Strat guitar schem

[avor]

Alright, I got some Texas Special guitar pickups for Christmas. I have a 2002 Stratocaster Satin (Mexican) and when I put them in I was unimpressed with the insides so I've decided to make an entire new setup with new parts etc.

Having said that, I've never done this before and want to make sure I have a setup that will work when its put back together. It seemed pretty simple and I'm not trying to do anything complicated.

Here are the components I think I want:
5-Way switch
Output Jack
3x CTS 250k Pots (Should I maybe get no loads for the tones?)
.01 Capacitor
.022 Capacitor
Pickups

Here's the diagram I drew (I'm not good at the technical ones so )


Like I said, just checking to make sure this will work correctly. Also, what gauge of wire should I buy to connect this all together?

[JohnH]

avor - welcome to GN2

If you are happy with the stock control options, except that you want o have different caps on each tone control (good idea), then your diagram is fine except you should run a ground wire linking the backs of all the pots.

This diagam is from the original GN site, showing stock Strat wiring, with just one shared cap:



Beyond that - theres lots more you can do, as youll see if you explore this site

cheers

John

[avor]

Thanks for the info

I came up with two quick questions in the meantime-

First, my guitar didn't have a ground from the tremolo as shown in the diagram. Should I worry about it and how do I go about it (I'm assuming its just soldering a wire from the bridge to the volume pot but didn't know if I needed to drill a hole to run the wire?)

And second, is there a smaller/specialized tool to get the little nut thing off the pickup jack so I can remove it? All the tools I have are too fat to really get at it to turn it.

[newey]

Hi Avor-

Have you removed the backplate yet? If you don't have a ground wire there should at least be a hole drilled for the wire to pass thru to the control cavity. I don't think I've ever seen a Strat body without one (although I've never been inside a Mexican one, only cheap Asian ones). It's usually in the corner of the back cavity; it's often easier to see from the backside.

And yes, you need it. You should also read the original GN1 site as to grounding and shielding your Strat.

I have a very small pair of needlenosed pliers I use for the hexnut on the output jack- I'm assuming that's what you were having trouble removing. You kind of get at it longwise, you only need about a quarter turn to get it loose enough for spinning it off.

And JohnH is right, since you've got the thing opened up anyway . . .

[avor]

You are right; there was one; I must not have notice it and must have not even thought about (or paid attention to) where "that extra black wire" was coming from when I was replacing the pickups.

[ashcatlt]

Is there some reason a socket or nutdriver won't take the nut off the jack?

[Runewalker]

the conventional wiring will leave a number of really usable tones caged and unavailable. You might at least consider B/N combos and system series along with the standard system parallel. System series really unleashes the B/M combo (position 2 or 4, depending where you start you counting), giving the option of a "fat strat' type tone, without installing a bridge humbucker.

[avor]

ashcatlt said:

Is there some reason a socket or nutdriver won't take the nut off the jack?

The actual tool is too fat and won't make it in far enough to fit over the nut because it hits the fitting the jack is locked into (at least for mine - I could have really fat tools though as well .

runewalker said:

You might at least consider B/N combos and system series along with the standard system parallel.

I'll have to figure out how to do this first! Time for more research I think.

[sumgai]

avor,

Hi, and welcome to the NutzHouse! ;D

........
And second, is there a smaller/specialized tool to get the little nut thing off the pickup jack so I can remove it? All the tools I have are too fat to really get at it to turn it.

Errrr, turn the jack from the backside, instead of the nut from the front? This will loosen up the nut enough so that it can be spun off the rest of the way by hand. Just be careful as you grab the jack with a tool (pliers?). If the nut persists in remaining locked, jam a screw driver down along the side of it, and wedge the thing against the plate itself. That'll hold the nut, if necessary.

HTH


sumgai