This was a really fun project and idea from the customer to help bring to life. Morgan kindly booked this job in, sparked from a conversation we had about the 'Fuzzmaster' NRG Fuzzer circuit loaded Jazzmaster wiring.
He has owned this 90s Japanese Strat from new (IIRC), and although it has been enjoyed, he fancied doing something fun with it going forward. So he asked if I could implement the NRG Fuzz circuit into his Strat in some form! There were some minor requests though, which were that Ideally the fuzz mod needed to keep a traditional look as well, so no extra controls, no obvious changes to the usual Strat layout etc.
First port of call before the guitar came in, and to give myself and Neil at NRG Effects chance to plan the direction to take with the fuzz circuit, was discussing with the customer what he'd like from the Fuzz.
On my Fuzzmaster kit, I re-purpose the upper rhythm circuit controls, with the volume and tone controls becoming level and bias for the fuzz, and the 2 position slide switch turning it off or on. That all keeps the traditional look for a Jazzmaster, using the existing pickguard cutouts etc. So for the Strat, we needed to rethink that approach as it has much more limited pickguard real-estate and a simplied traditional control layout. The customer had already mentioned that he was happy to switch to a single master tone, instead of the traditional 2 tone Strat layout, so that did open up the opertunity to repurpose that bottom tone pot thankfully. We discussed changing the fuzz to a simpler level only circuit, which Neil could cater for with a spin on his FUZZER single knob pedal. Initially, this looked like the viable option. A push/pull or push/push pot, allowing on/off switching and the rotational function for overall level. But we couldn't help thinking of other more versatile ways to implement it too.
We discussed how we could stick with the two control style like on the Fuzzmaster kit, by perhaps going with a stacked, dual concentric pot but that would mean it didn't fit the traditional strat layout brief and granted, might have looked a little odd with a stacked control knob too. It would also mean one of the other pots would need to be a push/pull type to turn the fuzz on and off, or introduce a mini switch somewhere. So granted, this idea never really took off. So we were mainly floating around ideas of rolling with a single knob fuzz style circuit. But ultimately we had our direction to go now.
Once it came to time to drop the guitar off here at my workshop for the job, myself and the customer ran through the fuzz ideas, but also other elements of the project including it's setup. Which actually lead to a eureka moment for our fuzz plans! As it turns out the customer prefers hardtail bridges, and usually tightens the vibrato springs on this guitar to fix the bridge down to the body. So I suggested that we take that a step further, by properly blocking the vibrato (much like the way Clapton does with his Strats), which would provide me with some additional cavity real estate too as I can remove the springs and spring claw entirely to make use of that rear spring cavity in some form.
Initially, I took inspiration from the Eric Clapton Strat, where the circuit is nestled in a dedicated route under the pickguard, with the battery located in the rear spring cavity but still hidden by the spring cover. Which granted, would have involved some additional routing, but all of which would have been neatly covered retaining the traditional look throughout. But after a chat with Morgan we realised we can achieve all of this without any additional routing thanks to blocking the bridge and making use of that rear cavity space.
On my Fuzzmaster kit, I re-purpose the upper rhythm circuit controls, with the volume and tone controls becoming level and bias for the fuzz, and the 2 position slide switch turning it off or on. That all keeps the traditional look for a Jazzmaster, using the existing pickguard cutouts etc. So for the Strat, we needed to rethink that approach as it has much more limited pickguard real-estate and a simplied traditional control layout. The customer had already mentioned that he was happy to switch to a single master tone, instead of the traditional 2 tone Strat layout, so that did open up the opertunity to repurpose that bottom tone pot thankfully. We discussed changing the fuzz to a simpler level only circuit, which Neil could cater for with a spin on his FUZZER single knob pedal. Initially, this looked like the viable option. A push/pull or push/push pot, allowing on/off switching and the rotational function for overall level. But we couldn't help thinking of other more versatile ways to implement it too.
We discussed how we could stick with the two control style like on the Fuzzmaster kit, by perhaps going with a stacked, dual concentric pot but that would mean it didn't fit the traditional strat layout brief and granted, might have looked a little odd with a stacked control knob too. It would also mean one of the other pots would need to be a push/pull type to turn the fuzz on and off, or introduce a mini switch somewhere. So granted, this idea never really took off. So we were mainly floating around ideas of rolling with a single knob fuzz style circuit. But ultimately we had our direction to go now.
Once it came to time to drop the guitar off here at my workshop for the job, myself and the customer ran through the fuzz ideas, but also other elements of the project including it's setup. Which actually lead to a eureka moment for our fuzz plans! As it turns out the customer prefers hardtail bridges, and usually tightens the vibrato springs on this guitar to fix the bridge down to the body. So I suggested that we take that a step further, by properly blocking the vibrato (much like the way Clapton does with his Strats), which would provide me with some additional cavity real estate too as I can remove the springs and spring claw entirely to make use of that rear spring cavity in some form.
Initially, I took inspiration from the Eric Clapton Strat, where the circuit is nestled in a dedicated route under the pickguard, with the battery located in the rear spring cavity but still hidden by the spring cover. Which granted, would have involved some additional routing, but all of which would have been neatly covered retaining the traditional look throughout. But after a chat with Morgan we realised we can achieve all of this without any additional routing thanks to blocking the bridge and making use of that rear cavity space.
Then Neil very kindly customised the Fuzzmaster circuit with this in mind, with a shallower layout and choice of components which would allow it to sit in the existing rear spring cavity, but also with a little trim pot on it for the bias control. So although this trim pot wouldn't be something you adjust on the fly, it would be more of a set and forget kind of thing, it would mean that you can change the character of the fuzz, and stick to the main level control on the front controls for on the fly refinement.
I was also able to locate the battery within the existing rear cavity. So no additional routing to the body was required, we managed to stick with a completely traditional looking control layout on the front, whilst still having the chance to adjust the bias for the fuzz should the customer to wish to via a customised trim pot on the fuzz circuit. This pieced together very well indeed! So time for me to get stuck in. Here are some progress photos from along the journey.
Original pickups were to be retained, but a full new harness, and a new custom made gold anodised pickguard by Tiny Tone UK was to be organised and installed.
Original pickups were to be retained, but a full new harness, and a new custom made gold anodised pickguard by Tiny Tone UK was to be organised and installed.
