HSS project questions

[kidsmoke]

I'm looking at taking a 30 year old Matsumoku set neck gem and turning it into a superstrat type guitar.

It was orginally built and wired in a standard strat manner. I'd like to preserve the original pickguard and use a single coil sized humbucker in the bridge.

Questions:

1) what is the typical control layout for HSS configuration?

Seems that 1 tone knob for neck and middle, and the other, with coil split, for the bridge, makes a lot of sense to me.

2) Anyone have experience with the narrow humbuckers?

3) What would be your dream pickup combo in a project like this?

Now, don't laugh. These are string through sustain monsters.

The plan is to give a classic natural tele look, but with superstrat electronics
Like this

 

[markb]

I've had a couple of Duncan JB jrs in strats. They're very bright but good with distortion. Currently I've got a DiMarzio Super Distortion for strat (DP218) in the guitar. I wouldn't say it sounds like a full humbucker but it's close. The Tone Zone S gets some good reports too, Fender use it in the '57 Hot Rod.

I had a coil shunt on one of the JBs but found I never used it so I didn't even bother wiring one for the SDS. The mixed position is still quite hollow but very powerful. You can auto-tap on the 5-way if you prefer the split tone in position 2. www.seymourduncan.com has wiring diagrams for any HSS layout you care to mention.

 

[Katastrophe]

I think Hot Rails pups sound great in all positions.

I dig the guitar, Tio. It's cool!

 

[kiteman]

Wicked looking guitar.

 

[kidsmoke]

Thanks, Glad you guys can see the potential.

The dual humbucker was the more common approach to this guitar, but I found a SSS model, bone stock, in a shop recently, my mind got to thinking. I found that image of the natural, and that was that. I think this has to happen.

These guitars are string through with heavy duty brass saddles With good pickups and a good set up, I think it could be a great guitar for going after a Lowell George sound, something I've wanted for a while.

As for the guitar, you may have seen these before. Anybody remember Quiet Riot? Marnold? Robert?