|
Post by JohnH on Jul 18, 2014 16:32:31 GMT -5
This is to dig out an old design that got sunk, and put it back on the bookshelf:
It’s called the Strat SN, named after my favourite scheme from ChrisK which was his 'S-None' design, which contained a clever trick with a capacitor connected to the middle pickup in series mode to get some useful extra tones. Also, Savvas on the Strattalk forum posted his Stratomaster mod, which does most of this, almost as well, with no new parts at all.
Parts are standard, except that the tone pots are replaced or converted to no-load, and a dpdt toggle is added for s2. This could also be a push/pull, push/push, slide switch or even a Fender ‘S1’ switch.
The standard Strat tones are extended in various ways. With S2 down, the basic tones are normal, but with a blender to mix the B and N pickups to a chosen extent, offering B+N and B+M+N tones, or gradations of them.
The remaining tone pot is a master tone, operating on all settings, and no-load for maximum quack and also maximum clarity in series mode.
The volume pot has a treble bleed circuit for consistent tone at lower volume.
In series mode, S2 up, the basic hum-cancelling options of BxM and NxM are offered, with the addition of alternatives in positions 2 and 4 where the B or N coils is bypassed by a cap. This is a brighter sound than the pure series sound, giving more treble from the M pickup but with a humbucker-like weight of bass. I have these sounds on other designs so I know they are worth a try. These sounds can also be mixed with the blender. Note that with S2 up, the position 3, M only, is via a cap. With the value that I’m suggesting, it is likely to be not much affected.
Overall, the standard 5 sounds are augmented by two extra parallel sounds and 4 series sounds.
There are a few possibilities for options. The blend pot works by mixing B and N with each other, so if N becomes N with a bit of B, B becomes B with a bit of N, until they are fully mixed, both setting 1 and 5 becoming B+N. It could instead be wired as a variable Neck-on, or Bridge-on, so that unblended tones from say B, remain available on the 5-way as N transitions to N+B.
Other options could involve the unused half of eth 5-way switch. For example, if there was a preference for a different tone capacitor for N, this could be switched in.
Using an S1 switch
The design can be adapted to use a Fender S1 push/push switch, which are easier to get than they used to be:
|
|
|
Post by newey on Jul 18, 2014 20:18:42 GMT -5
Good stuff, John!
I may have to start a new Strat project just to try this wiring.
One point of "fine tuning":
Even so, I think your "truth table" should indicate the cap in that position, so as to avoid potentially misleading someone.
|
|
|
Post by JohnH on Jul 19, 2014 1:08:51 GMT -5
Thanks newey - I edited accordingly.
But having noted that M will be in series with a cap, I wouldn't want to represent that this will be a new additional sound option. Checking with a model, it only makes about 0.5db change in the lowest bass which would not be noticeable compared to M alone.
I think this scheme could bring forth some interesting new series sounds. The potential problem with most series modes is mud, and this includes a bunch of features to allow this to be cut through including the no-load pot, plus the ability to join N to B via the blender, and then add M in series for an overall impedance 1.5x of one pup instead of 2x, and then to use the cap bypass to bring it down lower and add more treble. But it also has the quite plumy sounding NxM too.
|
|
markoplan
Rookie Solder Flinger
Posts: 10
Likes: 0
|
Post by markoplan on Mar 16, 2020 0:27:45 GMT -5
JohnH - can you repost a link to the schematic for this one? it seems to be missing, even trying your strategy of "quoting" and looking for the URL. I was about to wire up your SSM3 and then ran across this description and was intrigued. I have a partscaster with this scheme: www.premierguitar.com/articles/Adding_Series_Switching_To_Your_Strat and PTB tone controls. it's certainly simple enough, but I find the series positions too boomy/muddy, so I'm searching for a clearer alternative. both the SSM3 and Strat SN descriptions seem designed to address this concern. as between the two, do you have a preference? is one more practical in day to day operation? fwiw, i'm not concerned about the cost of a few new pots and switches. as always, I appreciate your insights.
|
|
|
Post by JohnH on Mar 16, 2020 1:48:44 GMT -5
|
|