A Strat mod I'd like to do

[stratovani]

Hi! I'm new to this forum although I frequent other guitar forums. I havn't been able to get an answer to my question in the other forums so I figured I'd "Ask the Pros". I'm upgrading my Squier Strat with a set of MightyMite alnicos and I got the following from Stew-Mac: a 8-hole vintage pickguard, an "E" Megaswitch, and 2 250k push-pull pots. I want to set up the Megaswitch to do neck, neck-mid, neck-bridge, mid-bridge, and bridge. I want to use one push-pull pot to switch on the mid pickup so I can get all 3 pickups on, and I want to use the other push-pull to switch all the pickups from parallel to series (to make them "hotter"). So far I havn't been able to find any diagrams that would show me how to do this mod. Otherwise I'll have to do it by trial-and-error, a time-consuming way to do things. Any suggestions or advice to help me along? I'd really appreciate it.

[Runewalker]

Original Tone Monster does what you are trying to do:



With the exception that the 5 way is abandoned. But it does allow a push/pull for series/parallel

Here is the GuitarNutz wiring for adding in an abandoned pup, in your case the mid:



You also might try reading through this thread for a discussion stemming from the original "Tone Monster" schematic on GuitarNutz.

guitarnuts2.proboards45.com/index.cgi?board=wiring&action=display&thread=1117172128

JohnH revised the Tone Monster circuit and uses a 4PDT switch instead of GNz approach, but the wiring produces a wide variety of every combination, plus add a unique blend pot for full range EQ like tone adjustments via a blend pot.

The 5 way just has inherent limitations that the individual switches overcome. And they are quite intuitive" Up for on, Down for Off (unless you are Australian, JH).

Your array has a sort of unusual logic with the 3rd pos being NM.

See what you think about these different approaches.

Wolf also has one that does a lot of these and is supposed to be easy to complete.

[wolf]

stratovani
My Strat modification can be found here:
www.1728.com/guitar2.htm
if nothing else, it is at least worth reading about what it can do and the requirements. (The switches are VERY common and there's no need for some 24 terminal monstrosity).

and thanks runewalker for the mention.

[Cenulab]

This dude Mike Richardson has some pretty cool uses for a five-way super-switch (link from G-1) when combined with a DPDT or two...



I'm planning a slightly modified version of one of these for my next "experiment"... ;D

[jdtogo]

I did the mod that is on wolf web page and it works very well .....and was ez to do .

[stratovani]

I finally settled on using the E Megaswitch as it is and not using the push-pull pot except as a volume control. The E Megaswitch is a good switch if you want the configurations I mentioned in my previous post but it's not a terribly flexible design. You have to wire it up as per the instructions or it doesn't work. So I'll give it a fair shake for now but i'll be probably changing it sometime in the future. I like the looks of the Richardson mod so I might go that route.

[stratovani]

Well, guess what? Stewart-Macdonald sent me a bad Megaswitch! Only the bridge pup works. Luckily I have the regular Strat switch on my other pickguard, so I guess I'll be using that one. So I guess it's the Richardson mod for me.

Hopefully Stew-Mac has a liberal exchange policy, since I stupidly threw out the receipt. If not, then I guess sometimes knowledge doesn't come for free!

At least I'm giving the old acoustic a good workout!!

[TooManyWires]

You might also consider the Hastings mod on the GN1 site. It uses a standard strat switch and gives you the standard strat sounds minus middle only, and in that position you get neck and bridge in series.

[xStonr]

stratovani said:

Well, guess what? Stewart-Macdonald sent me a bad Megaswitch! Only the bridge pup works.

Hopefully Stew-Mac has a liberal exchange policy,

I had to go through 2 switches until I got a good one to do a similar mod. Stew Mac was great. They sent me out a new switch even before they recieved the defective one.