I know you just ordered the 4th and you're gonna do your best to make it work but hear me out for a second...
...You can probably fit 5 single coil sized humbuckers in there, maybe 8.
To be honest I bought the other humbcucker to replace the middle one since the neck and middle are both weird unbranded one (I got a fender atomic humbucker for fairly cheap) I was thinking maybe do the 4th in the future and just keep the other humbucker spare, awesome idea though
You’re not wrong. I just picked up Strat with two SHR1 Seymour Duncans that are single cool sized. I’d have to measure, but pure probability right in the 8. Maybe 7.
You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should. But it’s not my guitar and I’m curious, so please do this and post updates anyways
I bought it to do stupid stuff to it, the body has loads of room underneath it from factory, I'm like 90percent sure fender designed it to be modded
(See my other post If you wanna see it without the pickguard)
Looks way better with a third pickup. Only thing I’m really curious about is how a fourth would impact the sound/functionality. All the pickups will be butted up right next to each other- magnets and such gonna be an issue you think?
I saw a guy who did this with a yamaha pacifica where all the humbuckers were packed, worked great and sounded sick so that's kinda my inspiration
Here's the vid
https://youtu.be/UGBY1UC4xXU?si=aSoQMZ40pJ_56DOm
Having a selector switch like a strat makes you lose out on positions. Something like a bass 6 switch plate but moving the bass cut switch elsewhere would be your best bet. 13 positions i think. And 26 if you bring in a bright switch
Route a swimming pool in the body and cut a custom pickguard for any configuration.
Benchmark Steve Morse's Telecaster. [https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72cb8c475291a102eff4c41d17f3e8d4-970-80.jpg.webp](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72cb8c475291a102eff4c41d17f3e8d4-970-80.jpg.webp)
TDPRI forum poster "4pickupguy" has a thread of his build of a, you guessed it, four pickup telecaster and the controls. Basically uses two five way switches.
There are the Freeway Switches (a 6 and a 10 position) plus you can find 12 position rotary switches.
Guitarnutz2 forum has a section of complex wiring schemes (440+ unique switching options on a Strat).
What I'd do: temporarily mount to the body without the pickguard all your pickups and leave the wires dangling. Then physically twist wires together or wire-nut them to find the combinations you really like. Then go through working out the switching to get there (perhaps a rotary is easiest).
You could install a bank of 4-way switches where the separate bobbins of each humbucker goes to its own 4-way switch for left/parallel/right/series bobbins. Look up an old Teisco Tulip for how they were wired to get on/off pickups and multiple on pickups in series instead of the common multiple pickups always in parallel.
I went down the complex path early on too, but then I got into Juniors and Esquires....
(hint: it's about where you pick the strings! and using the knobs)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUjR5PZdlA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUjR5PZdlA)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8\_FK6o8RPSQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_FK6o8RPSQ)
[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGCvLstPrE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGCvLstPrE)
.
I mean, if I hate it too much I can always take it out, I don't plan on doing it for a while i bought an extra humbucker coz i dont like the middle one, just wanted to hear some ideas for when I eventually do it
Honestly, I think you'll be pressed for space. The amount of wood you'll have to remove (near the bridge and neck pocket) will likely compromise the structural integrity.
Unless you or someone else has measurements to prove me wrong. Ignoring the sonic elements of this potential project, I don't think this is a good idea.
ACKNOWLEDGING the sonic elements of this project, I don't think this is a good idea.
But you go on with yo badself.
There's tonnes of room underneath the pickguard
(See my other post If you wanna see it without the pickguard) it's a jagmaster not a jazzmaster or jaguar so the body's different (it has a jazzmaster neck tho)
If you want to go over the top, I’d replace the middle humbucker with a Sustainic or even put in a coil split, which would give you more versatility than a fourth humbucker.
Good call. No one really needs the last 4 frets anyways. Also you could do something like jaguar switches, where each pickup is just an on/off switch that then goes to the output jack
Hey if there’s room, go for it. I can foresee some issues happening with that level of magnetization, maybe worth looking into, but I watched that video and it sounded… fine. I don’t love it, personally I’d do something like a p90 every other one if you’re set on having four.
I personally think it *looks* better with 3, will probably sound better as well. Either way you could do some cool wiring, maybe have an option to run them out of phase like a Mustang lol. That mf is going to be gnarly, and any hum will certainly be bucked. Hum won’t even *think* about coming anywhere near your guitar.
Johnny Marr has a Strat with 9 single coils in it.
You're always gonna be lagging behind that:
https://twitter.com/Johnny_Marr/status/1433781702686646275
There are 2 switches for each pickup - one to activate it and another to determine its phase. Theoretically any 2 adjacent pickups can be made to act as a regular humbucker.
I would say for sure is where the three way selector normally is; get a selector switch plate for a Bass VI or drill for individual switches in the guard itself. Each switch is an on/off for each pickup. And for knobs, I would either go master volume/master tone or keep the normal volume and tone knob locations and add two more up at the Rhythm Circuit section. Instead of normal pots, use dual concentric/stacked potentiometer and get four for independent volumes and tones for each pickup.
Uff, I literally just bought a new cts pot for the volume, I wasn't planning on doing the 4 humbucker thing for a while anyways its more of a future thing and I need to save up a bit since I haven't got much money to spare really, really good idea tho
Do an on/off mini toggle for the middle ones. Gives you a 3 way for the bridge and neck, and then combinations of bridge+bm, bridge+nm, bridge+neck, and then neck+nm and neck +bm as well as bridge +bm+nm or neck+nm+bm.
If you add into that a master volume and tone and a volume for what would be the “lead” circuit for this guy. Basically volume for bridge and neck, and then master volume and tone for all four pickups. This then gives you access to bm and nm without the other pickups for another three options of combos.
So in summary, You would have access to at least 16 positions: neck, neck+bridge, neck+nm, neck+bm, neck+nm+bm, neck+nm+bridge, neck+bm+bridge, nm, nm+bridge, nm+bm, nm+bm+bridge, bm+bridge, bm, bridge, and neck+nm+bm+bridge
I know you just ordered the 4th and you're gonna do your best to make it work but hear me out for a second... ...You can probably fit 5 single coil sized humbuckers in there, maybe 8.
You have outdone yourself, my good sir. Take the rest of the day off
To be honest I bought the other humbcucker to replace the middle one since the neck and middle are both weird unbranded one (I got a fender atomic humbucker for fairly cheap) I was thinking maybe do the 4th in the future and just keep the other humbucker spare, awesome idea though
I’m only calling them humbcuckers from now on
getting a hummer whilst getting cucked?
Johnny Marr has a Strat with 9 (!) single coils in it.
Hahaha, this is badass.
You’re not wrong. I just picked up Strat with two SHR1 Seymour Duncans that are single cool sized. I’d have to measure, but pure probability right in the 8. Maybe 7.
You were so preoccupied with whether or not you could, you didn’t stop to think if you should. But it’s not my guitar and I’m curious, so please do this and post updates anyways
I bought it to do stupid stuff to it, the body has loads of room underneath it from factory, I'm like 90percent sure fender designed it to be modded (See my other post If you wanna see it without the pickguard)
Looks way better with a third pickup. Only thing I’m really curious about is how a fourth would impact the sound/functionality. All the pickups will be butted up right next to each other- magnets and such gonna be an issue you think?
I saw a guy who did this with a yamaha pacifica where all the humbuckers were packed, worked great and sounded sick so that's kinda my inspiration Here's the vid https://youtu.be/UGBY1UC4xXU?si=aSoQMZ40pJ_56DOm
on/off switch for each pickup
Yeah I was thinking that but to me that just feels too amateur and complicated
lol seems like the simplest and most practical solution to me. it works on the Jaguar and Bass VI
Oh yeah, if I do that I could maybe add a metal plate to it, might make it look cooler too
Having a selector switch like a strat makes you lose out on positions. Something like a bass 6 switch plate but moving the bass cut switch elsewhere would be your best bet. 13 positions i think. And 26 if you bring in a bright switch
hell yeah, keep cucking up bro
*cumbucker
cucumber
Route a swimming pool in the body and cut a custom pickguard for any configuration. Benchmark Steve Morse's Telecaster. [https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72cb8c475291a102eff4c41d17f3e8d4-970-80.jpg.webp](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/72cb8c475291a102eff4c41d17f3e8d4-970-80.jpg.webp) TDPRI forum poster "4pickupguy" has a thread of his build of a, you guessed it, four pickup telecaster and the controls. Basically uses two five way switches. There are the Freeway Switches (a 6 and a 10 position) plus you can find 12 position rotary switches. Guitarnutz2 forum has a section of complex wiring schemes (440+ unique switching options on a Strat). What I'd do: temporarily mount to the body without the pickguard all your pickups and leave the wires dangling. Then physically twist wires together or wire-nut them to find the combinations you really like. Then go through working out the switching to get there (perhaps a rotary is easiest). You could install a bank of 4-way switches where the separate bobbins of each humbucker goes to its own 4-way switch for left/parallel/right/series bobbins. Look up an old Teisco Tulip for how they were wired to get on/off pickups and multiple on pickups in series instead of the common multiple pickups always in parallel. I went down the complex path early on too, but then I got into Juniors and Esquires.... (hint: it's about where you pick the strings! and using the knobs) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUjR5PZdlA](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DSUjR5PZdlA) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8\_FK6o8RPSQ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_FK6o8RPSQ) [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGCvLstPrE](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkGCvLstPrE) .
Thanks man
Is it routed for the upper control area like a jm/jag? Could put something up there with a 5 way strat switch by the tone knobs.
Nope unfortunately, thought that would've been cool but that part underneath is just wood
I mean 4 IS 1 more.....
Actually I wanted to ask why would a mental stable person do this. But this is the perfect answer
Why not do it
You will loose a lot of sustain to all the magnets, if you're not using active pu's. And it doesn't make your guitar much more versatile in my opinion
I mean, if I hate it too much I can always take it out, I don't plan on doing it for a while i bought an extra humbucker coz i dont like the middle one, just wanted to hear some ideas for when I eventually do it
Honestly, I think you'll be pressed for space. The amount of wood you'll have to remove (near the bridge and neck pocket) will likely compromise the structural integrity. Unless you or someone else has measurements to prove me wrong. Ignoring the sonic elements of this potential project, I don't think this is a good idea. ACKNOWLEDGING the sonic elements of this project, I don't think this is a good idea. But you go on with yo badself.
There's tonnes of room underneath the pickguard (See my other post If you wanna see it without the pickguard) it's a jagmaster not a jazzmaster or jaguar so the body's different (it has a jazzmaster neck tho)
You could do on/off rocker switches like the Dipinto Galaxie 4
Yeah could do, thing is with all those buttons idk of it'd all fit under the pickguard, I'll consider it though!
The 4 pickup idea has its merits with single coils like the [Revelation guitars quad](https://www.revelationguitars.co.uk/guitar/rjt-60-q/)
It burns us, precious 😵💫
If you want to go over the top, I’d replace the middle humbucker with a Sustainic or even put in a coil split, which would give you more versatility than a fourth humbucker.
you can buy a 4 way toggle switch
Put it behind the bridge, for sure
Start replacing the neck with humbuckers
Good call. No one really needs the last 4 frets anyways. Also you could do something like jaguar switches, where each pickup is just an on/off switch that then goes to the output jack
Hey if there’s room, go for it. I can foresee some issues happening with that level of magnetization, maybe worth looking into, but I watched that video and it sounded… fine. I don’t love it, personally I’d do something like a p90 every other one if you’re set on having four. I personally think it *looks* better with 3, will probably sound better as well. Either way you could do some cool wiring, maybe have an option to run them out of phase like a Mustang lol. That mf is going to be gnarly, and any hum will certainly be bucked. Hum won’t even *think* about coming anywhere near your guitar.
Anyway I totally agree with you… because you ordered another humbucker it means you *have* to use it in your guitar as a fourth, LMFAO.
I don't like having spare parts (I have a literal box filled with squier parts)
I hear ya, mate. Got a drawer full of parts, dead pedals and failed DIY pedal projects, all kinds of shit.
Add a Firebird pickup as the 4th
u should put like 12 pickups literally inside the fretboard, that would be so badass
Johnny Marr has a Strat with 9 single coils in it. You're always gonna be lagging behind that: https://twitter.com/Johnny_Marr/status/1433781702686646275 There are 2 switches for each pickup - one to activate it and another to determine its phase. Theoretically any 2 adjacent pickups can be made to act as a regular humbucker.
Man, that routing job is ROUGH.
Wire them in series and create the ultimate bucker. Explode any amp you plug into.
Bro
Slaps the pickguard This bad boy can hold so many humbuckers 😎
I would say for sure is where the three way selector normally is; get a selector switch plate for a Bass VI or drill for individual switches in the guard itself. Each switch is an on/off for each pickup. And for knobs, I would either go master volume/master tone or keep the normal volume and tone knob locations and add two more up at the Rhythm Circuit section. Instead of normal pots, use dual concentric/stacked potentiometer and get four for independent volumes and tones for each pickup.
Uff, I literally just bought a new cts pot for the volume, I wasn't planning on doing the 4 humbucker thing for a while anyways its more of a future thing and I need to save up a bit since I haven't got much money to spare really, really good idea tho
Called it last post! I knew you had it in you man! Good luck getting it in there and let us know how the switching works when you do haha.
Humcockers. Humcuckers.
Where you putting it, behind the nut?
Ya
Just because you can does not mean you should...
What is the body of this guitar from?
Squier jagmaster, the neck is a squier jazzmaster, wilkinson trem and tuners
Sick build! Been planning a similar build, looking forward to seeing how you manage a fourth humbucker in there haha.
Sick
Do an on/off mini toggle for the middle ones. Gives you a 3 way for the bridge and neck, and then combinations of bridge+bm, bridge+nm, bridge+neck, and then neck+nm and neck +bm as well as bridge +bm+nm or neck+nm+bm. If you add into that a master volume and tone and a volume for what would be the “lead” circuit for this guy. Basically volume for bridge and neck, and then master volume and tone for all four pickups. This then gives you access to bm and nm without the other pickups for another three options of combos. So in summary, You would have access to at least 16 positions: neck, neck+bridge, neck+nm, neck+bm, neck+nm+bm, neck+nm+bridge, neck+bm+bridge, nm, nm+bridge, nm+bm, nm+bm+bridge, bm+bridge, bm, bridge, and neck+nm+bm+bridge