Volume Pot and Selector Mod - suggestions

[Two hands31]

I'm thinking of doing some mods to my Squire Strat. *First of all, it's got a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge, and the bridge tone knob doesn't work at all. *Also, I hear a lot of people talking about backing off their volume knob to clean up their tone when they're overdriven, but when I do this, it's stays distorted until I get down to 2 or 3, and even then I have to play soft, or it distorts. *Any recommendations on how I can fix this volume knob problem without drastically affecting my tone? *Also, I want to take out my bridge tone and put in a mini-switch to turn on and off the middle pickup, and re-wiring the 5-way switch to get more pickup combinations, here's what I want the 5-way like:

-neck sc
-neck sc and bridge inner coil
-neck sc and bridge hb
-bridge inner coil
-bridge hb

Is this possible? *I'll be doing all the work myself.

[Mr Orange]

For the switching stuff you need a Megaswitch. Don't ask me how to wire it, I'm no luthier/engineer.

For the vol knob voodoo you need to wire a cap to the vol pot so that it cuts bass when rolled back. I love that mod. Don't know exactly how to do it, though.

[Two hands31]

Do you really need a mod on the Volume pot, or could I just put in a better volume pot? *And does anyone know if it's possible to wire the 5-way switch like that?

[sixstringphoenix]

I had the same problem with the volume/gain thing when I used to use a BOSS Metal Zone. To have the tone clean up when you turn the guitar volume down, I'd recommend a DS-1. Works like magic. Plus there's no modification required!

Good luck,
-Justin

[Two hands31]

Well, I'm just running straight into a Line6 Flextone II, so I'd prefer to NOT use any extra pedals.

[sixstringphoenix]

Hmm, well I was considering getting a Vetta but... if you can't 'clean up' with your Flextone, (and I'm assuming you can't with the Vetta either) .... I'm going to have to reconsider...

-Justin

[Two hands31]

It may work, my Strat's volume knob is very cheap and crackles when I turn it. *So it's probably the pot. *Don't completely stay away from Line6 because of my cheap guitar, it's very good gear.

[sixstringphoenix]

Do you know the price on the Vetta?

[Two hands31]

No, but I'm pretty sure it's way up there.

[sixstringphoenix]

I'm assuming it's more than the Flextone, how much is the list price on that?

-J

[Devo]

go the whole slog and re do the whole wiring. check out stew macs wiring 101 pages.

and do a search to find relevant wiring pages on the net.

sound like you pots need a cleaning. my do too on my 7D, but im too busy and lazy at the mo.

[Two hands31]

The Flextone II I bought was the normal 60-watt combo. *I got it for $900 Canadian. *That's pretty much the standard price. *As for cleaning the pots, I may try it. *But is it possible to do this wiring on a standard strat 5-way switch?

[Vaibanez]

Quote: from Two hands31 on 7:22 pm on Aug. 28, 2001
The Flextone II I bought was the normal 60-watt combo. *I got it for $900 Canadian. *That's pretty much the standard price. *As for cleaning the pots, I may try it. *But is it possible to do this wiring on a standard strat 5-way switch?

NO!

The StewMac megaswitch is what you want. I have one in my RG560 and it does exactly what you want. The diagram to wire it is included with the switch. I love the switch.

J>:thumbsup:

[Two hands31]

Ok, how much would all these parts cost in total? *(The mini-switch and mega-switch)

(Edited by Two hands31 at 9:21 pm on Aug. 28, 2001)

[Two hands31]

Ok, I found the Megaswitch. *I'm assuming this CAN be set up to do the 5 combinations I want (as listed in my original post), am I right? *Also, I found the Mini-Switch. *Can I use the on/on one as an on/off switch by not hooking something up to the other end? *Also, is Stew Mac a good (i.e. reliable) place to buy parts (keeping in mind that I'm in Canada)? *I've heard a lot of good things, I'm just double checking.

(Edited by Two hands31 at 11:01 pm on Aug. 28, 2001)