Customized Strat Plus Models
Over the years I have been working with Strat Plus guitars. Not being content with a stock model, I have enjoyed experimenting with custom wiring modifications—thus creating new sounds and looks. These modified Plus guitars have become popular by many musicians, both pro and home pickers. I have more in the shop right now that will be posted on this site very soon. Be watching for them!
  
This is a 1997 Natural Ash Fender Plus Deluxe that has been modified with two DiMarzio Classic Humbuckers pickups with a Chrome Dome Lace Sensor pickup in between. The neck pickup is a (DP-194) and the bridge is a (DP-195). These Chrome covered humbuckers are designed to give that true to life, vintage 1950's PAF humbucking sound. They use DiMarzio's special "Airbucker" technology that retains the presence and attack that chrome covers often take away from a pickup. The bridge pickup is slightly fatter and hotter, while the neck has more presence and attack. This delivers a really cool Les Paul/PRS sound from a Stratocaster! The guitar really screams!
This also has a Coil Splitting Switch for the humbuckers (thus killing one side of the windings on the humbucker) so they can act more like a single coil pickup, thus creating a more Strat like sound especially when mixed with the middle Lace Sensor pickup. It has traditional Strat sounds, but not like 3 single coils. And as on the Plus Models, the guitar is very quiet. This guitar is the best of both worlds, a Strat Plus, or a ......... ;-)
   
When I did the custom build with 2 humbuckers and a Chrome Dome in the middle, on the 1997 Natural Ash Plus (above), I lost a lot of the Strat quack and honk in switch positions #2 and #4, even using a tap switch to split the humbuckers into a single coil phase. This problem was resolved on this Black 1995 Strat Plus Deluxe. With the Deluxe Floyd Rose II bridge and a DiMarzio PAF Classic Humbucker (DP194N) in the neck position, I could get all those great vintage Les Paul/PRS tones, making it a killer blue/jazz guitar. But because the rest of the guitar is wired like a Fender Strat Ultra, it can get all those traditional Strat honks and quacks and even to some nice Telecaster voices! I have wanted to build one like this for a long time. I have not seen a Strat out there like this.
   
This is a mint 1994 Strat Plus a DiMarzio PAF (195N) in the neck, a Hot Gold Lace Dome in the middle and two Red Chrome Domes in the bridge.This has the Fender Ultra (James Burton) Strat-o-Tele switching on this plus an extra Mini-toggle for splitting the humbucker. It is a sister to the Black Plus above but with a Rosewood neck! You can see the whole process involved with wiring this guitar on my "Custom Wiring Tricks" page.
This is USA 1997 very rare BURGUNDY MIST METALLIC STRATOCASTER PLUS DELUXE that has been customized like an Ultra. Burgundy Mist Metallic is really rare in a Plus model guitar. I have owned 100's of Strat Plus' and this is the first one I have seen. Also this body is original and has not been refinished. The route, date in the neck socket, as well as other details unmistakably show this was a Fender Plus body. Burgunday Mist was one of Fender's vintage colors, and like so many of the Plus series, unlisted available colors were almost always vintage. This is not to be mistaken for Midnight Wine. The color shifts with the lighting and has quite a bit of metal flake.
This Strat, as are most on this page, is wired just like a Fender Ultra., with the Blue (neck), Silver (middle) and Red Dually (bridge). Very few people know the secret to the Ultra wiring schematics, which produces a unique variation in sound. Here is how the 5-way Fender Super Switch switch works. Position #1 = The bridge pickup in combination with a 3-way Mini Switch.
The Mini Switch alone gives several variations, which are really cool. Here's what it does to the Dually Bridge Pickup (and remember too, that these settings can be mixed with the other pickups in Positions #2 & #3). Up) splits off the back pickup, so since the distance is farther away from the bridge, it creates a cool Strat hollow sound, which then can be mixed with the middle pickups with the 5-way switch. Middle) has the bridge pickups in parallel creating a hot humbucker sound. Down) splits off front pickup on the bridge to give a Strat single coil bridge sound.
Position #2: The Bridge and the Middle pickups mixed together, which can get a multitude of Strat out-of-phase tones because of the Mini Switch and the TBX tone control.
Position #3: Here is where we depart from standard Strat wiring. The Neck PU with the Bridge PU like on any 2 PU guitars, such as a Telecaster. Again, with the Mini Switch you can shape the color of the sound. Full, rich rhythm sounds. And both tone controls are also combined in this position too. Sweet.......
Position #4: Is the Neck and the Middle.
Position #5: The Neck PU. As on all the Plus Series, the bottom tone control is Fender's TBX tone system.
This is a mint 1991 Gloss Black Stratocastor Plus that has been customized with new Lace Sensor pickups in an Ultra configuration. The top pickguard, is a Black/Red/Black, with a matching back cover. Since this is a 1991 it has the Wilkerson Roller Nut.
  
On this guitar I did something new, and the sound turned out to be fantastic! The NECK pickup is a newly released, special order, BURGANDY LACE SENSOR which has an increased output with the warmer Gibson-ish 50's P-90 type sound. This pickup is new to the Lace sensor line and has never been released on any of the Plus Models. Lace used over sized wire on the windings to pack more warmth and punch. It reproduces some really nice bluestones.
The MIDDLE pickup is a GOLD LACE SENSOR which delivers a hot, vintage 50's single coil sound with increased output and the BRIDGE pickups are a DUALLY RED/BLUE LACE SENSOR combining the famous Red Lace, which is the hottest output of the Sensor Series, giving a fat, punchy PAF humbucking voice together with a BLUE LACE which has an increased output with the warmer vintage Gibson-ish PAF humbucker type sound.
This is a near mint 1991 Surf Green Stratocaster Plus that has been customized like an Ultra with a special 70's flare to it. It has many of the features of a Jeff Beck Strat but is much more versatile. Jeff's Strat use 4 gold Lace with a tap switch in the bridge. This one is 2 Silvers and a Blue/Red Dually in the bridge with many selection combinations. This is wired like an Ultra with the middle switch position being the bridge + the neck pickups together, plus the 3-way mini toggle switch for the bridge Lace Dually.
The Silver Lace Sensors, in the neck and middle are voiced to deliver a 1970's single coil sound with increased output and more midrange. Really a unique combination of tone you will not find in any other Strat Plus or Ultra guitars.
This is another 1991 Surf Green STRATOCASTER PLUS that has been customized like an Ultra. (Serial #N1030054, I have owned a lot of 1991 Plus' for some reason). Unlike the one above this one has the custom ordered Blue Lace Chrome Dome in the neck, Hot Gold Dome in the middle and a Hot Red Set in the bridge. Nice mint white pickguard sets off the color of the body well especially with the Maple neck.
This was a radical custom wiring job. This is a 1993 CRIMSON BURST STRAT PLUS DELUXE that is wired like a like an double Ultra using the two Chrome Domes Duallys, one in the neck and one in the bridge, both with the 3-way Mini Switch. You can get a mulitude of sounds out of this guitar by selecting any pickup or combinations of pickups. Like a Les Paul to a Strat. The Ash top and back is beautiful. This is one of my favorite colors. The combinations on this are almost endless. The neck on this guitar is the most unusual. The "skunk" stripe down the back was a very light piece of wood, making the back almost look like one solid piece of Maple.
1995 GRAFFITI YELLOW STRATOCASTER PLUS that has been customized like an Ultra. Even thought the serial number indicates it is a 1995 it has the 1996 Anniversary sticker on the back of the headstock, so it is likely a early 1996. (Serial #N5xxxxx). This has the Ultra wiring which is on many of the guitars on this page. The pickups are Blue Lace Sensor in the neck, Silver in the middle and a cool Silver/Red Dually in the bridge with the Ultra mini-switch.
The neck is a maple with a really nice vintage tint, which goes well with the yellow body!
This is a excellent condition 1991 SUNBURST ASH STRATOCASTER PLUS that has been customized similar to a Stratocaster Ultra BUT with a little twist! What I like about this Plus, it that it is just that! It is like a Standard Strat Plus, with 3-Gold Lace pickups, but with the Ultra switching and the Gold/Red Dually in the bridge. It has the vintage 50s sound of a Standard Plus or in the bridge, the sounds similar to the Plus Deluxe with a little more bite, due to the closeness of the Red Lace to the bridge. It has almost a Tele bridge sound. Or you get a humbucker type sound, or a Gold Lace Standard Plus sound. I love it. I have another one just like this but with a Maple neck I plan on posting soon.
This has the Mini Switch in the bridge, just like the standard Ultra wiring. Here again is what it does to the Dually Bridge Pickup (and remember too, that these settings can be mixed with the other pickups).
The NECK and MIDDLE Pickups are Gold Lace Senors which are famous for a 50's Strat sound with more power and great harmonics that can give you chimes and quack of a 50's Strat. The BRIDGE Pickup is a custom GOLD/RED LACE SENSOR Dually. Talk about versatility in sounds! The Red Lace is the hottest output of the Sensor Series, and gives a fat, punchy humbucking output. While the Gold Lace gives a vintage 50's Strat vibe! Mix and match with the Ultra type mini-switch!
Again: Up) activates the front Gold Lace pickup which creates a more of a standard Strat Plus bridge sound, which then can be mixed with the middle pickups with the 5-way switch. Middle) has the Gold/Red bridge pickups in parallel creating a hot humbucker sound. Down) Activates the back Red Lace on the bridge giving a hot almost Tele bridge bite. The distance from the bridge makes the pickups respond differently.
This is a 1993 Strat Plus Deluxe in a beautiful Blue Pearl Dust that has been customized with a set of Chrome Dome Lace Sensors and a special ordered single covered Lace sensor Dually. This guitar is dead mint. The Blue Silver burst blends into the dark blue body.
  
It is wired like a Strat Ultra but has a MuzicTech 20bd boost with tone shaping. When the lower tone control is pulled UP the wiring is stock like an ULTRA but the tone controls will not work. This is not a problem as most of us run the tone controls wide open anyhow. When the lower tone control is down the bottom tone control controls the amount of boost and the upper tone control shape the sound. You can get those famous Clapton tones like on his signature Strats, but with a lot more shaping and tone varations. And since it is wired like an Ultra, you get the special effects of using the Mini Switch to split or change the bridge pickups.
The Ultra wiring also provide the neck and bridge mix when you set the 5-way switch in the middle positon so it has Telecaster type tones as well. Lush tone, with many variations and boosted power. By far one of the most versatile Strat Plus' I have done yet.
This is a 1993 Natural ASH STRATOCASTER PLUS DELUXE that has been customized similar to a Stratocaster Ultra but with the special ordered solid cover on the bridge Dually. The grain on the Ash is stunning. The back of the guitar shows alot of grain This, as many of these Strat Plus', has the Hipshot Trimsetter, which compensated for string tension. Once set up correctly, and after getting the guitar in tune, they stay in tune. If a string breaks while playing, the Tremsetter will compensate and the guitar will stay in tune.
This is 1997 Candy Apple Red (CAR) Stratocaster Plus Deluxe that has been customized like an Ultra. Near dead mint with a very nice satin solid Maple neck. this too has the Blue, Silver and Red Dually pickups and has that cool Strat-o-Tele swtiching used on Fender's Ultra Strats.
This is a 1995 CAR STRATOCASTER PLUS DELUXE that has been customized like an Ultra. (Serial #N508815). Unlike the one above, this one is fited with the Chrome Dome pickups and has a Rosewood fret board. The neck pickup is the special ordered Blue Lace Chrome Dome. All the Standard ultra features on this one too.
This is a very nice 1993 Black Stratocaster Plus Deluxe that has been customized, again, like and Ultra using the Blue, Silver and Red Dually Lace pickups. It also has the Ultra wiring with the middle position being the neck + the bridge. These guitars are hard to beat for their versatile tone.
This is a 1997 INCA SILVER STRATOCASTER PLUS DELUXE that has also has been customized similar to a Stratocaster Ultra. This color has an interesting characteristic, as it shifts from a bright silver in sunlight, to a gold silver under incandescent light.
This is a another near mint 1991 BLUE PEARL DUST STRATOCASTER PLUS DELUXE that has been customized similar to a Stratocaster Ultra. I have done several of these with the Chrome Domes and they sing!
This is a 1990 customized Strat Plus Deluxe. I call it The Shadow! The top pickguard is a custom new Black/Red/Black with a matching back cover. I changed this guitar over to a brand new set of Lace Sensors with black covers to enhance the looks, and the switch has been changed over to a Fender 5-way Super that works this way: 1 = bridge; 2 = Bridge + Middle; 3 = Neck+Bridge; 4 = Neck+Middle; and 5 = neck. This configuration gives a nice range of sounds, especially with the more traditional two pickup sound, similar to a Telecaster, for the middle position.
This is a near mint 1997 SONIC BLUE STRATOCASTER PLUS that has been customized similar to a Stratocaster Ultra using the Blue (neck), Silver (middle) and Red Dually (bridge).
This is a CUSTOMIZED 1990 LIPSTICK RED STRATOCASTER PLUS which has been gracefully upgraded to the same style of wiring as used on the Strat Ultra. Once again I used the Ultra switching and Mini-Switch on the bridge but with black covered Lace Sensors (blue, silver and red dually).
This is a MINT 1997 Black Mist Strat Plus that has been customized with Lace Sensor Chrome Domes and Fender's Ultra Wiring System, using all high-end USA parts. The top pickguard is a custom Tortoiseshell and the back cover is a matching Tortoiseshell. Has the American Standard bridge with the Hipshot TrimSetter tremolo system. The Chrome Dome pickups are like the Gold Lace on steroids and deliver a classic 50's style single coil sound with more power and glassy bell-like tones. The Bridge pickup is a Chrome Dome Dually which is the among the hottest output of the Sensor Series, and gives a fat, punchy humbucking output.
This Strat is wired just like ther Fender Ultra. Very few people know the secret to the Ultra wiring schematics, which produces a unique variation in sound. Here is how the switch works. Position #1 = The bridge pickup using a 3-way Mini Switch.
The Mini Switch alone gives several variations, which are really cool. Here's what it does to the Dually Bridge Pickup (and remember too, that these settings can be mixed with the other pickups in Psotions #2 & #3). Up) splits off the back pickup, so since the distance is farther away from the bridge, it creates a cool Strat hollow sound, which then can be mixed with the middle pickups with the 5-way switch. Middle) has the bridge pickups in parallel creating a hot humbucker sound. Down) splits off front pickup on the bridge to give a Strat single coil bridge sound.
Position #2: The Bridge and the Middle pickups mixed together, which can get a multitude of Strat out-of-phase tones because of the Mini Switch and the TBX tone control.
Position #3: The Neck PU with the Bridge PU like on any 2 PU guitars, such as a Telecaster. Again, with the Mini Switch you can shape the color of the sound. Full, rich rhythm sounds. And both tone controls are also combined in this position too.
Position #4: Is the Neck and the Middle.
Position #5: The Neck PU.
As on all the Plus Series, the this has Fender's TBX tone system.
The above is a 1989 Strat Plus Deluxe in a beautiful Blue Pearl Dust, which is actually a very dark blue with a blue/silver metalic around the edges. The standard Lace Sensor pickups were replaced with a Set of Chrome Domes Lace Sensors. The Chrome Domes are a chrome covered, hot-rodded version of the Gold Lace Sensor pickups with an extra hot bridge pickup.
These 3 mint Strat Plus' (above) were upgraded from the Gold Lace Sensors to a set of Chrome Domes Lace Sensors. The Black Plus is a 1995 model and its nickname is After Midnight. (left) This is a rare Lake Placid Blue from 1988. (middle) The 3rd, I called Black Cadillac! is (right) 1995 Plus with Domes and Tortoise Shell pickguard. The Chrome Dome Lace Sensors are like Gold Lace on Steroids with chrome covers, which add a nice stylish look to the guitar. They are famous for giving that early 50's Fender single coil pickup sound with hotter magnets and are very quiet. The neck pickup has a rich flavor and the bridge is hotter, similar to the Red Lace Sensor Pickup.
MORE COMING VERY SOON!
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