Guys, I've just picked up a CS Strat that has the "half-blend" control installed on it. Wow, what a great idea, Leo would have been proud. Makes a great guitar even better and more versatile. My question is, does anyone know when Fender started installing this mod and, is it only found on CS models?
Blend Control On Strat?
- Thread starter Joe M
- Start date
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JRapp
Tele-Afflicted
How is this new? Lindy has been selling a blender pot for decades and as far back as Roland Janes in the 50s people have been doing this. Reggie Young did a thousand session with that wiring. A CTS no-load blender pot is 5 bucks from Sweetwater and a 1/2 hr work.
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I didn’t mean to imply that it was new to guitardom, just that I had never heard or seen it before. And, according to the video link from Fender, apparently the mod has been around since the 50’s, so I guess it proves you are right. Still didn’t answer my original questions....I simply wanted to know when Fender started putting the mod in their guitars and if it’s only found in CS models.
Anyway, thanks for your input....
codamedia
Poster Extraordinaire
He does say that, but then shows a 5 way switch and a blend knob. 5 Way switches didn't exist in the 50's
I'm pretty sure all he meant was the "blend mod" has been used since the 50's.
The blend is extremely useful. It is the most used control on my strat. I would easily recommend this mod (common tone / blend control) for anyone with a strat.
AJBaker
Friend of Leo's
There's one problem with this mod using a normal no load pot: you blend in the other pickup by turning it down from 10.
This was really confusing to me so I modded a pot to be a reverse no load (i.e. open circuit at 0 instead of 10). That way, with the blender turned all the way down, it's a normal 5 way, and I add the other pickup by turning up.
This was really confusing to me so I modded a pot to be a reverse no load (i.e. open circuit at 0 instead of 10). That way, with the blender turned all the way down, it's a normal 5 way, and I add the other pickup by turning up.
I much prefer the "Memphis wiring mod":
3 way switch that operates the neck and bridge pickups like a Telecaster and a master volume and tone for those two pickups and a separate volume (blend) pot for the middle pickup (it's great to be able to adjust the amount of the middle pickup volume in possitions 2+4.)
I modify all my strats this way (with the added option of having the middle pickup alone when turning down the other two pickups' master volume)
3 way switch that operates the neck and bridge pickups like a Telecaster and a master volume and tone for those two pickups and a separate volume (blend) pot for the middle pickup (it's great to be able to adjust the amount of the middle pickup volume in possitions 2+4.)
I modify all my strats this way (with the added option of having the middle pickup alone when turning down the other two pickups' master volume)
I've had a blend pot on my Strat for about fifteen years now. Hardly ever use it, but it's a nice feature. A change of paste, as my wife would say.
Mainly, I just like that it means you have just one tone control. Two is at least one too many.
Mainly, I just like that it means you have just one tone control. Two is at least one too many.
FortyEight
Friend of Leo's
That's super cool. Can someone clarify for me, once you're on the the 3rd position forward then does the tone knobs go back to normal? I really like this mod.
I should look into getting it done....
I should look into getting it done....
The earliest reference I have seen is the 2018 LTD Tomatillo Strat
Master tone, the blend only works on the bridge see this:
AJBaker
Friend of Leo's
That's also a really cool setup.
One thing I didn't like is that you lose the middle pickup by itself, which is a shame since that's a sound only a strat can do.
I set it up with a 4 way with:
1. Bridge
2. Middle
3. Neck
4. Neck + Bridge (I chose series).
The third knob then blends in the middle pickup to get the quack sounds, like in the Memphis mod.
After messing around with these settings the last couple of days, I really like the mod. I'm too wiring-ignorant to try any of the mods that a couple of you have suggested, pretty happy with the way it came from Fender. And, thanks, warrent, for directly answering one of my questions. Looks like the other was answered, again by you, when you posted the diagram from Fender. Says right on it, "available on any Strat custom build"....
FortyEight
Friend of Leo's
I find that the middle pup by itself is the only one I really LIKE the sound of a lot on a strat. But with the option of blending the neck with the bridge AND having tone control of the bridge. Home run.
I'm so glad I've heard of this mod. Thank you for posting.
AJBaker
Friend of Leo's
No you don't.
My modified Memphis wiring allows the middle pickup alone too. You simply turn down all the way the volume that controls the neck and bridge pickups and turn up all the way the volume that controls the middle pickup.
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AJBaker
Friend of Leo's
Ok, so you don't have a master volume? The main volume control only affects the neck and bridge pickup?
gkterry
Tele-Afflicted
I like the idea of a master tone and using the blend pot to get some in-between, in-between sounds. Had a Strat that way for quite a while. Getting ready to redo an old beater Strat and thinking about putting a blender on it. It is a very useful mod.
Collin D Plonker
Friend of Leo's
Sorry. I may be missing something, but why is it called a "half blend?" It's just a blend pot on the neck pickup? I thought this was something new.
