• From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Topic: routing strat for humbuckers

Hey everyone-

Last year I designed and assembled a s-style guitar out of warmoth parts. I have fender custom shop '69s in the neck and middle with a dimarzio protrack in the bridge. I am having some trouble because the protrack overpowers the single coils so much. I am considering just having the body routed for humbuckers and calling it a day. I'd try myself but that bad boy wasn't cheap and I dont want to mess anything up.

Thoughts?

Thanks!
Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

EVH used a chisel and hammer to do his.  Honestly if it has a pickguard any mistakes will be hidden.  If you don't have the tools to do it I would pass but if you do, then its a realitively easy project for you to do.

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  • Registered: 2008-08-24
  • Posts: 181

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

Before you dig out the tools, try just lowering the protrack closer to the pickguard.  It's a good way to balance things out. smile

  • Registered: 2008-10-02
  • Posts: 373

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

First try lowing the pups then I would just get a mini humbucker instead of the routing.

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

change the humbucker to a Seymour Duncan 59

  • sted
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  • Registered: 2011-03-20
  • Posts: 333

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

The protrack is far too powerful in tandem with 69's mate, I had a little 59 in my strat and that was a nice balance with the single coils, try something like that before resorting to routing the body out, strats and humbuckers are an acquired taste, my strat is back to 3 single coils now and its all the better for it. smile

  • From: Detroit
  • Registered: 2006-06-02
  • Posts: 5,807

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

rails and humbuckers while they kill the same animal, sound really different  hmm  rails do overpower the single coils living next door too.

- Nic from Detroit... posting on JB's Forum since 6-2-2006
Ask me about my handwound Great Lakes Guitar Pickups
Since 2010, Bonamassa fans have taken advantage of my JB friend discount = my cost + shipping. cool
  • From: Canterbury
  • Registered: 2010-05-27
  • Posts: 310

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

I believe routing may chip the finish if you're not careful. That said, routing isn't that hard to do.

  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

You can use a razor and score the finish and it will break off where you score it and not past that, unless the wood chips.  If you go slow and use a sharp end mill it will be fine honestly.

AD3THREE's Website

10 Reply by Spider (edited by Spider 2011-05-12 20:03:27)

  • From: Was NY now FL/GA line
  • Registered: 2007-12-16
  • Posts: 2,857

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

Bare Knuckles makes matched HSS sets. They may have something you'd prefer.

If you want a dual humbucker strat, I have a 2002 American double fat I'll sell. It has a 59 neck and a pearly gates in the bridge position, with a 5 way switch.

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

I should also add that while I was designing this, I was sort of going for a hybrid strat/Les Paul thing... It's got a mahogany body with a maple top. Still weighing my options... thanks for all the input so far!


Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

how about the neck? 24 3/4ths neck or 25.5 inch scale neck?

AD3THREE's Website

  • From: Ohio
  • Registered: 2007-09-10
  • Posts: 957

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

I went with the 25.5 only because I am so used to playing strats. It's a 1 pc. maligasey (sp?) rosewood neck. It's unfinished and it may already be warping. I need to get it into my tech and see what he can do. If I need to replace the neck, I'll probably go with a 24 3/4... I've been playing my brothers LP a lot and am more comfortable with it. I like Spiders recommendation of a HSS set from bare knuckle. I built this guitar hoping that I would  be able to get some really nice single coil as well as some beefy humbucking tones... you know a guitar that is just great all around.


Logan

Block inlay Gibson ES-335, 50th anniversary American Strat, '61 RI White SG, '62 RI Relic Strat, Replica Korina Flying V, Gold Tone Paul Beard Resonator,  '58 Les Paul RI, American Highway 1 Fender Strat, Breedlove Acoustic, Stonetree Joe Bonamassa Custom, HIWATT Lead 100R, Reeves Custom 30.
  • From: North Carolina
  • Registered: 2008-10-26
  • Posts: 2,926

Re: routing strat for humbuckers

I had a neck that was in my basement for almost a year before I did anything with it and it played fine after that.  After you get it back together let it sit strung up and tuned up for a week before you let anybody turn the truss rod.   Alot of the time the neck does start to move but after they are back in place they can go back to what they were.  I've heard of people setting up a guitar and screwing up the neck because they turned the truss rod and did everything right but after a week or so the neck would go crazy and either warp or they would have to go back and get another truss rod adjustment.  Some necks just never move and don't like it when you try to move them. 

I think you'll have a ball with this new guitar and it should be killer to play as well.  Enjoy!

AD3THREE's Website