Single Stratbuckers
Used with HSS Guitars. Series Arrangement of Neck usually.
Dual Stratbuckers
Used with SSS and HSS guitars. Series Arrangements
Tribuckers
3 Pickups in Series for lots of output but a darker sound.
Noiseless Pickups
Noiseless are a bit more of a challenge and after lots of experimental I’ve found the Dual Stratbucker with a BASS TAMER does the trick. The size of the noiseless is important and affects choices (vintage noiseless are more toward single coils).
Works well with
Bass Tamers
Spank Blender
500K Pots
Treble Bleeds
Phase Switches
Recommended
Bass Tamer and Blenders are a must
QuadStar
Vintage Single Coils
Absolutely love Dual Stratbucker circuits, or even Tribuckers. Recommended pots are 250K. No Treble Bleeds needed. No need for Phase switches. Spank Switch can be fun. Work well with Strat-O-Twister.
Recommended
Dual Strabucker and Spank Switch
250K Pots
TriBucker
PowerShifter
Running Dirty (Distortion)
* A lot more lower end grunt
* Very much darker
* Works GREAT with a blender control
* The distortion pedal TONE can really affect the sound so use it to tweek your new power.
* Very strong metal rock sound, add in a dose of top end tone to your distortion pedal.
* Play without with switch then kick it in to get more sustain.
* Bridge pickup will give you more tightness and top end.
* Play (pick) more toward the bridge end.
Running Clean
*You’ll get a tad less highs, a slightly different tone and a lot more bottom end.
* Very good for full jazz chording work.
* Tone change more noticeable than with a distortion
* You’ll notice more sustain.
* Use your playing position to get more out of your guitar (playing close to the bridge vs over the top of the neck pickup for example)
Basic Effects, Chorus clean
* Dual Stratbucker, This is great for filling it out
* Depending on the effect, it could get a bit muddy sounding, clean up with a BASS TAMER or BLENDER
* Go to your Bridge Pickup for a bit more top end.
* Adjust the tone on your pedal to give you the sound you want.
* Deep flanges can be very pronounced
* Reverbs get darker in general
* Works great with overdrives in general (vs full on distortion)
Other Considerations
The Neck pickup will lose the “classic” neck single coil sound and move more toward a full jazzy humbucker sound.
The Bridge pickup with gain a bunch of bottom, learn to take advantage of that.
Consider using a smaller cap value like Woman Tone or Cool Tone
Decide between the “STEALTH” look or using Microswitches. Each has it’s own advantages and disadvantages.
Consider “Tri Switching arrangements” these are great for giving a lot of options into one switch. The S1 and a 4pole double throw switch is a real powerhouse also but these a special design circuits.
Experiment a LOT!! You’ll learn to get the most of our new circuits.