Thanks for this great tutorial. I have been wanting to try a blend control for some time, but didn't want to start on any of my high end guitars, so I picked up a $150 Spectrum Strat for $50 and had a zero load pot laying around. It was an easy procedure. I love the variety of sound and can't wait to use my new "Blended Blackie" at my next gig!
I like how you detail any bit of the process; even something like explaining the switch orientation many wonder if there's an specific way... And you covered it all here, good work mate! For what is worth you earned my subscription.
Very helpful video, detailed and clear explanations. One person commented to always use flux. I don't know if flux has changed in the 100 or so years when I learned electronics and soldering, but flux used to leave an oily residue that would corrode over time if not properly cleaned up. The other thing from 100 years ago - we were warned to never trim wire after soldering a joint because trimming can actually fracture the joint, causing a cold joint. That said, we were usually working with heavier gauge wire - trimming/snipping took more force. Subscribed, thank you.
I added a blender mod to my strat by adding a 4th small potentiometer. This way I can keep my tone controls and have a little turning knob to add in the other outer side pickup. And I really love how it sounds now. For me it makes total sense to blend the dark sounding pickup the the bright one and the other way around.
Thanks for the video. I like this way of wiring. It gives you a little more control of the sound and turns that tone control into something useful! Otherwise I hardly ever use that one!👍😎🎸🎶
ive just done this and it doesn't work, maybe because common goes to volume? i had to move the wires to the right side and then the blender worked aswell@@vincenttomazzolli3940
Thanks for a very informative video, which is the best of its kind I’ve seen, with both camera work and narration being very clear. I’ve subscribed. Just been watching your vid on testing pots etc, but I’m wondering wether testing a blender install might be slightly different as a blender is not simply on or off. I’d love to see the blender install tested next time you do one. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Firstly, congratulations on the videos!! I would like to know in this case, how do I change the BLEND potentiometer for a 6-pole ON ON switch? How should I connect the wires? Thanks!
Hello, your schematic + Fralin's do not have the 3 pots grounded. Is it necessary to ground them on the side as you did? Thank you for this video. Chicago blues, man.
great video. The diagram I have shows the blender wires connected to the switch opposite of what you did. Outer lug of the blender goes to the closest terminal of the switch (call that terminal 1) and middle lug goes to the 3rd terminal of the switch. Can you explain the difference? Thanks
Hi I have followed your wire diagram but the volume is also acting as a tone control. I have checked your diagram many times but still same problem. Everything else works as it should and sounds amazing. Graham
@@SixStringSupplies I certainly did, installed the mod myself and love it. Now just trying to figure out how to do the same on a Jazzmaster but that seems tricky because there is so much wiring
From my experience you can never have too much grounding. The copper on the guard is just shielding, to prevent radio interference, but its not always a solid ground. I particularly like the side ground here...much nicer work-
Great video! Thank you. When doing this mod with the Fender 3-wire noiseless pickups; what alterations would need to be made, to accomplish the same configuration of tone options?
Great demo as always, I wanted to know of a Treble Bleed could still be added to this wiring diagram ? Seems like it may get a bit busy, but well worth the effort for balance at low volumes. Please kindly advise, Cheers !
Hello, I just ordered a ‘Toneshaper’ blend kit and in the product description on Amazon says it comes with a treble bleed ( I know this is an old post, hopefully it will help others). Cheers.
So if I understand this correctly if I follow this I will not be able to blend in all 3 pickups at the same time? If not is there a way? Great Video and thanks!
Why not use a true balance pot? It loos like you are mixing more or less of one sound with the other sound(s) that is always at 100%. I think it is more versatile for the pot to be a dual control, such that it varies both tones (one goes up while the other goes down)...so you can get any combination from 100% of one & 0% of the other, to the reverse of that, & any combination of percentages in between.
Great video, very well presented. Wiring the mod this way, I assume the pickups stay in phase as opposed to Dan Sheppard's out of phase mod? I can't get that one to work correctly using Breja Toneworks schematic or Guitar Payer schematic. Maybe a good idea for a new video?
so, my understanding is - for the 2 right most switch positions, rolling down will add more neck - for the middle position, no change - for the 2 left most positions, rolling up will add more bridge is that correct? thanks for the video!
I installed a blend pot for HSH configuration like you described here but for some reason it doesnt work, is there a specific reason why it doesn't blend in bridge/neck pickup into a signal. Does it have something to do with the volume of the pot that I am using?
Do you have same problem that i have that the blend pot is leaking the neck and bridge pickups so you never have just bridge or neck signal, very annoying
You are seriously good at this! And, this is my favourite Strat mod. Victor (Fret Friend)... PS: What is that ATTEN solder station like? Cheap as chips. However, I do have a HAKKO FX-888D now which is brilliant... PPS: Surprised to see you using Audio pots: I go all linear now (I prefer the sweep/taper)...
NG One Seven thanks man. Yeah I followed your new channel. The ATTEN served me well for a year then broke down. The Hakko is a unit. Only very recently had to replace the solder tip after 2 years of solid use.
PS - linear/audio everyone is different. These pots are “TVT pots” (True vintage taper) whilst being audio, they have a slightly more linear curve that a typical modern 10% audio pot
Hi, I did my blender mod from your video and it turned out great. Thanks, couple of questions though. If I wanted to change my pickup configuration and go to a reverse wound middle for hum cancelling, will this mod still work the same? Also, I've seen other diagrams for this where the jumper was running from the middle/output post of the volume pot to the middle post of the tone. Where yours runs from the input on volume to the middle post of the tone, what's the deal with that? I mean yours works, but what's the deal with the other way?
Hi Daisy, glad you liked the video and it worked well for you. Firstly, yes, if you went reverse wound middle for him cancelling it would work the same (the pickups in this video are middle hum cancelling) I’ve not come across the diagram you describe but that is essentially “50s style” wiring that you are describing - you can read about it here, ever so slightly different www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/modern-vs-50s-les-paul-wiring
Do I understand correctly that, with this wiring, the bridge and neck are never fully disconnected because the max resistance inbetween will be 250K ? Doesn't that mean that you won't really be able to have a pure neck or pure bridge sound ?
Wouldn't it be better to use a No-Load pot ? Or else a push-pull pot so that the blend pot is only linking the bridge and neck PUs when it's pulled ? That way, when pushed, there would be an infinite resistor between the selected PU and the other PUs.
I want to do this mod to one of my DIY strats with EMG SV active pickups. I'm wondering if this is possible and assume it is, but want to research it, before tackling the mod.
I did this mod for a 12 string strat about 3 years ago. Didn't know that copper wire stuff existed. I used a coat hanger for the 3 pot ground wire. Works fine.:-)
Hi sir.. nice jobs.. can i ask?? How to wiring pickup dimarzio hs3 on bridge and dimarzio Fs1 on neck + not connected tone pot like yngwei malmsteen.. help me sir.. im so confius with Hs3 pickup coz have 5 wire?? What ur suggestion sir?
Hey i want to build a normal SSS Strat Pickguard but with a 3 Way Switch instead of the 5 way because i never use them. Is there anything special or do you have wire diagram for that case? I always just find the blend control mod or with less pickups like for a tele and i am not really sure how to wire the 3 pick ups to the 3 way for normal strat functionality
hello, i want to make my guitar wired like that, and now i'm looking for a Pots for my blender knob, is it need a particular Pots or just use CTS 250k audio pots?
Thanks for the video, it's really great tutorial and did the same on my Warmoth strat. It turns out great but just one question if you could advise. I put a set of Bare Knuckle single coils but when i flip the pup switch to either neck position or bridge position, there seems some tone bleeding from the pickups. I discovered this when I do the tapping test (i.e. some sound from bridge pup when the pup switch is flipped to neck position, and vice versa). Am I missing something in between? I checked the wirings and all are properly done. Thank you very much indeed!
The thing with regular potentiometers is that even at 10 there is still a connection between the terminal as the sweeper is still on the strip. In tone pots this is tolerable but in blender pots you want to keep the option to use either pickup isolated so you use no load pots. They essentially cut the connection completely at position 10 so that no bleed is present
Duane Thompson thanks. The diagram is at the start of the video? We always include schematic. Though for one that doesn’t disappear: www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/stratocaster-with-a-blender-pot
I hope someone can explain this to me. What does the capacitor do? It is out of circuit and looks to be simply a glorified grounding wire. I have pondered it and to my non electrical brain it doesn't seem to serve a real purpose. Thank you.
Why a paper capacitor? I thought they were meant to be notoriously unreliable? I'm replacing the old paper capacitors in my old early 50's philips disc jockey major record player and I read not to replace with more paper caps. Also I thought they didn't make paper caps these days and that any you might be able to buy are new old stock and are probably no good.
Save some money by using a small piece of an unwound G or B string for an earth wire, if you need one, rather than forking out for an expensive spool of tinned copper earth wire. As unless your a pro that is wiring up harnesses all day every day like this guy you'll never use it all.
I made the easiest job in the world the worst swapping loaded pickguard. How? I went in using a Walmart 9.99 iron kit. OMG! Never again. The video I watch just to laugh at myself. I was so pissed. Hahahahahaha. At least it's done.
sure, electrolytic capacitors do, but 99% of capacitors used in audio applications are not (ceramic, silver mica, mylar, polyester, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropene etc...ie. everything put in a guitar) www.elprocus.com/non-polarized-capacitor/
Thanks for this great tutorial. I have been wanting to try a blend control for some time, but didn't want to start on any of my high end guitars, so I picked up a $150 Spectrum Strat for $50 and had a zero load pot laying around. It was an easy procedure. I love the variety of sound and can't wait to use my new "Blended Blackie" at my next gig!
I like how you detail any bit of the process; even something like explaining the switch orientation many wonder if there's an specific way... And you covered it all here, good work mate! For what is worth you earned my subscription.
I just wired my HSS strat PG with the blend pot, and a DPDT mini switch for the coil select on the bucker, great sound and easy with your demo.
Ah interesting. I have a 93 jap squier strat that is HSS and I have a bunch of DPDT switches. I may have to experiment lol
Oh, cool, thats why Im here.
And i have a DPDT switch too...great idea!!!
I like how you did the ground wire on the side to all 3 pots...nice!👍😎
Very helpful video, detailed and clear explanations. One person commented to always use flux. I don't know if flux has changed in the 100 or so years when I learned electronics and soldering, but flux used to leave an oily residue that would corrode over time if not properly cleaned up.
The other thing from 100 years ago - we were warned to never trim wire after soldering a joint because trimming can actually fracture the joint, causing a cold joint. That said, we were usually working with heavier gauge wire - trimming/snipping took more force.
Subscribed, thank you.
Many thanks Mike. The solder is use is flux codes which does as you mention require cleaning up to prevent future corrosion.
most all around solder include flux anyway (in the solder)
I used this to re-wire my guitar and I’m loving the new sounds. Thank you very much.
The best tutorial on you tube for guitar mods ,,,
Fantastic video. Very well explained and great demonstration of proper soldering technique.
I added a blender mod to my strat by adding a 4th small potentiometer. This way I can keep my tone controls and have a little turning knob to add in the other outer side pickup. And I really love how it sounds now. For me it makes total sense to blend the dark sounding pickup the the bright one and the other way around.
Thanks for your valuable and informative videos. They’ve helped me a lot.
Thanks for the video. I like this way of wiring. It gives you a little more control of the sound and turns that tone control into something useful! Otherwise I hardly ever use that one!👍😎🎸🎶
Great video. If you do this, pay attention at the end (33:30). The pick up wires go to the right side of the switch, not the left.
I believe that if you added a jumper wire between the 2 common lugs, you could then use the left side to connect your pickups.
ive just done this and it doesn't work, maybe because common goes to volume? i had to move the wires to the right side and then the blender worked aswell@@vincenttomazzolli3940
Thanks for a very informative video, which is the best of its kind I’ve seen, with both camera work and narration being very clear. I’ve subscribed. Just been watching your vid on testing pots etc, but I’m wondering wether testing a blender install might be slightly different as a blender is not simply on or off. I’d love to see the blender install tested next time you do one. Thanks, keep up the good work.
Excellent video, really well explained and demonstrated.
Thank you! Great tutorial as usual.
Firstly, congratulations on the videos!! I would like to know in this case, how do I change the BLEND potentiometer for a 6-pole ON ON switch? How should I connect the wires? Thanks!
Great demo, have you Dan Armstrong wiring video ?
Check the BrejaToneWorks channel's for that wiring mod.
Hello, your schematic + Fralin's do not have the 3 pots grounded. Is it necessary to ground them on the side as you did?
Thank you for this video. Chicago blues, man.
great video. The diagram I have shows the blender wires connected to the switch opposite of what you did. Outer lug of the blender goes to the closest terminal of the switch (call that terminal 1) and middle lug goes to the 3rd terminal of the switch. Can you explain the difference? Thanks
Hi I have followed your wire diagram but the volume is also acting as a tone control. I have checked your diagram many times but still same problem. Everything else works as it should and sounds amazing. Graham
this is exactly the tutorial i needed. thank you
Would you do a video on half-blender wiring ? Thanks 🇨🇦
This is fantastic, thank you so much!
No worries sir hope you found it helpful
@@SixStringSupplies I certainly did, installed the mod myself and love it. Now just trying to figure out how to do the same on a Jazzmaster but that seems tricky because there is so much wiring
This was really helpful. Thank you!
Glad it helped you out
Do we need the pot grounds? None of the wiring drawings show it.Great video.Figured all grounds are via the copper on the pickguard.
From my experience you can never have too much grounding.
The copper on the guard is just shielding, to prevent radio interference, but its not always a solid ground.
I particularly like the side ground here...much nicer work-
Great explanation. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Could you give the specs of the tone cap?
Could you do an explanation of the pickup wiring?
Fantastic video as always!!! Looking forward to the casino one next!!👍🏻
Mark Wright will be uploaded in the next week or so. Got some mini tutorials to upload beforehand. Thanks for the support. All the best
Great video! Thank you. When doing this mod with the Fender 3-wire noiseless pickups; what alterations would need to be made, to accomplish the same configuration of tone options?
I just did this mod, thanks for the demo, I want to add a treble bleed I am guessing that would go on the volume pot like normal, right ? thx
It took 14 hours till it works ! But it works.
It is way more complicated than it looks
Great demo as always, I wanted to know of a Treble Bleed could still be added to this wiring diagram ? Seems like it may get a bit busy, but well worth the effort for balance at low volumes. Please kindly advise, Cheers !
Hello, I just ordered a ‘Toneshaper’ blend kit and in the product description on Amazon says it comes with a treble bleed ( I know this is an old post, hopefully it will help others). Cheers.
So if I understand this correctly if I follow this I will not be able to blend in all 3 pickups at the same time? If not is there a way? Great Video and thanks!
Why not use a true balance pot? It loos like you are mixing more or less of one sound with the other sound(s) that is always at 100%. I think it is more versatile for the pot to be a dual control, such that it varies both tones (one goes up while the other goes down)...so you can get any combination from 100% of one & 0% of the other, to the reverse of that, & any combination of percentages in between.
What gauge is the tinned copper wire? Thanks, enjoy the lessons on wiring the guitar electronics.
Thanks! It's 18 awg or 1mm in metric speak
Great video, very well presented. Wiring the mod this way, I assume the pickups stay in phase as opposed to Dan Sheppard's out of phase mod? I can't get that one to work correctly using Breja Toneworks schematic or Guitar Payer schematic. Maybe a good idea for a new video?
The best video...
What wires would I move to just have the tone control on the bridge with this set up
Is it correct that you only wire to the right-sided terminals of the switch? The left terminals stay empty/unused???
That is correct. He is not using a jumper on the common lugs to connect the left side terminals.
What gauge is your grounding wire? The tinned copper?
20 AWG
so, my understanding is
- for the 2 right most switch positions, rolling down will add more neck
- for the middle position, no change
- for the 2 left most positions, rolling up will add more bridge
is that correct?
thanks for the video!
good point after all the 5 way is upside down...
Can you show how to wire a a HSS strat with blend control to a free way switch?
Nice detailed instalation, but its more better if you test you project after, to see the difference...thank you...
I installed a blend pot for HSH configuration like you described here but for some reason it doesnt work, is there a specific reason why it doesn't blend in bridge/neck pickup into a signal. Does it have something to do with the volume of the pot that I am using?
if you soldered the pick up wires to the left side of the switch maybe thats why, this is what happened to me
Very good! Brazilian thanks!
Is the result the same as the gilmour switch mod?
Do you have same problem that i have that the blend pot is leaking the neck and bridge pickups so you never have just bridge or neck signal, very annoying
How come you don’t fill the lugs with solder? Sorry if you have addressed this before
Completely ignore me. I notice that the slight tinning at the terminals is then filled with the actual connection. My bad!
I have a blend control instead of a puckup selector on my tele. I love it.
the blender works with alpha pots?
You are seriously good at this! And, this is my favourite Strat mod. Victor (Fret Friend)...
PS: What is that ATTEN solder station like? Cheap as chips. However, I do have a HAKKO FX-888D now which is brilliant...
PPS: Surprised to see you using Audio pots: I go all linear now (I prefer the sweep/taper)...
NG One Seven thanks man. Yeah I followed your new channel. The ATTEN served me well for a year then broke down. The Hakko is a unit. Only very recently had to replace the solder tip after 2 years of solid use.
PS - linear/audio everyone is different. These pots are “TVT pots” (True vintage taper) whilst being audio, they have a slightly more linear curve that a typical modern 10% audio pot
@@SixStringSupplies Good to know! I mainly use vintage CTS pots anyway but only standard 450S ones not the CVT's...
Hi, I did my blender mod from your video and it turned out great. Thanks, couple of questions though. If I wanted to change my pickup configuration and go to a reverse wound middle for hum cancelling, will this mod still work the same? Also, I've seen other diagrams for this where the jumper was running from the middle/output post of the volume pot to the middle post of the tone. Where yours runs from the input on volume to the middle post of the tone, what's the deal with that? I mean yours works, but what's the deal with the other way?
Hi Daisy, glad you liked the video and it worked well for you. Firstly, yes, if you went reverse wound middle for him cancelling it would work the same (the pickups in this video are middle hum cancelling) I’ve not come across the diagram you describe but that is essentially “50s style” wiring that you are describing - you can read about it here, ever so slightly different www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/modern-vs-50s-les-paul-wiring
Ive seen in other wiring diagrams for this blend that the blend pot was a 1meg pot … you say it doesn’t need to be ?
Do I understand correctly that, with this wiring, the bridge and neck are never fully disconnected because the max resistance inbetween will be 250K ?
Doesn't that mean that you won't really be able to have a pure neck or pure bridge sound ?
Wouldn't it be better to use a No-Load pot ? Or else a push-pull pot so that the blend pot is only linking the bridge and neck PUs when it's pulled ?
That way, when pushed, there would be an infinite resistor between the selected PU and the other PUs.
Yes indeed - we corrected this in a more recent video: ruclips.net/video/a_rlkO0RRwI/видео.html
Can you do master volume and master tone control wiring with 3 single coil in a stratocaster?
I want to do this mod to one of my DIY strats with EMG SV active pickups. I'm wondering if this is possible and assume it is, but want to research it, before tackling the mod.
what the thing do use to connect all the pots ground? is it made from steel?
thank you
hi it's tinned copper wire 0.9mm
Thankyouuuuu
I did this mod for a 12 string strat about 3 years ago. Didn't know that copper wire stuff existed. I used a coat hanger for the 3 pot ground wire. Works fine.:-)
Hi sir.. nice jobs.. can i ask?? How to wiring pickup dimarzio hs3 on bridge and dimarzio Fs1 on neck + not connected tone pot like yngwei malmsteen.. help me sir.. im so confius with Hs3 pickup coz have 5 wire?? What ur suggestion sir?
Hi. Would it be difficult to obtain the same options but in series wiring, say via a push-push switch on the blender dial? Thanks
Hi not sure to be honest I'll look into it.
Hey i want to build a normal SSS Strat Pickguard but with a 3 Way Switch instead of the 5 way because i never use them. Is there anything special or do you have wire diagram for that case? I always just find the blend control mod or with less pickups like for a tele and i am not really sure how to wire the 3 pick ups to the 3 way for normal strat functionality
they make a retro 3 position switch. It looks just like the 5 position but It is 3 position like the original way fender did it.
Jazz bass w/ blend pots pls🙏🙏🙏
Was this video done by Nigel Tufnel?
If i want to do it on an HSS configuration, what should i do ?
Good job🇵🇦👊🏻
hello, i want to make my guitar wired like that, and now i'm looking for a Pots for my blender knob, is it need a particular Pots or just use CTS 250k audio pots?
You need specific ones just look up blender pota
can i use a seven pin selector to make a blend control??? please answer me
M7 Peppa Pig yes should be able to
Where should I put my capacitor?
How do you ground your trem
Treble bleed circuit work on this mod?
Yeah man.
@@SixStringSupplies I used your video to install my new pups. Works nicely. So many more tones. Thanks for all that you do.
SPOON SMITH no worries sir! Thanks
thank you
How do i do this for left handed?
Can you do this with a hsh?
thanks for the information and... do you ever thought about being part of a The Smiths cover, your voice looks like Morrissey's voice 😂✌🏼
Did you ever record yourself playing with the mod? And comparing with a standard strat?
Hi in recent videos yes, in these early ones...no.
The two wires of the blender pot are swapped compared to all the diagrams I found
Thanks for the video, it's really great tutorial and did the same on my Warmoth strat. It turns out great but just one question if you could advise.
I put a set of Bare Knuckle single coils but when i flip the pup switch to either neck position or bridge position, there seems some tone bleeding from the pickups. I discovered this when I do the tapping test (i.e. some sound from bridge pup when the pup switch is flipped to neck position, and vice versa).
Am I missing something in between? I checked the wirings and all are properly done.
Thank you very much indeed!
The thing with regular potentiometers is that even at 10 there is still a connection between the terminal as the sweeper is still on the strip. In tone pots this is tolerable but in blender pots you want to keep the option to use either pickup isolated so you use no load pots. They essentially cut the connection completely at position 10 so that no bleed is present
You need to use no load pots for blender to avoid bleed
Humbucker bridge? How do you do this with a humbucker bridge pup?
SPOON SMITH assuming you’re not doing anything fancy with the humbucker, it’s exactly the same
I like your videos, but wish you included a schematic. I want to see the switch workings as they relate to the pins.
Duane Thompson thanks. The diagram is at the start of the video? We always include schematic. Though for one that doesn’t disappear: www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/stratocaster-with-a-blender-pot
Can i use 500k pots on these?
I hope someone can explain this to me. What does the capacitor do? It is out of circuit and looks to be simply a glorified grounding wire. I have pondered it and to my non electrical brain it doesn't seem to serve a real purpose. Thank you.
Check this guy out. He'll explain everything ruclips.net/video/OAiXjd0EApw/видео.html
A Pure Tone Jack is two times better than a Switchcraft. I did the math.
Agreed! I built two HS Teles with concentric 250k/500k pots and a Pure Tone jack
This just absolutely isn't working for me I went through it step by step but it seems to just have all of them on or none of them
Pickup wayar...bro..?
Cheers
Why a paper capacitor? I thought they were meant to be notoriously unreliable? I'm replacing the old paper capacitors in my old early 50's philips disc jockey major record player and I read not to replace with more paper caps. Also I thought they didn't make paper caps these days and that any you might be able to buy are new old stock and are probably no good.
Save some money by using a small piece of an unwound G or B string for an earth wire, if you need one, rather than forking out for an expensive spool of tinned copper earth wire. As unless your a pro that is wiring up harnesses all day every day like this guy you'll never use it all.
Good advice. Unwound strings work just as well, as do capacitor leads. If long enough.
The blend pot doesn’t need to be a 1 Meg ? You used 250k … right ? Other diagrams I’ve seen say to wire a 1 Meg blend pot … what gives ?
Not sure you can honestly say that ground from pot to pot is useful. They are already grounded via shielding.
Great information! I think you should wash your hands young man!
Thanks man, well and truly washed
I made the easiest job in the world the worst swapping loaded pickguard. How? I went in using a Walmart 9.99 iron kit. OMG! Never again. The video I watch just to laugh at myself. I was so pissed. Hahahahahaha. At least it's done.
just to let you know caps do have a polarity
sure, electrolytic capacitors do, but 99% of capacitors used in audio applications are not (ceramic, silver mica, mylar, polyester, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropene etc...ie. everything put in a guitar) www.elprocus.com/non-polarized-capacitor/
so let's hear it ... please...
Do you want to f*ck up your tone? Install a passive blender 😂
can not follow you-
Faz pouco e fala demais
Can i use 500k pots here?
yup