Possible to put a humbucker in bridge of a S-S-S strat?

kyates.yates · #1 03-15-2009, 09:13 PM

Hello, Howdy, Hola, Whatever, I recently had the neck of my Fender Mexican Strat(sorry) scalloped. It plays great, but the pickups arent that great. I was wondering if I could somehow sandwich in a DiMarzio Super Distortion in the bridge pickup possition. I would imagine I would need to buy a new pickguard as well, but me and my dad can route the body out though. It has 1 volume pot and 2 tone pots. Wiring Diagrams are appreciated.

Thanks,
Kirk

Homebake · #2 03-15-2009, 10:03 PM

last i checked, my squier strat is routed for a humbucker in the bridge, wouldn't be surprised if yours is too. if it is, just whack in the bucker and get a new pickguard.

kotornut · #3 03-15-2009, 10:10 PM

Well you got two options. Check to see if the ghuitar is routed for a Humbucker inthe bridge. Buy a humbucker, and a new pickgaurd and install it all.

Or you can buy a single coil sized humbucker. There are many choices of this type, I recommend a DiMarzio Super Distortion S size.

My firends strat with the Tone Zone S in the bridge:

The write up on the DiMarzio website about the Super Distortion S (to view the pickup go to dimarzio.com go to strat pickups, hum-cancelling and scroll down to the Super Distortion S:

The Super Distortion S™ offers the performance of the famous Super Distortion® in humbucking Strat® bridge direct replacement-size pickups. We've built in the same blend of power and tone that made the original Super Distortion® the world-wide standard for high-output humbuckers. We also tweaked the sound to take into account the fact that the Super Distortion S™ will be installed in the classic slanted bridge position. The new model has four-conductor wiring for parallel humbucking and split-coil modes, and make a great bridge position combination with the Pro Track™, Chopper™ and Fast Track 1™.

nickcoumbe · #4 03-16-2009, 07:36 AM

sorry irrelevant post

mi2tom · #5 03-16-2009, 09:44 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kyates.yates

my Fender Mexican Strat(sorry)

Sorry for what? Some people can't even afford a good guitar like the mexican strat.

markg5150 · #6 03-16-2009, 03:37 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by kotornut

Nice Strat - the headstock looks huge!

EvoGiant · #7 03-16-2009, 04:08 PM

looks normal to me.

marianozz · #8 03-16-2009, 05:46 PM

LOL the contrast between the headstock and the dark board, guard and pups make it look humongous...

Wether you put a full sized humbucker or an S or Jr. (depending on brand

) the easiest way of wiring it will be tape the black and white wires together, put the red one on the switch where the original single was, and ground the green and bare wires.

BTW, those are dimarzio colors, if you go duncan, check the lil manual cause i dont remember their colors now :O

Factory5150 · #9 03-16-2009, 07:03 PM

Grab yourself a router..it can be done:

callen3615 · #10 03-16-2009, 08:08 PM

NICE!

Darin · #11 03-16-2009, 08:36 PM

You can install a "Little 59" I did in a tele.

http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/SDSL59-1.gif

Quote:

The Seymour Duncan Little 59 is a little brute that was designed to impart all of the warm, smooth tone of an old 1959 Patent Applied For humbucker in a direct replacement, single coil size. It possesses an even, dynamic response, and its adjustable pole pieces allow the guitarist to fine tune the string balance and dial in just the right amount of punch.

kotornut · #12 03-16-2009, 10:32 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Darin

You can install a "Little 59" I did in a tele.

http://www.stevesmusiccenter.com/SDSL59-1.gif

But if he wants a Super Distortion why shouldn't he get a Super Distortion, they come in single size too?

kotornut · #13 03-16-2009, 10:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by markg5150

Nice Strat - the headstock looks huge!

Just the regular headstock. Not even the big 70s headstock.

-Rhaab · #14 03-17-2009, 08:26 AM

I have a fender mexican (60th) I love it. I got it over an american standard for the 6 point tremolo and cause they have it in arctic white, which I think looks really nice with the maple neck. I just wish the neck was a gloss finish as opposed to the satin.
I took off the pickguard one day to see the insides (i like messing around) and the guitar should allready be routed for a humbucker (possibly cause they are mass produced cut bodies that they also use for the fat strat?).
Don't make the same mistake I did though, dont buy a strat pickguard out of a store without making sure it would fit the mexican strat. Cause american pickguards dont fit on the mexican.

PeterS · #15 02-07-2010, 08:42 AM

Be very careful if you have to rout the wood immediately in front of the trem, which you will with some humbuckers. Keep it to an absolute minimum.
I have one where I removed about 1/8th inch. The bridge inserts (well glued in!) have then strained towards the neck very slightly. Still perfectly playable at present, but makes intonation adjustment that bit more difficult because the saddles have to be cranked back further against the bridge plate.
So removing that wood has presumably weakened that area, and sooner or later I'm probably going to have to carry out major surgery, or throw away a nice sonic blue US Strat body...
Cheers - Peter.