Why can't a strat be wired so...

[tjcurtin1]

that you can have tone control for all three pups with just the two tone pots? Anybody know? I've never seen it, so I assume it can't be done.

 

[Spudman]

I'm not sure what you mean. I have a couple of Strats that all the pickups have a working tone control connected to them. I'll either pair the bridge and middle pickups on one control or neck and middle on one control. The second tone control goes to the remaining pickup. There you have it - all 3 pickups with 2 tone pots.

 

[kiteman]

It can be done as I've done it on my Carvin Bolt. I used the super switch to get it. I have a diagram stashed away somewhere so I'll post it here later.

Got a doc appt in an hour.

 

[duhvoodooman]

I've never seen it, so I assume it can't be done.

That's a dangerous assumption to make:

 

[kiteman]

 

[tjcurtin1]

Thanks Guys! Except now I have to go back in there and fiddle with them wires! But I don't get it - why the heck is a strat usually wired with no tone control on one pup (usually the bridge in standard configuration)??? It just don't seem to make no sense!!!

 

[Spudman]

That's just the way they were made to begin with and it never got changed. The simple thing is just a tiny piece of wire connecting those two lugs as in Voodoo's diagram. Makes it really nice to have tone on the bridge. I like to remove the tone from the middle pickup myself. It really opens up the sound of it.

 

[otaypanky]

I like the bridge p/u wired to the tone pot too. Before I did that I hardly ever used the bridge pickup alone.
And I like the 50's style wiring on my humbucker guitars so much, I did it to my Strat too. For lower volume and clean rhythm sounds I have my volume set down about 5 and my tone pots might be around 3 1/2 or 4. The guitar sounds surprisingly clear, maintaining ample highs and clarity. When I need a solo tone I just roll the volume to 10 and things get louder and fatter without the excessive highs.
Here's a link to how it's done.
http://www.premierguitar.com/Magazine/Issue/2009/Jul/Gibson_50s_wiring_on_a_Stratocaster.aspx

 

[tjcurtin1]

That's just the way they were made to begin with and it never got changed. The simple thing is just a tiny piece of wire connecting those two lugs as in Voodoo's diagram. Makes it really nice to have tone on the bridge. I like to remove the tone from the middle pickup myself. It really opens up the sound of it.

Now that's interesting - I hadn't thought that having a pup off the tone pot altogether would be different than with the pot dimed...

 

[kiteman]

Now that's interesting - I hadn't thought that having a pup off the tone pot altogether would be different than with the pot dimed...

Try it with a 1 megohm no load pot. It'll scream.

 

[marnold]

Thanks Guys! Except now I have to go back in there and fiddle with them wires! But I don't get it - why the heck is a strat usually wired with no tone control on one pup (usually the bridge in standard configuration)??? It just don't seem to make no sense!!!

Because that's the way St. Leo did it.