Fender '62 RI Start mods

[MrBoZiffer]

I've got a Fender '62 RI Strat coming in the mail today. If you've got one what do you think of them? How are the pups? Anybody change them out? Also, it looks like the tone knobs only control the middle and neck pups. Does anybody know where I can find a diagram to rewire them so that one is a master tone and the other is disengaged? I could probably figure it out, but I'm lazy. It's been a long time since I had a strat, so I'm looking forward to this one. Feel free to suggest some other cool mods if you've got them.

[sixty2strat]

try the seymour duncan website ...just rewired a flying V with 2 volume and one master tone. sure they have a diagram for what you want . Thinking about it might be cool to have a volume for the neck and bridge pup, so you can blend them.
Have an early 80's 62 and the pups are great. not a big fan of pup swapping, only did a 97 lp and a mid 80's squire tele so leave them alone unless the guitar needs it. these are good pups in mine and sound fine.

[oldgtarz]

Mods? Just put some heavy strings on it and play the hell out of it!



and if you're not happy after a month maybe try some mods...
just my 2 cents

[MrBoZiffer]

Mainly I dont see the point of having two Tone knobs, so one will have to go. Mine is a new 62 RI. I don't know how they compare to 80's RIs. These have the stock 3-way selector. It comes with a 5-way to install, but I'll probably leave the 3-way on.

Changing pups is a last resort. I hate switching pups. I just don't know what to expect from them.

Thank you oldgtarz... yes, heavy strings are a must. :AOK

[serviviente7]

I have a 94 62 av and its my main guitar. The neck is to die for. My only complain is the bridge pickup...it sucks. The neck and middle are very good but I will change to Lollars in the near future. Lollars are just the sh$t. Just my two cents.

[jcmark611]

Really, just leave it alone for awhile THEN see what you want to do. I love those '62s straight out of the box.

[MrBoZiffer]

I got it a couple of hours ago... great guitar! I think the pups will be fine. I still want to give it a master Tone switch. Anybody got a diagram?

[MrBoZiffer]

Nevermind, I found one. I know these are made to the specs of the '62 Strats, but I really don't see the point of not being able to control the tone on the bridge pup. Although I love the 3-way selector. I'm going to leave it in. I had an American Standard a while back and was always fiddling with the 5-way and knocking it around. The 3-way is a nice feature.

[fuzz_factor]

Originally Posted by serviviente7

I have a 94 62 av and its my main guitar. The neck is to die for. My only complain is the bridge pickup...it sucks. The neck and middle are very good but I will change to Lollars in the near future. Lollars are just the sh$t. Just my two cents.

I also have a '94 '62 RI Strat. How is the neck on yours? Mine feels pretty thin and shallow. It's a great guitar (I've bought it new). If I could change one thing on the guitar, I'd want a fatter, rounder neck like the Clapton sig neck on my Squier (long story...).

Many years ago, I swapped out the stock '62 RI pickups for Texas Specials. At the time, I was all into the fatter SRV type of sound. Because money was tight, I traded the stock pickups for the cost of installation. That was a stupid move on my part. Nowadays, I'd much rather have the stock pickups. Oh well... the Texas Specials aren't bad. Call me crazy, but I also swapped out the vintage saddles for Graphtech. I lived in Hawaii at the time and I think excessive sweat was an issue. Now, I'm just so used to the Graphtech's that I don't care to trade back.

[MrBoZiffer]

I'm not crazy about the saddles either, but I'm going to give them a chance. They seem to bother me when palm muting. But I might just get used to it. I modded mine to use a master Tone, which is nice. The only thing I'm a little disappointed about is the fact that they didn't use clay dots and there were some cold joints. Neither is really a big deal, but I wonder how expensive clay dots would have been.

[gkoelling]

I used the Jimmie Vaughan wiring schematic off the Fender web site on my Strat. It makes a lot more sense. You end up with a tone for the neck and a tone for the bridge. Everyone plays the middle with the tone wide open, so you don't need it.

[JoeNewbie]

The vintage reissues cost more because of the historic cachet, not because the parts are better...

The tuners and bridge aren't nearly as good as the modern version. The pickups are weak and noisy. But it's a classic...

Personally, I wouldn't mod a RI, simply because I think it would defeat the purpose of paying extra for the vintage specs.

I love my 57RI and I'm sure you'll love you 62RI as well.

If you want a high performance Strat that sounds fat and quiet and stays in tune all night, get a modern version and go nuts on mods!

[MrBoZiffer]

I'm digging it! The pups are much better than I thought. I was kind of figuring on some half ass pups, but they are sounding pretty good. I'm not really interested in hot rodding it or it being high performance. I just want a good solid strat that is very playable and user friendly. To me the master Tone mod makes a lot of sense.

Honestly, the reason I wanted the '62 RI was because of the finish and the 3-way... which is kind of ridiculous, I know. My other guitars are all vintage, no "holy grails," just some decent stuff from the 60's and 70's. I usually hate playing new guitars because they are too stiff and the pups are usually too bright. But, I like strats. However, there is no way in hell I will ever pay the extraordinary amount of cash for a 60's strat. I wouldn't even pay $4000 for 70's strats (plus they're mostly maple necks, which I don't like). So I figure I get a '62 reissue strat for the asthestics and it can also be my "working" guitar... meaning that I don't mind taking it outside the house. If my vintage stuff leaves the house, I piss my pants worrying about them. So the bottom line is for $1400, I get the great playability and tone of a strat, the looks and specs of a vintage strat, and the comfort knowing that if something goes wrong with it (or I want to change something) there's not a billion dollars on the line... to me it's worth it. Plus, my fiance gave this to me as a wedding gift, which is nice. :AOK

[gaddis]

I wouldn't mod one either. The whole point of it is to get a feel for what it was like to play a Fender when Leo was at the wheel. I love my '62 RI just the way it is.

[JoeNewbie]

Originally Posted by MrBoZiffer

I'm digging it! The pups are much better than I thought. I was kind of figuring on some half ass pups, but they are sounding pretty good. I'm not really interested in hot rodding it or it being high performance. I just want a good solid strat that is very playable and user friendly. To me the master Tone mod makes a lot of sense.

Honestly, the reason I wanted the '62 RI was because of the finish and the 3-way... which is kind of ridiculous, I know. My other guitars are all vintage, no "holy grails," just some decent stuff from the 60's and 70's. I usually hate playing new guitars because they are too stiff and the pups are usually too bright. But, I like strats. However, there is no way in hell I will ever pay the extraordinary amount of cash for a 60's strat. I wouldn't even pay $4000 for 70's strats (plus they're mostly maple necks, which I don't like). So I figure I get a '62 reissue strat for the asthestics and it can also be my "working" guitar... meaning that I don't mind taking it outside the house. If my vintage stuff leaves the house, I piss my pants worrying about them. So the bottom line is for $1400, I get the great playability and tone of a strat, the looks and specs of a vintage strat, and the comfort knowing that if something goes wrong with it (or I want to change something) there's not a billion dollars on the line... to me it's worth it. Plus, my fiance gave this to me as a wedding gift, which is nice. :AOK

Congrats for your guitar and for your upcoming marriage as well!

A guitar is just about the nicest gift one can ever receive...