Stratocaster mods for SSS pickups configuration, which one is best?

Stratocaster mods is one thing popular with many ways to get into, and me is excited about that, too. (but one thing first i wanna say is, It’s been a while since my late post. I’ve been busy and lazy at once, but finally i got my mood to write again here.)

back to topic. Recently I got a decent strat with good deal, of course it’s not Fender. This guitar brand is “selva”, japan market guitar,a new brand i guess. my series is SELVA SST-201 OTM/M, SSS pickups with poplar body and canadian hard maple neck. Check how it sounds on youtube at https://youtu.be/Z_LyWDVQYF8 .

A default sound of conventional SSS strat by itself is great. It has three pickups and 5-way switch and two tone control knobs, which means it has more options than a tele or les paul. and actually stratocaster mods will bring us more options. here the two of them which for me is the most interesting stuff.

  • SSS configuration stratocaster with humbucking style by adding dummy coil

sure you can change the pickups with stacked humbuckers or mini humbuckers, but If you love your single coils pickups, why don’t try adding a dummy coil into your pickups wiring? this method will work as noise reducer for bridge and neck pickups (not middle pickups since it’s RWRP). it will compromise the treble sound, a little loss, but with decent overwound dummy coil, the loss is minimal. it’s worth to try.

stratocaster mods dummy coil

 

  • SSS configuration stratocaster with blender pot ( 7 sound options strat)

Some say this is the oldest mods for strat, and i would say this is the best one. By changing the wiring scheme, we convert the first tone pot into a blender pot, blending the pickups. we will get a bridge+neck pickups option just like a telecaster(!) switched on the middle, and bridge+middle+neck pickups (all 3 of them is on!). we still got our single coils sounds and 2 more soundstyles! this becomes my choice for my selva strat mods and it works great. here’s the wiring scheme:

blender-stratocater-mod-schematic-wiring

 

Sure there are more than these two mods. these are my top choices for strat mods, which hopefully inspire everyone. thanks, see ya next post 😀

Guitar Authenticity Check

Guitar Authenticity Check is a must-to-do thing when we buy a guitar, whether it’s new or pre-owned one. Why? because counterfeit is one thing nobody likes it, include us, guitarists. Unfortunately, this issue has been among us in decades, and it’s really important for us to take serious measurements about this.

personally, and professionally(!), I don’t hate customized guitar by luthiers, I kinda like the way they set their own standards on how a guitar is supposed to be. But I really hate if my friends (or even myself) found out that they paid TOO MUCH for fake guitar.. and one more thing, there’s almost nothing i can do about this counterfeit issue.

BUT, i think i can help a little by sharing my notes about Guitar Authenticity Check. Recently I helped my friend buying a guitar and the result was quite great. It’s Epiphone Les Paul 100 guitar, cherry sunburst with pickguard, very lovely.Epiphone Les Paul 100 (body bridge)

Epiphone Les Paul 100 (headstock backplate)

I knew (as everyone else does) that Epiphone is one of leading brand in guitars, and for couple times i found epiphone parts such like backplates were sold separately, yes, it has counterfeit-risks.

so I’ve checked all detailed parts and found out few details which might very useful for us. Here’s the pic: Guitar Authenticity Check on Epiphone lespaul 100 guitar parts

although there’s no serial numbers carved or printed on headstocks and neck, I found it labeled under the bridge pickups, yup, there you have it. I’ve checked the serial number on epiphone serial number decoder at guitardaterproject.org and this guitar is made in Indonesia on november 2010 by Samick Factory. quite nice info right? also i found out “Epiphone” brand carved/molded on stop bridge, tune-o-matic bridge, below pickups, even on mono jack socket. well done, Epiphone.

 

based on those, I made some notes, at least for my own standards, when i want to buy a guitar

 

Guitar Authenticity Check points

  • Get the guitar images and other info from its official website. there we will get its specs, and the closest guitar model looks
  • Get the sound samples from videos/youtube reviews. we can also get the guitar physical appearances there
  • compare it directly by try the guitar first before we decide ANYTHING. nothing beats the real sound and the playability/actions when you need to decide whether buying it or not
  • bring your friend who is also a guitarist to get more proper considerations
  • always choose trusted seller, if it’s not possible, ask the seller to provide the guitar authenticity info and proof. remember, it is you who hold the money, keep that in mind always

those words above just might be not enough, but i think those could be useful as basic considerations. good luck and have fun playing guitar! 🙂