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Why doesn’t the tone control work for the bridge-only pickup on my Stratocaster?

Why doesn’t the tone control work for the bridge-only pickup on my Stratocaster?

 

Why doesn’t the Stratocaster bridge tone control work for the bridge-only pickup on my Strat?

  A Stratocaster bridge tone control doesn’t work unless connected. It works on a few, approximately 1% of Stratocaster guitars whether made by Fender or by Squier, or Affinity, Fender Japan, Fender Taiwan, Fender Mexico, American (circa 1991) or Fender China and more have no tone control on the bridge pickup. The tone controls do work for the other four switch positions.

Does this mean your Stratocaster bridge tone control is defective?

No, just a design that was created to please the inventor, Mr. Leo Fender. He wanted it that way.

Leo wanted a Strat pickup alone that sounded similar to a steel guitar.  So now, the Stratocaster bridge tone control is non-existent whatsoever and no one at Fender Corp. since then has seemed to notice. They have failed to hear what guitarists for years have asked. Can we simply have a tone control on our bridge pickup?

Next time your guitar goes in the shop for any “tweak” whatsoever, ask the tech to put the tone back on the bridge for you. Most likely he’ll do it.  There is no reason that Strat players world wide have to suffer because of the poor decisions of the Fender Musical Instruments Corp.  They continued a poor design concocted over 60 years ago. It’s an easy fix.  Stop in and see Haywire Custom Shop when you’re in Myrtle Beach and we’ll fix yours while you wait. 15 minutes and it’s done. You should have every advantage when playing your guitar so why not get this fixed as soon as possible? We’ll do it.

The fix is in the highlighted area

Stratocaster bridge tone control doesn't work unless the highlighted switch area is connected

Stratocaster bridge tone control doesn’t work unless the highlighted switch area is connected

About the Author:

Mr. Rick Mariner Owner and Founder and CEO of Haywire Custom Guitars Inc. He is a member of The Association of Stringed Instrument Artisans (A.S.I.A.) as well as a guitar player. Rick holds a bachelors degree from University of Md. and a Masters degree from George Washington University. Rick developed his exclusive 8 – Point “Gig- Ready” guitar process that allows for Custom Guitars that are “GIG-READY”. With Rick’s many years of development and guitar set-up experience, Haywire Guitar shop “Builds satisfied players… one Haywire guitar at a time”.

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