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Some correspondence about the Dan Armstring modification
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| > I have done the Dan Armstrong scheme twice
| >and that is the most intricate and complex (and most cool) wiring
| >design I know.  In both instances, I also added push-pull phase
| >switches, too.
| 
| Who is a good supplier of those switches? I tried shopping for
| replacement Strat pots when doing the Armstrong thing and found
| only garbage - nothing even close to Fender's pots.

For the actual *pickup* switches, Stewart-MacDonalds in Athens OH
sells what you need.  They are a bit expensive compared to local
industrial place, but at least they are exactly what you need (as far
as I can tell).  I got mine at a local place, but I think I got lucky.
One of the three switches is a bit odd - definitely something you
won't find at Radio Snark.  Plus, if you buy them all from Stew-Mac,
they will all look the same, etc.

For the push-pull potentiometer switches, also Stew-Mac.  They carry
250K or 500K.  For me, they are of acceptable quality.  But they are
not of high quality.  They are basically Radio Snark quality pots with
switches on them.  In fact, I have used 6 of those pots in the past.
3 of 6 have had problems with the internal switch.  Specifically, a
moving molded plastic part had extra plastic that oozed out too far,
but quality assurance did not detect it.  So the switch did not
actually work.  It did not "click" into place.  Two of the times, I
did not discover the problem until I had soldered and assembled the
switches into the pickguard.  I am a hacker, so I actually took the
switch apart, used a exacto knife to cut off the extra plastic,
and reassembled the switch.  It is rather difficult, and not for the
impatient.  I do not blame Stew-Mac for this, and I am sure if I
had decided to return them instead, I would have had no trouble.

I *think* that Warmouth carries a Yamaha 300K push-pull pot for
about $16 each.  Also, if you know of an Allen Bradley or Claristat
distributor, they make products like this.  But it can be tough
for the electronic hobbyist.

| Phase switches aside, which pickup combinations do you like
| on the Armstrong Super Strat? Do you think the Lace Sensors
| make much difference?

The first version I did on white pearloid pickguard uses these black pickups:

	N:	Bill Lawrence L-250 blade humbucker in single coil size
	M:	Seymour Duncan Vintage Staggered Strat
	B:	1970's DiMarzio Super Distrortion Humbucker
	(also, for a while I had a Dimarzio SDS-1 in middle.
	It was too similar to the DiMarzio Super Distortion Humbucker.
	Above is much better).

The second version I did on blue/black pearloid pickguard uses these white pickups:

	N:	Original Squire Strat
	M:	Original Squire Strat
	B:	1970's DiMarzio SDS-1 Super Distortion Single coil.
	(also, for a while, had original Squire strat in bridge.
	I really prefer a distortion bridge pickup.
	Above is much better).

I much prefer the first version in sounds and looks.  The diversity of
pickups leads to a really wide range of sounds.  Everything is
interesting, most selections are different, many are very unique.  All
three in series with the bridge out of phase is an extremely
interesting sound.  All three in series in phase is too muddy to be
useful, esp. with two humbuckers involved.  All three in parallel with
one out of phase is pretty good too, not nearly as thin/weak as a pair
in parallel with one out of phase.  The middle position vintage has a
fine sound.  BUT!  I really need more output there and would choose a
Texas-wound single for that position if I were to do it again.  And I
will... ;-)

The second version is OK.  But the palette of sounds is *much*
narrower.  I think the cheap original pickups sound OK, by the way,
that is not the problem.  The problem is that many switch selections
sound nearly the same, and perhaps do not justify the wild switching
scheme.  Again, all three in series gets a bit too muddy, even with
single coils.

So, with identical Lace Sensors, I would expect you would end up with
something closer to my second scheme.  Just so you know, I have never
knowingly heard Lace Sensors.  I have only read reviews and
descriptions of the sound.  If you used some combination of red gold
blue green whatever Lace Sensor, I estimate you would be surpass, but
be close to, my second scheme.  Which is probably fine if you are only
interested in Stratish sounds.

By the way, if you have not built this scheme yet, know in advance
that the three switches switch things in a logical manner and
everything.  But in your mind as you are playing, it is difficult (for
this simple man perhaps ;-)) to think how to get from one selection to
another.  For example, to go from Neck to Bridge requires that two
switches be switched :-(.  This complexity might be bad on stage.  It
might be good at home or in the studio since you get sonic diversity.
You have to admit that the standard strat switch is nice and simple,
eh?!

Wo, I wrote alot.  Must be avoiding work...

G'luck,

Tim