Pre-Wired Guitar wiring harness | HSS Stratocaster kit | Left Handed
£69.99
Order times
I usually make harnesses to order, due to the variety of spec options that could be chosen across the whole range. The current turnaround time for a harness orders is around 5-7 working days depending on quantity of orders in at the time and your order will be updated accordingly when it is dispatched. This turnaround time doesn't include the transit time. Thanks for your patience whilst I get your harness made!
Description
I have spent my guitar playing life around Stratocasters. I first become interested in them at the age of 5, seeing the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, SRV and Gilmour playing them on concert VHS tapes that my parents would put on whilst growing up. Although I was young, I soon noticed that all these people were playing the same type of guitar, and that really caught my eye. On my 6th birthday I asked for a guitar, and was incredibly lucky enough to have received a Squier Strat, and the Strat in general was pretty much all I played right up until my 30s. So needless to say, the Strat harness range is close to my heart and something I wanted to ensure is the best quality product I could offer to help bring out the best in your Strat too.
This is the 'HSS' harness for Strats with a Single coil neck, single coil middle & humbucker bridge configuration. Guitars with a mixture of Humbuckers and Single coils can offer a particular issue when it comes to wiring, the pot choice compromise! Do you opt for the more traditional Single coil choice of 250k pots, which can lead to a dark sounding humbucker position. Or a 500k pot which will get the best from the humbucker but could lead to an overly single coil sound. Some players may well prefer either of those anyway, but if you'd rather reduce the compromise and try to help each pickup sound it's best, then this harness may be of some help to you! It does use a 500k pot for volume, but the single coil runs alongside a 470k resistor meaning the humbucker will 'see' it's preferred 500k pot rating, and the single coil will 'see' closer to it's preferred 250k pot rating. The for the tone pots, each pickup has it's correct spec pot value of 250k for single coil neck and middle and 500k for bridge humbucker. It's not THE solution for everyone, but it has proved to be really popular for an awful lot of players who have seen/heard the benefits of this set-up.
This harness doesn't split the humbucker coils, this is a traditional configuration harness without coil splitting.
Standard kit -
Master Volume
Tone 1 - Neck Single Coil and Middle Single Coil
Tone 2 - Bridge Humbucker
Position 1 - Bridge Humbucker
Position 2 - Middle Single coil and Bridge humbucker Parallel
Position 3 - Middle single coil
Position 4 - Neck Single Coil and Middle single coil Parallel
Position 5 - Neck Single Coil
Installing
I have intended for my wiring harnesses to be as simple as possible to install to your Telecaster, as well as writing in depth fitting guides, how-to instructions documenting the step by step process as well as a simple to follow wiring diagram.
The parts I use, in particular the pots, are CTS branded pots which are imperial measurements. If you're fitting this harness to a far east built variant for example such as a Squier or similar, then you may have to widen the holes in the control plate to accommodate for these imperial measurement pots.
For reference, the CTS pots I use in this harness have a shaft diameter of 9.52mm.
For the HSS Stratocaster harness I use 500k split shaft pots, which are 24 spline 5.95mm split shafts for the volume and bridge humbucker tone position, as well as 250k split shaft pot for the neck and middle pickup tone which also features 24 spline 5.95mm. If you do require US spec control knobs, we do carry a selection of popular options in stock and they can be viewed in the hardware & plastic hardware categories on the store.
Centre to centre measurements between components are -
Centre of Switch to volume pot - 48mm
Centre of volume pot to centre of tone pot 1 - 45mm
Centre of tone pot 1 to tone pot 2 - 45mm
These measurements for my templates were taken from a USA Fender Stratocaster pickguard.
Specs
- CTS '450' Series +/-10% Tolerance short shaft pots - 500k & 250k SPLIT shaft
- .022uF 'Yellow Mustard' type tone capacitor (If you'd prefer a different value capacitor, do please get in touch and I'd be more than happy to help, but as standard all of my kits come with .022uF value)
- RS Pro Carbon 470k resistors
- Gavitt USA made cloth covered 22AWG wire
- 20AWG Tinned copper ground
- CRL 5 way spring loaded lever switch
- Pure Tone multi contact jack socket
- Soldered using R-Tech Premium Lead-Free (Sn95.5Ag3.9Cu0.6) 22swg Solder wire
RoHS Compliant
Please note - wiring kit does not include new control knobs/switch tip/control plate etc but does include the pot/jack mounting nuts and washers and switch mounting screws.
'Ground Bug' deal!
Looking forward to installing your new wiring, but a little worried about making the ground connections to the pot casings? First time soldering and hear the horror stories of frying pots, or just simply want to neaten up your installs? Then the awesome 'Ground Bug' will help with any of these concerns, beginner or pro modders alike. The Ground Bug is a pot washer that fits between the pot casing and the pickguard/body and has a number of lugs (much like with the main signal connections on the pot for example) to which you can very easily solder your ground wire connections too. Completely removing the worry and risk of soldering a pot casing, something I know many guitarists complain about having to learn to do.
I have been stocking Ground Bugs for a while, and they really are the perfect match for a pre-wired harness as they further help you with your installs. So I have set up a 10% off Ground Bug deals when purchased with a Home of Tone Signature Series pre-wired harness. This is an automatic discount code, so all you need to have is a Signature Series kit, and a Ground bug in your cart, and the discount will automatically be applied to the bug for you! Click HERE to view the Ground Bug listing
With or without Treble Bleed?
First up, what does it do? A Treble Bleed kit takes the 'high' treble tone frequencies out of the circuit at the volume pot, and puts them back in the circuit as the signal leaves the volume pot. This means the treble frequencies are prevented from naturally bleeding out of the circuit as your turn your volume pot down. The result is a smoothed out treble and a more uniform tone from 1 to 10. Reducing the treble drop out as the volume pot rolls off. Some guitar players wouldn't be without a treble bleed, and many have never used one on their guitars. Truth is, it is very much personal preference. If you like the idea of retaining treble as you roll your volume pot down, then a treble bleed is for you!
Righty or Southpaw, the choice is there to suit however your play!
Alongside the usual right handed replacement wiring harnesses I also make these in left handed orientation. After a lot of research and customer orders over the years it seems 90% of Lefty players are used to using guitars with traditional RH taper pots. This is mainly because many guitar manufacturers simply fitted RH taper pots in LH taper guitars. But some LH players do of course prefer using LH taper pots, whatever your preference as a Left handed Strat player, I offer the spec to suit.
Why these spec parts over others available?
Simply put, component choice has been one of the most important parts of my product development. I have worked on guitars for many years, and built these kits professionally since 2015, and as a result have been able to see and experience working on the majority of components available on the market. In my findings, A/B testing and more, I have found the components I decided on for my Signature Series to be the most reliable, best tolerance and great functioning parts to use to help customers get the most out of their instruments. I use CTS '450' series premium spec pots as they have a tight tolerance, and will consistently provide me with accurate value, as well as very solid build quality. I use trusty 'Mustard' style polyester film 'tone' capacitors as in my opinion they simply can't be beat for great value, solid construction, solid lead-outs, super tight tolerances and reliable tone/function. I would personally much rather use a trusty Mustard for example over something like a paper in oil, as from experience that are so much more reliable to use. This is from carrying out a lot of A/B testing, both tonally, as well as armed with the multi-meter for testing values and actual tolerances, as well as handling them to test construction quality for long lasting reliability in use. I use the brilliant 'Pure Tone' Multi Contact Jack sockets as they are incredibly reliable, due to their additional contact points for both tip and sleeve. I use CRL, Oak and Switchcraft brand switches across the range as these are built very well, with care will last for many years to come and have long since provided me with reliable use professionally. All kits are wired up with quality USA made Gavitt wire, it's great to work with, super consistent gauge and provides me with a very reliable quality item for my kits. I totally understand that with anything guitar, it is subjective, but I have, with an open mind, thoroughly tested a broad variety of components over the years and these have all become the items I trust to use every day.
Harness FAQ's
I've been proudly making, developing and installing my pre-wired guitar harnesses since the beginning of the Home of Tone back in 2015 (time flies when you're having fun right!). Although I feel I do my best in covering as much information as possible across the various product listings, fitting guides, wiring diagrams and more, I thought it might be helpful to put together an FAQ's page that covers some of the general additional questions I get asked. You can view these Harness FAQ's HERE
'Ground Bug' deal!
Looking forward to installing your new wiring, but a little worried about making the ground connections to the pot casings? First time soldering and hear the horror stories of frying pots, or just simply want to neaten up your installs? Then the awesome 'Ground Bug' will help with any of these concerns, beginner or pro modders alike. The Ground Bug is a pot washer that fits between the pot casing and the pickguard/body and has a number of lugs (much like with the main signal connections on the pot for example) to which you can very easily solder your ground wire connections too. Completely removing the worry and risk of soldering a pot casing, something I know many guitarists complain about having to learn to do.
I have been stocking Ground Bugs for a while, and they really are the perfect match for a pre-wired harness as they further help you with your installs. So I have set up a 10% off Ground Bug deals when purchased with a Home of Tone Signature Series pre-wired harness. This is an automatic discount code, so all you need to have is a Signature Series kit, and a Ground bug in your cart, and the discount will automatically be applied to the bug for you! Click HERE to view the Ground Bug listing
Do you make custom harnesses?
I'm afraid I do not offer a custom harness service. Only kits developed, tested and listed on my website are the available kits. So no custom schematics etc. If you happen to be local to my office, then I do carry out custom work in house, but in regards to shipped out pre-wired harnesses I do not offer custom kits. I am however happy to use different pot values or cap values within reason if you have a specific requirement that differs to the specs listed above. If this is relevant to yourself then please get in touch to discuss further to ensure the request is possible.
James' Home of Tone supports Blueprint For All Charity with a humble monthly donation on behalf of my supportive customers and myself. Thank you for helping make that happen
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Trees For Cities Registered Charity Number 1032154. For more information on Trees for Cities and their work, please visit https://www.treesforcities.org/
Order times
I usually make harnesses to order, due to the variety of spec options that could be chosen across the whole range. The current turnaround time for a harness orders is around 5-7 working days depending on quantity of orders in at the time and your order will be updated accordingly when it is dispatched. This turnaround time doesn't include the transit time. Thanks for your patience whilst I get your harness made!
Description
I have spent my guitar playing life around Stratocasters. I first become interested in them at the age of 5, seeing the likes of Hendrix, Clapton, SRV and Gilmour playing them on concert VHS tapes that my parents would put on whilst growing up. Although I was young, I soon noticed that all these people were playing the same type of guitar, and that really caught my eye. On my 6th birthday I asked for a guitar, and was incredibly lucky enough to have received a Squier Strat, and the Strat in general was pretty much all I played right up until my 30s. So needless to say, the Strat harness range is close to my heart and something I wanted to ensure is the best quality product I could offer to help bring out the best in your Strat too.
This is the 'HSS' harness for Strats with a Single coil neck, single coil middle & humbucker bridge configuration. Guitars with a mixture of Humbuckers and Single coils can offer a particular issue when it comes to wiring, the pot choice compromise! Do you opt for the more traditional Single coil choice of 250k pots, which can lead to a dark sounding humbucker position. Or a 500k pot which will get the best from the humbucker but could lead to an overly single coil sound. Some players may well prefer either of those anyway, but if you'd rather reduce the compromise and try to help each pickup sound it's best, then this harness may be of some help to you! It does use a 500k pot for volume, but the single coil runs alongside a 470k resistor meaning the humbucker will 'see' it's preferred 500k pot rating, and the single coil will 'see' closer to it's preferred 250k pot rating. The for the tone pots, each pickup has it's correct spec pot value of 250k for single coil neck and middle and 500k for bridge humbucker. It's not THE solution for everyone, but it has proved to be really popular for an awful lot of players who have seen/heard the benefits of this set-up.
This harness doesn't split the humbucker coils, this is a traditional configuration harness without coil splitting.
Standard kit -
Master Volume
Tone 1 - Neck Single Coil and Middle Single Coil
Tone 2 - Bridge Humbucker
Position 1 - Bridge Humbucker
Position 2 - Middle Single coil and Bridge humbucker Parallel
Position 3 - Middle single coil
Position 4 - Neck Single Coil and Middle single coil Parallel
Position 5 - Neck Single Coil
Installing
I have intended for my wiring harnesses to be as simple as possible to install to your Telecaster, as well as writing in depth fitting guides, how-to instructions documenting the step by step process as well as a simple to follow wiring diagram.
The parts I use, in particular the pots, are CTS branded pots which are imperial measurements. If you're fitting this harness to a far east built variant for example such as a Squier or similar, then you may have to widen the holes in the control plate to accommodate for these imperial measurement pots.
For reference, the CTS pots I use in this harness have a shaft diameter of 9.52mm.
For the HSS Stratocaster harness I use 500k split shaft pots, which are 24 spline 5.95mm split shafts for the volume and bridge humbucker tone position, as well as 250k split shaft pot for the neck and middle pickup tone which also features 24 spline 5.95mm. If you do require US spec control knobs, we do carry a selection of popular options in stock and they can be viewed in the hardware & plastic hardware categories on the store.
Centre to centre measurements between components are -
Centre of Switch to volume pot - 48mm
Centre of volume pot to centre of tone pot 1 - 45mm
Centre of tone pot 1 to tone pot 2 - 45mm
These measurements for my templates were taken from a USA Fender Stratocaster pickguard.
Specs
- CTS '450' Series +/-10% Tolerance short shaft pots - 500k & 250k SPLIT shaft
- .022uF 'Yellow Mustard' type tone capacitor (If you'd prefer a different value capacitor, do please get in touch and I'd be more than happy to help, but as standard all of my kits come with .022uF value)
- RS Pro Carbon 470k resistors
- Gavitt USA made cloth covered 22AWG wire
- 20AWG Tinned copper ground
- CRL 5 way spring loaded lever switch
- Pure Tone multi contact jack socket
- Soldered using R-Tech Premium Lead-Free (Sn95.5Ag3.9Cu0.6) 22swg Solder wire
RoHS Compliant
Please note - wiring kit does not include new control knobs/switch tip/control plate etc but does include the pot/jack mounting nuts and washers and switch mounting screws.
'Ground Bug' deal!
Looking forward to installing your new wiring, but a little worried about making the ground connections to the pot casings? First time soldering and hear the horror stories of frying pots, or just simply want to neaten up your installs? Then the awesome 'Ground Bug' will help with any of these concerns, beginner or pro modders alike. The Ground Bug is a pot washer that fits between the pot casing and the pickguard/body and has a number of lugs (much like with the main signal connections on the pot for example) to which you can very easily solder your ground wire connections too. Completely removing the worry and risk of soldering a pot casing, something I know many guitarists complain about having to learn to do.
I have been stocking Ground Bugs for a while, and they really are the perfect match for a pre-wired harness as they further help you with your installs. So I have set up a 10% off Ground Bug deals when purchased with a Home of Tone Signature Series pre-wired harness. This is an automatic discount code, so all you need to have is a Signature Series kit, and a Ground bug in your cart, and the discount will automatically be applied to the bug for you! Click HERE to view the Ground Bug listing
With or without Treble Bleed?
First up, what does it do? A Treble Bleed kit takes the 'high' treble tone frequencies out of the circuit at the volume pot, and puts them back in the circuit as the signal leaves the volume pot. This means the treble frequencies are prevented from naturally bleeding out of the circuit as your turn your volume pot down. The result is a smoothed out treble and a more uniform tone from 1 to 10. Reducing the treble drop out as the volume pot rolls off. Some guitar players wouldn't be without a treble bleed, and many have never used one on their guitars. Truth is, it is very much personal preference. If you like the idea of retaining treble as you roll your volume pot down, then a treble bleed is for you!
Righty or Southpaw, the choice is there to suit however your play!
Alongside the usual right handed replacement wiring harnesses I also make these in left handed orientation. After a lot of research and customer orders over the years it seems 90% of Lefty players are used to using guitars with traditional RH taper pots. This is mainly because many guitar manufacturers simply fitted RH taper pots in LH taper guitars. But some LH players do of course prefer using LH taper pots, whatever your preference as a Left handed Strat player, I offer the spec to suit.
Why these spec parts over others available?
Simply put, component choice has been one of the most important parts of my product development. I have worked on guitars for many years, and built these kits professionally since 2015, and as a result have been able to see and experience working on the majority of components available on the market. In my findings, A/B testing and more, I have found the components I decided on for my Signature Series to be the most reliable, best tolerance and great functioning parts to use to help customers get the most out of their instruments. I use CTS '450' series premium spec pots as they have a tight tolerance, and will consistently provide me with accurate value, as well as very solid build quality. I use trusty 'Mustard' style polyester film 'tone' capacitors as in my opinion they simply can't be beat for great value, solid construction, solid lead-outs, super tight tolerances and reliable tone/function. I would personally much rather use a trusty Mustard for example over something like a paper in oil, as from experience that are so much more reliable to use. This is from carrying out a lot of A/B testing, both tonally, as well as armed with the multi-meter for testing values and actual tolerances, as well as handling them to test construction quality for long lasting reliability in use. I use the brilliant 'Pure Tone' Multi Contact Jack sockets as they are incredibly reliable, due to their additional contact points for both tip and sleeve. I use CRL, Oak and Switchcraft brand switches across the range as these are built very well, with care will last for many years to come and have long since provided me with reliable use professionally. All kits are wired up with quality USA made Gavitt wire, it's great to work with, super consistent gauge and provides me with a very reliable quality item for my kits. I totally understand that with anything guitar, it is subjective, but I have, with an open mind, thoroughly tested a broad variety of components over the years and these have all become the items I trust to use every day.