Modifying Strat from S/S/S to H/S/H

[CityofBlindingLights]

I was thinking about routing my Mexican Strat's body so that it would handle a H/S/H combo and have Evolutions and a Blue Velvet. Do you think this would be possible, let alone reasonable?

I'm also planning on getting a '50s Strat (Mexican), so that'd solve all my vintage vibe tones that I LOVE. This H/S/H combo would give stronger, more aggressive tones that I'm seeking, while the 50's strat could hold onto those bell tones that I love in a Strat.

[elcid]

Did you look under the pickguard yet? Most strats are already routed like that, it's jsut a matter of changing the pick guard. Otherwise why not try throwing a stacked humbucker in there?

[CityofBlindingLights]

Originally Posted by elcid

Did you look under the pickguard yet? Most strats are already routed like that, it's jsut a matter of changing the pick guard. Otherwise why not try throwing a stacked humbucker in there?

Nahh, I never actually looked under the pickguard myself, though I could have sworn it's already routed for S/S/S. If it's already routed, that saves me a BUNCH of time and worrying I'll screw it up (I hate working with routers, though I've gotten good at it). It COULD be routed H/S/H that way it could be used for standard, fat, or double fat. If it IS already routed, all i gotta do is buy a set of Evolutions and a blue velvet middle, 500K pots, and maybe a new pickguard from Pickguard Paradise, that'd be cool. Maybe I'll modify the paint job a bit too.

I don't like stacked humbuckers for some reason (except the HS-2 and HS-3 aren't bad). I've just never been a fan, they don't have as much raw power and outbut as true full humbuckers (imo). Plus, I think H-S-H in a strat would look cooler (or maybe just neck humbucker).

[elcid]

If I were a gambling man, Id put money on your strat either being routed for H-S-H or just having the swimming pool route. I dont think fender has many strats routed specifically for just 3 single coils.

[CityofBlindingLights]

Originally Posted by elcid

If I were a gambling man, Id put money on your strat either being routed for H-S-H or just having the swimming pool route. I dont think fender has many strats routed specifically for just 3 single coils.

I've seen them, but that may be custom shops. I SERIOUSLY doubt fender would use an H-S-H routing scheme, as they don't offer any H-S-H configured guitars, only H-H and H-S-S (in addition, obviously, to S-S-S). My money would be on a swimming pool routing job. Anyway, this is seeming like more and more of a possibility, considering I'll be making $1,000 in the month of August, I may throw Evolutions, a Blue Velvet, and get a 50's Strat (Mexi) for older tones.

[Algiman]

I think you'll find it is HSS. Here is a photo of a mid 90's mexi strat body I used to own:

[elcid]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

I've seen them, but that may be custom shops. I SERIOUSLY doubt fender would use an H-S-H routing scheme, as they don't offer any H-S-H configured guitars, only H-H and H-S-S (in addition, obviously, to S-S-S). My money would be on a swimming pool routing job. .

They dont make any H-S-H, but they do make H-H. Since everything is under a pickguard they could route ithowever they wanted, and I would imagine it would save them time and money to route just about everything the same and maybe just route the Custom Shop stuff, Claptons, EJs,and so on different. I guess its only a five minute job to pull the pickgaurd off and see whats there, but I wouldnt think you would have to do any routing.

[rty13ibz98]

buy a new body if you don't want to route. new bodies are cheap as crap on the bay. you can get better woods, too. i like to route, but usually the cost is prohibitive if you have a shop do it, but for a strat would be cheap. i just like an all parts or wd for cheap.


rich

[elcid]

I was actually surpised that my Squire 51 didnt have a swimming pool route. It is just routed for the single coil in the neck and humbucker in the bridge. If the pickguard wasnt such an important part of the look I might not put it back on.

[CityofBlindingLights]

Hmm... the plot thickens...

If that picture's the way my Mexican's routed, it wouldn't be hard to convert it to a swimming pool route, just trace in pencil and route out the wood between the spaces and I'll have a swimming pool route. That'd be a LOT easier than I'd expected it to be.

I'm still thinking it'd be either S-S-S or H-S-S. Though, they were making fat strats and double fats when I bought my strat.

[elcid]

Take the pickguard off already and show us man
Im almost positive its not rouited S-S-S

[guitarsalad14]

I pulled the pickguard off my Squier Strat and it was routed for H-S-H

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by elcid

Take the pickguard off already and show us man
Im almost positive its not rouited S-S-S

Naked strat, naked strat, naked strat ........ I think I should get out more.

[David McCarroll]

Originally Posted by CityofBlindingLights

Hmm... the plot thickens...

If that picture's the way my Mexican's routed, it wouldn't be hard to convert it to a swimming pool route, just trace in pencil and route out the wood between the spaces and I'll have a swimming pool route. That'd be a LOT easier than I'd expected it to be.

I'm still thinking it'd be either S-S-S or H-S-S. Though, they were making fat strats and double fats when I bought my strat.

Nah, don't do the swimming pool route, leave as much wood as you can between the neck joint and the bridge - that's your tone and sustain generator you're routing big holes in there dude!

[Algiman]

Originally Posted by David McCarroll

Nah, don't do the swimming pool route, leave as much wood as you can between the neck joint and the bridge - that's your tone and sustain generator you're routing big holes in there dude!

+1, a little trimming is all that you will need.