Apples
02-11-2008, 01:05 PM
So I have been only a lukewarm fan of the Stratocaster since it was launched. I love the looks and features though, so I set aside some time this weekend to see if I could improve it. Figure I'd post about it to give others some ideas and discuss guitar hardware mods in general.
Step 1: Improved Strumming Mechanism
The Stratocaster's strumming mechanism really irks me. It does not have sufficient "spring back" nor enough feedback when you have successfully actuated the switch. I do however, have an explorer strum bar which I like. So I did a bit of a heart transplant:
http://72.198.210.201:81/rb/xplorer.jpg
Step 2: Tilt Sensor
The tilt sensor can vary from Strat to Strat. Some are too sensitive, some not enough... it varies based on how you're used to holding the guitar. So while I had it open, I adjusted the sensors to my personal "sweet spot" and then taped them to the shell.
Step 3: Quieted Frets
The fret buttons are notorious for a loudy "clacky" sound. This is generally caused by metal screws in the frets tapping against the plastic frame. The solution I discovered was to create a small buffer of hot glue between the contact points. The material was soft enough to dampen noise and light enough not to impede fret functionality.
Step 4: Rigged solo buttons
Taken from scorehero.com's hardware forum, I wired the main frets in parallel with the solo buttons... meaning that any of the 10 frets can be used for tapping during guitar solos. I didn't think this would be very useful but it turned out to be fun on songs like Working man.
http://72.198.210.201:81/rb/newstrat.jpg
Step 1: Improved Strumming Mechanism
The Stratocaster's strumming mechanism really irks me. It does not have sufficient "spring back" nor enough feedback when you have successfully actuated the switch. I do however, have an explorer strum bar which I like. So I did a bit of a heart transplant:
http://72.198.210.201:81/rb/xplorer.jpg
Step 2: Tilt Sensor
The tilt sensor can vary from Strat to Strat. Some are too sensitive, some not enough... it varies based on how you're used to holding the guitar. So while I had it open, I adjusted the sensors to my personal "sweet spot" and then taped them to the shell.
Step 3: Quieted Frets
The fret buttons are notorious for a loudy "clacky" sound. This is generally caused by metal screws in the frets tapping against the plastic frame. The solution I discovered was to create a small buffer of hot glue between the contact points. The material was soft enough to dampen noise and light enough not to impede fret functionality.
Step 4: Rigged solo buttons
Taken from scorehero.com's hardware forum, I wired the main frets in parallel with the solo buttons... meaning that any of the 10 frets can be used for tapping during guitar solos. I didn't think this would be very useful but it turned out to be fun on songs like Working man.
http://72.198.210.201:81/rb/newstrat.jpg
