Pawn Shop Strat, semi scratch build

While I was looking through all the Fender Strats' you could buy, I came across one called a "Pawn Shop". I had a really poor strat shaped body sitting amongst the mess so hence the inspiration. Why not. It basically has a Hardtail with a Humbucker in the Bridge position and a single coil ,tele style, in the neck. I'm not sure how the pickups were configured but I think I'll keep it simple as I can with a 3 way switch, firing up the Humbucker, or 1 coil on the Humbucker or the single on the neck. 1 volume, 1 tone. After a bit of discussion with various forum guru's, have ordered, from PBG, Tonerider hot classic for the neck and some Rocksongs for the bridge.

I also bought a neck from PBG and shaped it accordingly. Finished in True oil

I'm thinking the colour will be Candy Apple Red pearl with the antique white pearloid pickguard

Hi JB, love the wild grain on that fret board. Candy Apple Red & white scratch plate is one of my all time favourite Fender colour combos and can't wait to see how it comes up.

Cheers, Waz

Wasn't really sure what colour but standing at the Super cheap paint can stand it kept wanting my attention.

So after all this time I have mnaged to get some colour on the pawn shop strat. But my question to the wiring guru's is how to wire the thing up. I have a Rocksong humbucker in the bridge and a hot classic at the neck and a three way switch. I would like to have at #1 the neck pickup. At#2 one of the humbucker coils and at #3 the humbucker working as it should. No tone control just the volume.

A quick shot of the body

I'll try to draw something up later today.

Thanks Scott there's no rush, just really appreciative

It's a bit of a rough rush job, but this should give you what you want:
Attachment 23217

1. Neck
2. Bridge slug coil.
3. Bridge full humbucker.

(the slug coil is usually the best split choice for the bridge, but I can swap it to the screw coil if you prefer)

If you want, the neck black and bridge green & bare can go to the back of the volume pot and then connect a ground link from there to the switch lug, instead of the grounds going straight to the switch. Let me know if you have any questions/probs.

Cheers Scott, so much. What type of pot should i be using, 250 or 500

Usually 250K for singles and 500K for hums, so it's a bit 50-50 in this case. The 500 may make the single/split sound too bright and the 250 may make the hum a bit dark. Normally you'd pick a 500K and then roll off some tone if needed, but with only a volume you don't have that option. When in doubt I usually go for a 500K.

Other options would be to add a resistor in parallel with the neck pup to drop the effective pot value for that pup, but it will change the way the pot works a bit. Or, use a push/pull so it works as a volume when down and a tone when up. Or, a small value cap (plus resistor) on the neck pup to drop some of the highs. But, I'd just start with a 500K and then if needed you can look at some tweaks.

Duck Dunn 66 PB :)

Thanks again Scott. Food for thought. Thinking I might go for a push/pull. That way I keep the look on the front minimal and still get the options. Will prob have to get some more wiring info a bit later with the pot in.

Ok so have decided on a concentric pot for a bit more control over the sound, via advice from Weirdy, so now I just need a diagram to put it together. 1 last time Scott, I promise

Set up so the volume is the outer knob, and tone is the inner:

Attachment 23385

So after what seems ages, am finally done, for nowAttachment 23842
Still needs a toggle switch. Many thanks to Weirdy for his wiring help

A couple more shotsAttachment 23843

Love the candy red and pearloid

Love the colour JB. I have a strat from an American supplier that has major body dings so looking at colour. Have been testing Australian Export Gloss Red from Supercheap auto and Rust-oleum Gloss Apple Red from Bunnings. The former is winning so far... what brand was yours? Looks great with the pearloid. Hmmm..... "imitation is the sincerest form of flattery!!!"

The colour is candy apple pearl, from memory, from SCA. I found though that the paint had a fair amount shrink back, so you have to leave it a fair amount of time before doing any polishing. PS Flatter away, it's a great colour