How To Wire a Strat with a Blend Control

In this video we show you how to wire your Strat so it has a blend control, allowing you to blend in various pickup combinations.
Making use of a master volume and a master tone, the second tone control acts as a blend control.
When the blend control is fully open, the setup works the same as the classic Stratocaster wiring we all know and love.
As you start to dial down the blend control, you can blend different pickups into the mix, including neck and bridge together as well as all three pickups active at the same time.
Switch and blender controls...
Blend control on 10:
- Plays like a normal Strat
Blend control on 0:
- Position 1: Bridge with neck faded in
- Position 2: Bridge and middle, neck faded in
- Position 3: Middle
- Position 4: Middle and and neck, bridge faded in
- Position 5: Neck with bridge faded in
This is a popular Strat wiring setup which offers a little more versatility than the standard 5 way wiring.
In this video we are using our Strat wiring kit:
- CTS 250k audio pots
- CRL 5 way spring action switch
- Push back cloth wire
The wiring diagram for this setup can be found here:
sixstringsupplies.co.uk/pages...
We stock these as both prewired kits or unassembled wiring kits for those of you that want to break out that soldering iron and do yourself!
- Strat wiring harness (blend control) sixstringsupplies.co.uk/produ...
- Strat wiring kit: sixstringsupplies.co.uk/produ...
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[@kgillars3451]

Thanks for this great tutorial. I have been wanting to try a blend control for some time, but didn't want to start on any of my high end guitars, so I picked up a $150 Spectrum Strat for $50 and had a zero load pot laying around. It was an easy procedure. I love the variety of sound and can't wait to use my new "Blended Blackie" at my next gig!

[@mst646]

I like how you detail any bit of the process; even something like explaining the switch orientation many wonder if there's an specific way... And you covered it all here, good work mate! For what is worth you earned my subscription.

[@74dartman13]

I like how you did the ground wire on the side to all 3 pots...nice!👍😎

[@timopeedu6077]

Thanks for your valuable and informative videos. They’ve helped me a lot.

[@CastorBones]

I used this to re-wire my guitar and I’m loving the new sounds. Thank you very much.

[@noternunstoned]

I just wired my HSS strat PG with the blend pot, and a DPDT mini switch for the coil select on the bucker, great sound and easy with your demo.

[@bigbasil1908]

Ah interesting. I have a 93 jap squier strat that is HSS and I have a bunch of DPDT switches. I may have to experiment lol

[@edwhite7475]

Oh, cool, thats why Im here. And i have a DPDT switch too...great idea!!!

[@74dartman13]

Thanks for the video. I like this way of wiring. It gives you a little more control of the sound and turns that tone control into something useful! Otherwise I hardly ever use that one!👍😎🎸🎶

[@TweedToneKing]

Fantastic video. Very well explained and great demonstration of proper soldering technique.

[@steviesynapse]

Excellent video, really well explained and demonstrated.

[@CarcassMoonwipe]

this is exactly the tutorial i needed. thank you

[@Rrrrichy]

I added a blender mod to my strat by adding a 4th small potentiometer. This way I can keep my tone controls and have a little turning knob to add in the other outer side pickup. And I really love how it sounds now. For me it makes total sense to blend the dark sounding pickup the the bright one and the other way around.

[@RussWhittaker]

Thanks for a very informative video, which is the best of its kind I’ve seen, with both camera work and narration being very clear. I’ve subscribed. Just been watching your vid on testing pots etc, but I’m wondering wether testing a blender install might be slightly different as a blender is not simply on or off. I’d love to see the blender install tested next time you do one. Thanks, keep up the good work.

[@mikedinjoliet]

Thank you! Great tutorial as usual.

[@arrebatar]

Very good! Brazilian thanks!

[@bloodyvikings1261]

This was really helpful. Thank you!

[@SixStringSupplies]

Glad it helped you out

[@mikefranks417]

Very helpful video, detailed and clear explanations. One person commented to always use flux. I don't know if flux has changed in the 100 or so years when I learned electronics and soldering, but flux used to leave an oily residue that would corrode over time if not properly cleaned up. The other thing from 100 years ago - we were warned to never trim wire after soldering a joint because trimming can actually fracture the joint, causing a cold joint. That said, we were usually working with heavier gauge wire - trimming/snipping took more force. Subscribed, thank you.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Many thanks Mike. The solder is use is flux codes which does as you mention require cleaning up to prevent future corrosion.

[@kangsterizer]

most all around solder include flux anyway (in the solder)

[@markwright9352]

Fantastic video as always!!! Looking forward to the casino one next!!👍🏻

[@SixStringSupplies]

Mark Wright will be uploaded in the next week or so. Got some mini tutorials to upload beforehand. Thanks for the support. All the best

[@elwrongo]

This is fantastic, thank you so much!

[@SixStringSupplies]

No worries sir hope you found it helpful

[@elwrongo]

@@SixStringSupplies I certainly did, installed the mod myself and love it. Now just trying to figure out how to do the same on a Jazzmaster but that seems tricky because there is so much wiring

[@peterhedrich7653]

thank you

[@aaronwilliams8600]

great video. The diagram I have shows the blender wires connected to the switch opposite of what you did. Outer lug of the blender goes to the closest terminal of the switch (call that terminal 1) and middle lug goes to the 3rd terminal of the switch. Can you explain the difference? Thanks

[@MiguelBraz]

Great explanation. Thanks for sharing your knowledge. Could you give the specs of the tone cap?

[@neilrobinson7615]

Great video, very well presented. Wiring the mod this way, I assume the pickups stay in phase as opposed to Dan Sheppard's out of phase mod? I can't get that one to work correctly using Breja Toneworks schematic or Guitar Payer schematic. Maybe a good idea for a new video?

[@TechDeckGPS]

Great video! Thank you. When doing this mod with the Fender 3-wire noiseless pickups; what alterations would need to be made, to accomplish the same configuration of tone options?

[@kevinmarx7093]

It took 14 hours till it works ! But it works. It is way more complicated than it looks

[@Mr.Steve-O]

I just did this mod, thanks for the demo, I want to add a treble bleed I am guessing that would go on the volume pot like normal, right ? thx

[@teeesen]

Great video. If you do this, pay attention at the end (33:30). The pick up wires go to the right side of the switch, not the left.

[@vincenttomazzolli3940]

I believe that if you added a jumper wire between the 2 common lugs, you could then use the left side to connect your pickups.

[@AmitDas-dh3wc]

Can you do master volume and master tone control wiring with 3 single coil in a stratocaster?

[@darkstaarzero]

Could you do an explanation of the pickup wiring?

[@bcssylf]

why the shrink tubing only on the blender lugs and not on the switch or tone and vol pots lugs?

[@123rwt123]

What wires would I move to just have the tone control on the bridge with this set up

[@leorafael22]

Firstly, congratulations on the videos!! I would like to know in this case, how do I change the BLEND potentiometer for a 6-pole ON ON switch? How should I connect the wires? Thanks!

[@ReverendHellbilly]

Cheers

[@Mr.Steve-O]

Great demo as always, I wanted to know of a Treble Bleed could still be added to this wiring diagram ? Seems like it may get a bit busy, but well worth the effort for balance at low volumes. Please kindly advise, Cheers !

[@randymanx2674]

Hello, I just ordered a ‘Toneshaper’ blend kit and in the product description on Amazon says it comes with a treble bleed ( I know this is an old post, hopefully it will help others). Cheers.

[@TweedToneKing]

Would you do a video on half-blender wiring ? Thanks 🇨🇦

[@FretFriendLaGR]

You are seriously good at this! And, this is my favourite Strat mod. Victor (Fret Friend)... PS: What is that ATTEN solder station like? Cheap as chips. However, I do have a HAKKO FX-888D now which is brilliant... PPS: Surprised to see you using Audio pots: I go all linear now (I prefer the sweep/taper)...

[@SixStringSupplies]

NG One Seven thanks man. Yeah I followed your new channel. The ATTEN served me well for a year then broke down. The Hakko is a unit. Only very recently had to replace the solder tip after 2 years of solid use.

[@SixStringSupplies]

PS - linear/audio everyone is different. These pots are “TVT pots” (True vintage taper) whilst being audio, they have a slightly more linear curve that a typical modern 10% audio pot

[@FretFriendLaGR]

@@SixStringSupplies Good to know! I mainly use vintage CTS pots anyway but only standard 450S ones not the CVT's...

[@jeanlouisfilipe]

If i want to do it on an HSS configuration, what should i do ?

[@robertwinograd3819]

Hello, your schematic + Fralin's do not have the 3 pots grounded. Is it necessary to ground them on the side as you did? Thank you for this video. Chicago blues, man.

[@montiac22]

So if I understand this correctly if I follow this I will not be able to blend in all 3 pickups at the same time? If not is there a way? Great Video and thanks!

[@ToneSpectra]

Hi. Would it be difficult to obtain the same options but in series wiring, say via a push-push switch on the blender dial? Thanks

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi not sure to be honest I'll look into it.

[@To2Flotan]

the blender works with alpha pots?

[@michaelparson-mcnamara782]

I want to do this mod to one of my DIY strats with EMG SV active pickups. I'm wondering if this is possible and assume it is, but want to research it, before tackling the mod.

[@johnspina318]

Do we need the pot grounds? None of the wiring drawings show it.Great video.Figured all grounds are via the copper on the pickguard.

[@edwhite7475]

From my experience you can never have too much grounding. The copper on the guard is just shielding, to prevent radio interference, but its not always a solid ground. I particularly like the side ground here...much nicer work-

[@locomusikbox2130]

Hey i want to build a normal SSS Strat Pickguard but with a 3 Way Switch instead of the 5 way because i never use them. Is there anything special or do you have wire diagram for that case? I always just find the blend control mod or with less pickups like for a tele and i am not really sure how to wire the 3 pick ups to the 3 way for normal strat functionality

[@tiejol]

Do you have same problem that i have that the blend pot is leaking the neck and bridge pickups so you never have just bridge or neck signal, very annoying

[@derekflessner4615]

How do you ground your trem

[@Mr.Steve-O]

Great demo, have you Dan Armstrong wiring video ?

[@TheForce_Productions]

Check the BrejaToneWorks channel's for that wiring mod.

[@Django19145]

Hi I have followed your wire diagram but the volume is also acting as a tone control. I have checked your diagram many times but still same problem. Everything else works as it should and sounds amazing. Graham

[@tiliky95]

Is the result the same as the gilmour switch mod?

[@daisyjefferson7416]

Hi, I did my blender mod from your video and it turned out great. Thanks, couple of questions though. If I wanted to change my pickup configuration and go to a reverse wound middle for hum cancelling, will this mod still work the same? Also, I've seen other diagrams for this where the jumper was running from the middle/output post of the volume pot to the middle post of the tone. Where yours runs from the input on volume to the middle post of the tone, what's the deal with that? I mean yours works, but what's the deal with the other way?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi Daisy, glad you liked the video and it worked well for you. Firstly, yes, if you went reverse wound middle for him cancelling it would work the same (the pickups in this video are middle hum cancelling) I’ve not come across the diagram you describe but that is essentially “50s style” wiring that you are describing - you can read about it here, ever so slightly different www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/modern-vs-50s-les-paul-wiring

[@jdwild1698]

Ive seen in other wiring diagrams for this blend that the blend pot was a 1meg pot … you say it doesn’t need to be ?

[@Markcio182]

Can you do this with a hsh?

[@bassfishingwiththeantichri2921]

A Pure Tone Jack is two times better than a Switchcraft. I did the math.

[@TommySixGun]

Agreed! I built two HS Teles with concentric 250k/500k pots and a Pure Tone jack

[@yoyoyuri1093]

Hi sir.. nice jobs.. can i ask?? How to wiring pickup dimarzio hs3 on bridge and dimarzio Fs1 on neck + not connected tone pot like yngwei malmsteen.. help me sir.. im so confius with Hs3 pickup coz have 5 wire?? What ur suggestion sir?

[@rogerlawson4516]

What gauge is the tinned copper wire? Thanks, enjoy the lessons on wiring the guitar electronics.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thanks! It's 18 awg or 1mm in metric speak

[@smokepeddler]

I have a blend control instead of a puckup selector on my tele. I love it.

[@PaluGianni]

[@onedayapp3534]

Where should I put my capacitor?

[@ohvnaq]

so, my understanding is - for the 2 right most switch positions, rolling down will add more neck - for the middle position, no change - for the 2 left most positions, rolling up will add more bridge is that correct? thanks for the video!

[@lukescullin2948]

good point after all the 5 way is upside down...

[@er.j6324]

hello, i want to make my guitar wired like that, and now i'm looking for a Pots for my blender knob, is it need a particular Pots or just use CTS 250k audio pots?

[@colelaroche8982]

You need specific ones just look up blender pota

[@froilantangente7391]

Nice detailed instalation, but its more better if you test you project after, to see the difference...thank you...

[@peterb.559]

Was this video done by Nigel Tufnel?

[@augustomiranda4982]

can i use a seven pin selector to make a blend control??? please answer me

[@SixStringSupplies]

M7 Peppa Pig yes should be able to

[@johnsabatka2978]

How do i do this for left handed?

[@TheEchelon]

The two wires of the blender pot are swapped compared to all the diagrams I found

[@ltcm5052]

Is it correct that you only wire to the right-sided terminals of the switch? The left terminals stay empty/unused???

[@thomaswagner6495]

That is correct. He is not using a jumper on the common lugs to connect the left side terminals.

[@0dollarman672]

Thanks for the video, it's really great tutorial and did the same on my Warmoth strat. It turns out great but just one question if you could advise. I put a set of Bare Knuckle single coils but when i flip the pup switch to either neck position or bridge position, there seems some tone bleeding from the pickups. I discovered this when I do the tapping test (i.e. some sound from bridge pup when the pup switch is flipped to neck position, and vice versa). Am I missing something in between? I checked the wirings and all are properly done. Thank you very much indeed!

[@dernolipoli1378]

The thing with regular potentiometers is that even at 10 there is still a connection between the terminal as the sweeper is still on the strip. In tone pots this is tolerable but in blender pots you want to keep the option to use either pickup isolated so you use no load pots. They essentially cut the connection completely at position 10 so that no bleed is present

[@dernolipoli1378]

You need to use no load pots for blender to avoid bleed

[@ScottBTTuk]

How come you don’t fill the lugs with solder? Sorry if you have addressed this before

[@ScottBTTuk]

Completely ignore me. I notice that the slight tinning at the terminals is then filled with the actual connection. My bad!

[@andrewmackie7502]

This just absolutely isn't working for me I went through it step by step but it seems to just have all of them on or none of them

[@boxerfencer]

Did you ever record yourself playing with the mod? And comparing with a standard strat?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Hi in recent videos yes, in these early ones...no.

[@marvcovers3370]

Jazz bass w/ blend pots pls🙏🙏🙏

[@p.c.m-pilotandocommuri5616]

thanks for the information and... do you ever thought about being part of a The Smiths cover, your voice looks like Morrissey's voice 😂✌🏼

[@yudapiamenta3224]

What gauge is your grounding wire? The tinned copper?

[@floridapunkarchivist]

20 AWG

[@andrewkeynessitompul7747]

what the thing do use to connect all the pots ground? is it made from steel? thank you

[@SixStringSupplies]

hi it's tinned copper wire 0.9mm

[@andrewkeynessitompul7747]

Thankyouuuuu

[@anthonybanovic3658]

I did this mod for a 12 string strat about 3 years ago. Didn't know that copper wire stuff existed. I used a coat hanger for the 3 pot ground wire. Works fine.:-)

[@spoonsmith9506]

Humbucker bridge? How do you do this with a humbucker bridge pup?

[@SixStringSupplies]

SPOON SMITH assuming you’re not doing anything fancy with the humbucker, it’s exactly the same

[@saifulmetalseluang]

Pickup wayar...bro..?

[@olenfersoi8887]

Why not use a true balance pot? It loos like you are mixing more or less of one sound with the other sound(s) that is always at 100%. I think it is more versatile for the pot to be a dual control, such that it varies both tones (one goes up while the other goes down)...so you can get any combination from 100% of one & 0% of the other, to the reverse of that, & any combination of percentages in between.

[@gizmoguitar]

At lot of diagrams show using a "no load" blender pot for the blender, but you seem to use a standard vol/tone pot. Does it make any difference?

[@SixStringSupplies]

no difference. its the way the pot is wired that makes it a "blender", not the type of pot itself. cheers

[@gizmoguitar]

@@SixStringSupplies I tried it. Could only get it to blend from 2/10 position. 1/10 cut out the blend as if it was full open on 10 position. I ended up putting a piece of tape at the end of the strip inside the pot to replicate the no-load. Now working perfect.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Ah nice one, neat trick that!

[@driftingmelodies]

@@gizmoguitar hi I wanna try this.. When a pickup fades in in blender mod, are they in series or parallel. Because I need loud thick heavy metal tone.. Please help

[@tanguydelooz2881]

Do I understand correctly that, with this wiring, the bridge and neck are never fully disconnected because the max resistance inbetween will be 250K ? Doesn't that mean that you won't really be able to have a pure neck or pure bridge sound ?

[@tanguydelooz2881]

Wouldn't it be better to use a No-Load pot ? Or else a push-pull pot so that the blend pot is only linking the bridge and neck PUs when it's pulled ? That way, when pushed, there would be an infinite resistor between the selected PU and the other PUs.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yes indeed - we corrected this in a more recent video: kzbin.info/www/bejne/l5DVnZ6FZbeFras

[@spoonsmith9506]

Treble bleed circuit work on this mod?

[@SixStringSupplies]

Yeah man.

[@spoonsmith9506]

@@SixStringSupplies I used your video to install my new pups. Works nicely. So many more tones. Thanks for all that you do.

[@SixStringSupplies]

SPOON SMITH no worries sir! Thanks

[@danjavier6128]

Can i use 500k pots on these?

[@stevevaughn2040]

I hope someone can explain this to me. What does the capacitor do? It is out of circuit and looks to be simply a glorified grounding wire. I have pondered it and to my non electrical brain it doesn't seem to serve a real purpose. Thank you.

[@dylansdad987]

Check this guy out. He'll explain everything kzbin.info/www/bejne/hXLMiZ2aZap0ptk

[@duanethompson2360]

I like your videos, but wish you included a schematic. I want to see the switch workings as they relate to the pins.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Duane Thompson thanks. The diagram is at the start of the video? We always include schematic. Though for one that doesn’t disappear: www.sixstringsupplies.co.uk/stratocaster-with-a-blender-pot

[@SidBonkers51]

Save some money by using a small piece of an unwound G or B string for an earth wire, if you need one, rather than forking out for an expensive spool of tinned copper earth wire. As unless your a pro that is wiring up harnesses all day every day like this guy you'll never use it all.

[@SixStringSupplies]

Good advice. Unwound strings work just as well, as do capacitor leads. If long enough.

[@TheGuitarTube723]

Can i use 500k pots here?

[@SixStringSupplies]

yup

[@bigbasil1908]

Why a paper capacitor? I thought they were meant to be notoriously unreliable? I'm replacing the old paper capacitors in my old early 50's philips disc jockey major record player and I read not to replace with more paper caps. Also I thought they didn't make paper caps these days and that any you might be able to buy are new old stock and are probably no good.

[@mspguitars6740]

Great information! I think you should wash your hands young man!

[@SixStringSupplies]

Thanks man, well and truly washed

[@yondamono6688]

so let's hear it ... please...

[@robertclarkguitar]

I made the easiest job in the world the worst swapping loaded pickguard. How? I went in using a Walmart 9.99 iron kit. OMG! Never again. The video I watch just to laugh at myself. I was so pissed. Hahahahahaha. At least it's done.

[@JPREEDY77]

Not sure you can honestly say that ground from pot to pot is useful. They are already grounded via shielding.

[@jdwild1698]

The blend pot doesn’t need to be a 1 Meg ? You used 250k … right ? Other diagrams I’ve seen say to wire a 1 Meg blend pot … what gives ?

[@8Junio76]

Do you want to f*ck up your tone? Install a passive blender 😂

[@allanchapman7133]

just to let you know caps do have a polarity

[@SixStringSupplies]

sure, electrolytic capacitors do, but 99% of capacitors used in audio applications are not (ceramic, silver mica, mylar, polyester, polystyrene, polycarbonate, polypropene etc...ie. everything put in a guitar) www.elprocus.com/non-polarized-capacitor/

[@dscdrkel5546]

can not follow you-

[@joelplaysmusics]

Faz pouco e fala demais

[@electricblue73]

Can you show how to wire a a HSS strat with blend control to a free way switch?