I'd like to welcome another addition to my recently introduced ‘Supreme’ kit range. First up was the HS Telecaster in 3 way and 5 way switching versions, now we have one for the HSS Strat too. The HSS Strat is perhaps one of the more versatile instruments around, based on the customers that bring them my way for modding/work, they are the cover band players swiss army knife to say the least, covering lots of tonal ground.
But mixing pickup types highlights a particular issue when it comes to wiring, the pot choice compromise! Do you opt for the more traditional Strat choice of 250k pots, which can lead to a dark sounding humbucker position. Or 500k pots which will more than likely lead to an overly single coil sound. Some players may well prefer either of those anyway, but if you'd rather do your best to reduce the compromise and try to help each pickup sound it's best, then this harness may be of some help to you!
Those familiar with my pre-wired kits, may already know about my long standing HSS Strat kit and HSS coil split kit. Those specs have been some of my most popular kits, making use of 500k pots and a 470kOhm resistor mod to try and reduce the HSS wiring compromise. This 'HSS Supreme' kit however, furthers that idea and uses some rather cool stacked 500k/250k pots. These particular pots are made by CTS, and custom commissioned by Fender. I first saw them used on a Fender master built HS Telecaster, which sounded fantastic and well balanced, so I wanted to develop some kits based around them. Although it is two pots in one, a 'stacked' or 'dual concentric' pot usually also features two pot shafts meaning you have the stacked control knobs to control each one. These have a singular pot shaft, meaning you can use a regular control knob for easier use and functionality and a traditional looking pickguard too.
What this means is you can have the humbucker running through the 500k side of the volume pot (paired with a 500k tone pot and a 0.02mfd cap), and the bridge single coil running through the 250k side of the volume pot (paired with a 250k tone pot and a 0.05mfd cap). Dedicated pots for each pickup type! In testing this sounded great to my ear.
This specific version of the HSS Supreme kit features traditional 5 way switching, but with a push/pull pot in the bridge humbucker tone position to allow for coil splitting. But wait, there's more!
As a neat little extra, it is also prepped for the 'partial' coil split mod too, so you can wire it as a standard coil split, or as the partial coil split mod depending on your preference.
Please ensure your bridge humbucker pickup has 4 conductor wiring, to allow for coil splitting.
Solder your humbuckers series link wires to the eyelet number C1 if you want a standard coil split, where there is simply a jumper wire soldered to ground.
Or, solder your humbuckers series link wires to eyelet number C2, if you want the partial coil split mod. Where instead, there is a 2.2kOhm resistor soldered to ground.
James