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  #30615 Posted 2 Years, 8 Months ago
kandu510
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I am new to guitar and am in need of some new pickups for my Mexican Strat (one is not working + I wanted the upgrade). I found a local guy with a brand new pick guard assembly taken off of a brand new Highway 1
Stratocaster (was never used..verified through the music shop) and it has the Fender Atomic Humbucker in the bridge position. My question is will this fit right into my Mexican Strat? In other words, is the existing cut out at the bridge position of my Mexican Strat's body already big enought to accept this Humbucker? I was told it would but, want to make sure before I buy it from him. No way for me to tell unless I physically take my strat apart and
I am not ready to do that myself...Ill pay someone to install it and maybe
I'll learn how in case I ever have the nedd to do something like this again.
Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning.
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  #30616 Posted 2 Years, 8 Months ago
jRzYsWeeTkAnDi
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You don't say how old yours is, but my 2002 model is routed for a bridge humbucker. If you want to have a look for yourself, it's not too daunting (you're certainly not taking anything apart :

1) Take off the strings. You can probably get enough clearance to lift the scratchplate by just slackening them, but if you're going to remove the scratchplate you'll need to take off the strings.

2) Note which screws are holding the pickups - you don't need to alter these. The other screws are holding the scratchplate. Most strats have eleven screws, but 50s replicas have only eight. Take them all out.

3) There are three wires from the scratchplate to the body, and there's enough slack in them to allow you to lift the whole plate to check the routing.

Two wires go through to the angled jack socket and one goes through to the spring claw on the tremolo system. All the other components (pickups, tone and volume knobs and selector switch) are mounted on the scratchplate itself, so you can upgrade to the Highway 1 plate simply by disconnecting these three wires and resoldering to the new plate. It's easy if you don't mind soldering, but obviously if you're not sure then get a tech to do it for you. Hey, you may be a ble to talk the seller into fitting it for free ...

Let us know how you get on, and how the atomic humbucker sounds!
Peace and justice are two sides of the same coin.
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  #30618 Posted 2 Years, 8 Months ago
kandu510
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Thanks a million Alan! I appreciate the detailed information.
Words may show a man's wit but actions his meaning.
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