What's the most fun mod I could perform on an extra strat?

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Smitty
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What's the most fun mod I could perform on an extra strat?

Post by Smitty » Wed Feb 01, 2012 6:50 pm

so i picked up an old Squier strat this week for a song on Craigslist, and can't bring myself to cannibalize the neck off it (my original intended purpose) because it actually plays really decent for a Chinese Cheapo.

I've got a G&L that more than covers my need for standard "strat" tone, and I'm trying to brainstorm some extreme mods that I could do with this guy to really give myself a different and fun sound to play with, and a justification to keep it... more than just putting humbuckers in it or rewiring the signal path.

Any ideas? Creativity over practicality. :D
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Post by ubertar » Wed Feb 01, 2012 7:04 pm

You could put a hex pickup in it, and wire it for either hex or stereo output.
http://www.ubertar.com/hexaphonic

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Post by standup » Wed Feb 01, 2012 8:09 pm

Massive strings and de-tune it down a fifth or an octave? Rout out a cavity for a Kaoss pad? Piezo pickup?

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Post by Nate Dort » Wed Feb 01, 2012 9:18 pm

sell it and buy something that doesn't look like or sound like a strat.


Can you tell I hate strats? :D'

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Post by The Scum » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:42 pm

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Post by vvv » Wed Feb 01, 2012 10:58 pm

You could send me the G&L (love 'em!) and use that Squier as yer strat. :twisted:

Or, ya could Nashville-tune it.
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Post by Snarl 12/8 » Wed Feb 01, 2012 11:52 pm

Locking nut and bridge with a recessed floyd rose so you could whammy in both directions.
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Post by RodC » Thu Feb 02, 2012 4:29 am

Nate Dort wrote:sell it and buy something that doesn't look like or sound like a strat.


Can you tell I hate strats? :D'
+1 :)
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Post by KennyLusk » Thu Feb 02, 2012 8:40 am

ubertar wrote:You could put a hex pickup in it, and wire it for either hex or stereo output.
http://www.ubertar.com/hexaphonic
+1 on this Paul, I was going to say the same thing.

Talk about the creative possibilities...

I've had so much fun with mine.

I didn't realize you were offering a stereo output now. Interesting.
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Post by Smitty » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:06 am

KennyLusk wrote:
ubertar wrote:You could put a hex pickup in it, and wire it for either hex or stereo output.
http://www.ubertar.com/hexaphonic
+1 on this Paul, I was going to say the same thing.

Talk about the creative possibilities...

I've had so much fun with mine.

I didn't realize you were offering a stereo output now. Interesting.
Checked out the site and it looks cool... I realize it's a very versatile tool that's hardly a one trick pony, but would anybody happen to have some sound clips where I could hear some of the neat things you could do with this? Curious.
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Post by Jim Williams » Thu Feb 02, 2012 9:09 am

If it's a poly finish you can probably light it on fire a couple of times. They make great sounds with flames. Ask Jimi.
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Post by Dakota » Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:18 pm

Varitone! (They are really useful for tracking and overdubs, getting a big variety of unique voicings you can switch and compare quickly)

Griblin Super Multi-Tone:
http://www.griblinengineering.com/hot_rod_parts.htm
Fanciest stock kit I'm aware of. Was just doing overdubs last night with an epiphone with one of these. Most excellent.

Torres Vari-Tone:
http://torresengineering.stores.yahoo.n ... nekit.html
Also respected.

Other cool hot roddy mods at those sites.

And any super-strat *has* to have at least a phase switch for the middle pickup...

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Post by Dakota » Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:30 pm

And series/parallel switching. Series is dark and loud.

http://www.deaf-eddie.net/pushpull/pushpull.html

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Post by ubertar » Thu Feb 02, 2012 12:59 pm

KennyLusk wrote:I didn't realize you were offering a stereo output now. Interesting.
The output just depends on how you wire it up. You've got six outputs to start with, which can be combined in whatever configuration, permanently or with switches, or kept separate.

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Post by ubertar » Thu Feb 02, 2012 1:01 pm

Smitty wrote: Checked out the site and it looks cool... I realize it's a very versatile tool that's hardly a one trick pony, but would anybody happen to have some sound clips where I could hear some of the neat things you could do with this? Curious.
There are some sound clips on the website-- most of them are pretty old and I should make some new ones. I've made a bunch of improvements over time, and I keep experimenting with new ways to improve them more. The site will have a new look in the next few days, thanks to jgimbel from here.

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