HANK's Black Strat.

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi all.
We all know Hank had two small switches just below the tone knobs on his black Strat. I have three questions.
1; What did they do?
2; How were they wired into the pickups or tone/vol control's?
3; What pickup combination's did they give?
Any info regarding the two switches will be appreciated.
Regards Geoff.

[JimN]

Two small switches, you say?

The information that Hank provided in the Feb 1976 edition of "International Musician" was that there was a single extra switch on the guitar which rendered the Fender Wide Range humbucker (mounted in the bridge position) single coil (the coil nearer the bridge). But that was when the guitar was blonde with tortoiseshell and black with tortoiseshell (eg, around the time of the Paris Olympia album).

After the instrument had been converted from that interim humbucking stage to the three single-coils-on-a-black-pickguard stage (circa summer 1977), there were two three-position switches wired in parallel (looking like the switching on a post-1964 Burns Bison), meaning that any of seven combinations of pickups could be selected, depending on the relative positions of the two switches. The extra choices available (as compared with a five-way switch) are neck and bridge, and all three on together.

If there was still a toggle switch fitted at that stage (this was a whole new black pickguard), I've never noticed it. Is there a picture which shows it?

JN

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Jim
The two switches I refer to are sliders wich were fitted to the all black/ s coil/ s coil/ s coil pickguard. I dont know if they were on-off-on as per the Mustang or on-off as per the Jag or Jazzmaster. I hope Rob Aartsen will have the answer as he did, I believe, talk to Hank on the subject. Rob has posted a picture showing the two switchesviewtopic.php?f=11&t=6152
Thanks for the info on what they might do Jim as I am also trying to get hold of a wiring diagram for the guitar.
Regards Geoff.

[JimN]

Geoff, if you mean this picture:



... I believe that that is simply a relatively poor quality image of the two standard Stratocaster three-position slide switches, placed next to each other (slightly offset) and wired in parallel. That is, they each provided parallel paths from the pickups (via neck and middle tone controls where relevant, of course) to the output socket.

If you moved the two switches together (exactly in the same positions), there was no difference between that and the operation of a single switch. If the switch positions were different from each other, then two "selections" were simultaneously making their way to the output socket.

For example:

[*] switch A in neck position, switch B in bridge position - neck and bridge pickups on
[*] A in neck/middle position, B in bridge position - all three pickups on

...and so on and so forth.

[bor64]

Hi Geoff,

Many moons ago I spoke to Hank about this strat indeed....also about more gits btw
When the black strat had the two humbuckers,both switches just switch the humbuckers to singlecoil mode.
In the periode with the DiMarzio FS1 and the Fender singlecoil and 3 way switch both switches, just did on/off duty for neck and bridge.
In the last periode with the 3 SD SSL1 just one switch was used to switch on the neck pu in combo with the 5 way switch.
Both switches were just 2 position ones......
Nowdays Hank use a pull/push pot/switch as most of you know.....
Pitty the black strat doesn't exist anymore, the body was used for Bens guitar.....
Geoff if you need more pics,I'll be only pleased to help!
Hope this helps a little

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Rob/Jim.
I have been looking at the ACME Tone Shaper as ACME call it an I am impressed at what it offers, see their demo on the ACME site.
I called their UK agent, Chandlers to get more info on the unit. My first question was will it fit onto a lefty scratch plate. Answer, dont know as we havent been asked before but we will check and get back. Unfortunatly it wont, even using the ACME back body routing method of instalation.
Never mind I will go for the standard five switch set up and use the two slider switches to get the extra two options. ie neck and bridge and all three.
Have a look at the ACME Tone Shaper,if you hav'nt allready, Ithink it's a nice piece of kit.
http://www.acmeguitarworks.com/Acme-Gui ... 1C345.aspx
Regards Geoff.
Have a look at the Strat demo with Tim Lerch

[Didier]

And the black Strat can be seen on the video "It'll be me babe" posted by Donna on the "General" board.

Didier

[bor64]

Geoff,

That ACME thingemayjig doesnt ring my bell to be honest but I'm biast, with 30+ gits....when i need a other sound i just grab a other guitar.....sorry
Hope you will post some more pics of your project...
If you need more pics form the black strat just ask.
They will be hi rez, because the pic's i posted before(called low quality by JimN) were just made smaller for obvious reasens.
Maybe you have a other sourge for pics of the black strat on this site...but as far as i know nobody else post them so....if so please let me know,because i like the black strat very much.....
If Hanks had stick to that black strat live would be easier.....ever heard of coral fiesta salmon black?

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi Rob.
It's very difficult to find any pictures of Hanks Black Strat. Even the DVD's that have the Strat on don't show any detail.
I to have gone off the boil with the ACME tone setup. I liked the look and covenience of the unit but the more I looked the more I thought no.
I am trying to get hold of a couple of lefty Decals. It's the STRATOCASTER and WITH SYNC TREMOLO bits I require with the oposite curve to a normal right handed decal. Fender USA rairly put the full decal wording on lefty large headstock Strats. The Japs used a standard decal from their right handed Strats.
I would apreciate a couple of picture showing the front and back, inc headstock and neck, of your Black Strat.
Regards Geoff.

[Geoff Alderton LH]

Hi all
Just a quick update on my lefty Hank’s black Strat. The body is 99% complete. I do have the two slider switches to fit but can’t make up my mind on how to wire up. The guitar in it’s present state sounds very, very good. Three single coils, three way switch. The neck is presently in an an unfinished state. It’s had a sealer coat but no more. I wanted the guitar assembled to check the neck fitting. Intonation etc when set up. Pleased to say it’s 100% and the main thing it sounds great. I have never owned a guitar with locking tuners before, I don’t know when Hank had them fitted to his black Strat, and he obviously rates them as I believe they are on all his Sig Custom Shop issues. Likewise he fitted Jazz Bass tone knobs to the Strat and not the standard Fender Voll, Tone, Tone knobs, I didn’t know this until two weeks ago when I was looking in detail at all my Black Strat pictures. I have posted a couple of pictures showing the present state of play, I have to say the marks on the edge radius, that show up, on the body picture, are reflections from the surrounding area and not dink’s or blemishes. The finish to the body is perfect. Anyway enough said for now will post again when it’s 100%.
Regards Geoff.