give him the due credit for opening up my quot;horizonsquot;. He even made a full diagram calling it quot;Barlo's Boogie Machinequot;.

KentS if you are around and reading this: Thanks again my friend.

B

Ah yes, I somewhat remember. Kent is still around. I was just chatting with him yesterday in PM's. He's just been busy.

Artie

You'll get used to your quot;favoritequot; switch positions and go to them instinctively in time...

And you'll still have a ****load of options for recoeding!


Originally Posted by dr.barloThanks guys.

I used pickup mounting rings because with them the pickups sit tight. Otherwise in that pickguard (I used a dremel to convert a s/s/s pickguard into a h/s/h one) the pickups were loose in the sense that with my palm the bridge was moving left and right.

That's why.

B

I like a Strat with mounting rings better than just the pickguard. There is something really funky about that look.

Cool project! Any clips of it?

Thanks guys!

I am going to strat recording the second I get my computer setup with a new and fancy soundcard. I'll make sure to post some clips.

B

Yesterday I gigged with this guitar, and I have to say that from now on I am not taking two guitars to gigs anymore! This one does it all!

But as Scott suspected: I did interfere with my drinking. I felt like I have to be on top of the controls every second. Figure that it would take some time for me to get completely comfy with them.

B


Originally Posted by dr.barloYesterday I gigged with this guitar, and I have to say that from now on I am not taking two guitars to gigs anymore! This one does it all!

But as Scott suspected: I did interfere with my drinking. I felt like I have to be on top of the controls every second. Figure that it would take some time for me to get completely comfy with them.

B

Doc....That is awesome buddy....I have too many guitars though,and so I'll still take at least 2 out to my gigs....Something like this works....Strat,Tele,Les Paul(or SG)...Plus if I break a string,I can play the entire night on either just a Tele or a Strat..

Howdy John,

I,too, was carrying 2 guitars to gigs. A LP and a strat with a tele lead pickup. BUT, not anymore.

Breaking the string sure is a problem, but I am using 0.11-0.56 anyway. So generally am not strong enough to break those strings that easily.

B


Originally Posted by dr.barloHowdy John,

I,too, was carrying 2 guitars to gigs. A LP and a strat with a tele lead pickup. BUT, not anymore.

Breaking the string sure is a problem, but I am using 0.11-0.56 anyway. So generally am too wimpy so that I cannot break them strings that easily.

B

Well that's cool buddy....I use .010s(Guess you're more of a he man)than me! LOL....That's a very cool strat and I can surely see you getting everything with just that one...Kinda like a Brian May axe...

The contrast between black and white is something that my eyes did not get accustomed on this guitar of mine. That's why I changed the black plastic stuff to gibson cremes, and quot;agedquot; the white HBs with brown shoe polish. Now I think I like its looks more.

What about you?

Best,

B
definately an improvement, starting to look like it came from the
factory that way

I liked the black much better.

I couldn't deal with a guitar that complicated. Plus I *like* having lots of guitars

Holy crow!

That's more complicated then one of those late 70s BC Rich guitars!!!

So how many positions amp; sounds are you actually using in the heat of battle?

There's been some modifications to this guitar in the last 6 months. After getting them, one of my Brobuckers (the tremspaced one which is covered) of course went into the bridge. I loved the PG in it (8.75K) and think that it is an excellent pickup. But the BroBucker was better, a little darker, and not that punchy as the PG (which I think has a very strong a5 magnet).

The PGb in the neck was cool for lead work and all. But for clean chords and stuff it did not do what wanted it to do. This guitar does not lack bass, so even with an aged a2 the PGb in the neck was a little too round. I changed it with a braided wire 59n. In order to get rid off the bass I used an a4 magnet instead of its a5. And it worked.

Now it looks a bit different. You can see it in my sig.

The positions I am using most are:

1. Full bridge,
2. Bridge screw coil alone (very tele like, I love it),
3. Middle and slug of the bridge (with 2 vols and 2 tones) - very useful, gives me very convincing genuine strat approximations,
4. Neck and slug of the bridge (perfect for rythm work) (again 2 vols 2 tones)
5. Neck alone.

B