Experimenting (Pat Pend 63/59/Abraxas/VHII/pot values)

[fdesalvo]

I've had enough seat time with my latest Frankenstrat to know her characteristics.

I find I'm missing the depth of the 63 neck coil in my 59 set, but the split positions with the 59s are ridiculously amazing.  I'm absolutely nailing Mayer and SRV tones in those positions.  That's not what I was going for, but it speaks to the pure, vintage Fender tones these pickups can attain.  I really love the round and springy tone of these pickups (both 59 & 63 sets) with the volume rolled off just enough to attenuate the highs.  Trouble for me with the 59 neck single coil in this guitar is it's a bit too bright/bitey with the volume (250K) all the way up.  The 63 has some really nice depth to it's attack.

I'm going to experiment tonight - will use a 63 Neck with the 59 middle and Abraxas bridge and see what comes of it.   Just a few scattered notes from my experimenting:

~Those using the Suhr HSS wiring schematics with BKs will have to reverse the leads on their single coils, otherwise the bridge humbucker will be out of phase when split.
   ~You will also have to switch the neck and middle pickups for hum cancelling when split with the bridge.
~With standard Strat wiring a 250K volume pot on the Abraxas doesn't seem to have much effect on it's top end or output.  It seems to have less volume, though it may be just an auditory illusion, as it doesn't seem to be balancing as well with the single coils, which appear to be slightly louder. 

[fdesalvo]

Funny how one component or setup parameter can completely throw off a strat's tone.

So the magic is back - keeping the 59's and abraxas on board in this one. The offender was the Callaham steel block.   

After replacing the prior maple neck with the rw/maple fender neck I threw the Callaham unit on. Much to my chagrin, what was a lucious and deep vintage tone, full of sparkle and pop turned into a cold, hard, and sterile sound. I thought it was the Fender neck, but I was so wrong. It literally sounded like I imagined an alumicaster would sound.

I also have the bridge on 3 springs instead of 4 and the tail is floating about 1/8" from the deck. The guitar is just lovely. Cannot overemphasize the tone of the 59's.  Really just amazed - even despite running 63's for a couple years. The veneers are sweet, as well, just a bit rounder and less sparkle and bite.

In the end, I think a strat sounds best with less than perfect parts.  The Callaham bridge is technically perfect, but it really imparts such a clinically cold tone to this particular guitar.

[metale]

Maybe try a brass block next? It's supposed to mellow it up.

[Telerocker]

Very good to share this, since the Callaham upgrade-tremblock gets many cheers on the net. Luckily it doesn't fit my custom strat, which has an two point ABM-bridge. It works quite good in my guitars.