Considering a steel pole Fralin preloaded pickguard

[fjrabon]

was hoping to get some thoughts before I maybe pull the trigger.

Basically I have a partscaster strat (Squier neck, MiM body, am std hardware, MiM pups, Squier electronics) that I like the feel of, but I basically never use since I got my Tele. It was my only guitar for several years, and has no resale value, so I'll be keeping it.

I have also been wanting to pick up a P90 guitar for a while now. I've almost bought one of those new MiM Mustang 90s or an Epiphone LP Special with P90s.

That got me thinking though... couldn't I just put in some P90s or P90 like pickups into my strat?

So, here's my tentative idea for the preloaded pickguard:

Bridge: Fralin steel pole 43
Middle: Fralin Steel Pole 43
Neck: Fralin Steel Pole 42

Wiring: 4 way switch: 1) bridge 2) Bridge & neck parallel 3) neck 4) bridge & neck series
Vol1: master volume
Vol2: middle pup volume (the middle is controlled independently of the switch with just the volume control)
Tone: Master tone

Lindy's treble bleed circuit applied

Bridge base plate applied. Use his magic cap as well.

Any thoughts about possible issues I'm overlooking here?

Another layout I am considering is:
Bridge: steel pole 43
Middle: steel pole 42
Neck: blues special

This would allow me to retain the strat neck tone.

I'll also be blocking the trem during this process as well.

 

[awasson]

I'm pretty sure the Dan Armstrong mod has been suggested but I'll suggest it again because it's worth repeating.

Single volume control, single tone that covers all 3 pickups. The lower tone control becomes a blend of sorts.

In the #5 position with the blend disengaged you get the neck pickup. #4 position with the blend disengaged you get neck/middle in parallel. Engage the blend in #5 and the middle pickup is blended into the neck circuit, in series. Engage the blend in #4 and the middle pickup phase is inverted with the neck pickup.

#3 position is always just the middle pickup, regardless of the blend.

#1 & #2 positions work the same way as #4 & #5 but with the bridge and middle.

As far as P90 tones go, I'm not familiar with those Fralin pickups so I can't comment on that.

Cool project.

 

[fjrabon]

I'm pretty sure the Dan Armstrong mod has been suggested but I'll suggest it again because it's worth repeating.

Single volume control, single tone that covers all 3 pickups. The lower tone control becomes a blend of sorts.

In the #5 position with the blend disengaged you get the neck pickup. #4 position with the blend disengaged you get neck/middle in parallel. Engage the blend in #5 and the middle pickup is blended into the neck circuit, in series. Engage the blend in #4 and the middle pickup phase is inverted with the neck pickup.

#3 position is always just the middle pickup, regardless of the blend.

#1 & #2 positions work the same way as #4 & #5 but with the bridge and middle.

As far as P90 tones go, I'm not familiar with those Fralin pickups so I can't comment on that.

Cool project.

Yeah, I looked at that version. But I want a similar version but with the neck and bridge together as a possibility.

Essentially I want a telecaster 4 way wiring, but with the ability to blend in the middle pickup.

 

[awasson]

Yeah, I looked at that version. But I want a similar version but with the neck and bridge together as a possibility.

Essentially I want a telecaster 4 way wiring, but with the ability to blend in the middle pickup.

Well that should be pretty simple.

I'd treat the volume and first tone like standard telecaster controls, wire the neck and bridge with a 4 way switch, just like a Telecaster and then use the lower control that is usually a tone control to add the middle pickup to the mix. I'd probably put it on the input of the main volume control.

 

[kiwi blue]

What kind of routing is under the guard? If it's a swimming pool route you could use real P90s. If it's strat pickup routing then your choices are more limited of course.

The Steel Poles should be great pickups in their own right but I wouldn't expect them to sound too much like a P90.

 

[fjrabon]

What kind of routing is under the guard? If it's a swimming pool route you could use real P90s. If it's strat pickup routing then your choices are more limited of course.

The Steel Poles should be great pickups in their own right but I wouldn't expect them to sound too much like a P90.

Yeah, according to Fralin they're basically 50% P90 and 50% blues specials. But I don't really know for sure what that means.

It's strat pickup routing.

 

[lineboat]

I have a set of Reilander custom wounds that mimic a P90. They're awesome. They look really similar to the Fralin steel pole, but sound more P90ish. I'm not knocking the Fralin at all. I used one for quite awhile, but these Reilander pups are something you should look at!

 

[kiwi blue]

Yeah, according to Fralin they're basically 50% P90 and 50% blues specials. But I don't really know for sure what that means.

It's strat pickup routing.

It'll be a thicker, darker sound with more mids than a standard strat pickup.