Mod Blog
I decided I wanted a little more out of my trusty Fender Strat, so I bought some bits, got out my tools and went at it. My Strat (Jim) has already had his bridge and frets replaced; the bridge got destroyed by a phone and the frets got destroyed by my over squeezing.
Trem Block – Including New Trem Plate and Whammy Bar
I have been meaning to do this for ages and I’m so glad I finally got round to it. I ruined the thread on the whammy bar years ago and have missed having one after hard-tailing it for maybe about 10 years. The new tremolo block is made of steel rather than the zinc one I had. It seems to sing a little better and sustain a little longer…though arguably that could have just been the new strings. Still though…I get my tremolo arm back! Very easy to replace, provided you know how to re set-up your guitar afterwards.
Bareknuckle Neck Pickup
The neck pickup in my strat has always disappointed me as it never quite sounded how I wanted. This pickup makes it have that classic strat sound that I have been after. Very simple chop (melt) and change.
New Jack Socket
The average jack socket that came with the guitar sometimes get a little crackly so I upgraded to a ‘Switchcraft’ one for peace of mind.
Wire to connect Bridge pickup to Tone Pot – cus sometimes that shrillness needs taming
One wire (or capacitor) is all it takes! Though taking all the strings off (almost off) for a 5 minute job is kinda annoying.
New Orange Drop Capacitor for 1st Tone Pot – Because apparently they sound better?
Again, a quick, cheap and easy modification to make. It’s supposed to make the tone pot respond better. Because I changed so much at once, I’m not sure I can tell the difference from the new capacitor, but I’m sure it’s good ;)
Treble Bleed Capacitor and Resistor Combo for Volume Pot – No more mush below 8
This is a modification you can really hear. Before I had this, as soon as I started turning the volume down, the tone went with it and ended up sounding lost and muddy. I think the treble must leave with the volume. This mod keeps your guitar sounding like your guitar all the way down to 1. It’s great, costs next to nothing and was super easy.
Seven Switch – So my strat can sound like a tele too
The ‘seven switch’, ‘seven tone’, or any of its various other names is a powerful and simple modification that can make your strat far more versatile. Almost a two in one guitar strat/tele. With a simple latching SPST button switch and two wires both to the 5 way switch you can wire in your ‘bridge on’ switch that gives you two extra pickup combinations; neck and bridge or all on. The neck and bridge together (Neck position on 5 way and new button ON) sounds almost exactly like a telecaster with that cutting country guitar sound. It blew me away when I first fired it up.
I did all these in the space of less than two weeks making sure each one worked properly and was worth the effort as I went.
Please ask me any questions via email. I have wiring diagrams and more links to buy the bits!
Phil