Suggestions for fitting activators in a strat

[jazzyvee]

I'm doing a self build strat and got some activators off eBay  in S-S-H configuration to fit in the guitar. Unfortunately the two single coil shaped pickups are designed to be mounted into the body of the guitar and not suspended underneath a pick guard. This means that the holes in the pickup casings are plain and do not have a threaded insert for a screw. Do you have any suggestions for how I can fit them to the pick guard?

[cozmik_cowboy]

Nuts & bolts; washers to hold mounting springs.  Or if you don't want to have to take off the 'guard to adjust height, tap the holes with threads.
 
Peter

[jazzyvee]

I think I'm going to fix nuts to the casings with some kind of epoxy and use bolts and springs.  
 
I have another question. I have some activator electronics, 5 position switch, bass and treble that I bought from Mica a few months back. They have connectors to fit the pickups on and I've got some so that's sorted.  
 
I just wondered how Alembic would wire three pickup guitars like a spectrum for neck/mid and mid/bridge positions. Would they be wired out of phase or in-phase? As they are hum cancelling would there be problems if they were wound out-of phase? I fancy trying both methods to see what works  unless it's a bad idea.
 
Last question, I never use the middle pickup on it's own on a standard strat so would prefer the middle position to of the lever to give me bridge and neck pickups for a sort of telecaster configuration like I get on my Strat Ultra. Any idea of how to wire that in or even better have a little switch to make that happen in mid pickup position.

[terryc]

I have somewhere a wiring diagram for that but best place is on the web for alternative wiring diagrams.
I have a Korean Strat from the 90's which I re wired myself, this was before the internet and I got all the configurations from 'Guitar' magazine.
With the flick of a mini toggle I can can have all Pu's on with the slider switch at either front or back position, flick switch the other way and slider to middle and it is a StraTele, wired the tone control to the bridge and has a treble bleed on the volume to prevent loss when it is turned down. Phew!, I did a lot of work under that that pickguard!. Oh yes and there is a 400V capacitor wired to the output socket as a 'bad ground electrical shock' protector as well!
Jazzy, if I find the wiring diagram I will scan and send it to your e mail address on here

[jazzyvee]

I like the sound of that mod Terry the three pickups on is an interesting additional option. I've just tried giving mica a call to ask some additional questions and got the answer machine so will try later and put this one regarding putting the hum cancelling pickups out of phase in positions 2 and 4 on my 5 position blade switch. I'm not sure if its wired that way but it doesn't sound like it.

[mica]

There's no out of phase option with our pickups really - they are stacked humcancelling, even the ones shaped like single-coil Strat pickups. If you reverse the wiring, the shield will be hot, so you would have to electronically reverse the phase if you want to explore that option.  
 
The time you called we were not open - phone are generally available between 10-4 pacific time (which is the time stamp on the club).

[jazzyvee]

Thanks Mica, I was hoping it would be an easy thing. So best leave that idea.

[terryc]

Jazzy, did you get my e mail with wiring diagrams?

[jazzyvee]

Yep thanks Terry. Haven't read it through yet but hopefully it will give me what I'm after.  
 
Thanks again.