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Dirk Wacker

Dirk Wacker lives in Germany and has been a guitar addict since age 5. He’s also a hardcore DIY-er for guitars, amps, and stompboxes and runs a website on the subject (singlecoil.com). When not working at his guitar workbench, he plays country, rockabilly, surf, and flamenco. Contact him at info@singlecoil.com.

Articles

ARTICLES

Mod Garage: Make a DIY Electrolysis Bath

June 28, 2019

Dirk Wacker

Rust begone! You’re no match for this homemade cleaning tool.

Mod Garage: The Blender 7-Sound Stratocaster

May 31, 2019

Dirk Wacker

A virtually infinite palette of Strat tones at your fingertips? You bet.

Mod Garage: Exploring “Outlaw” Pickup Parameters

May 3, 2019

Dirk Wacker

Inductance, resonant peak, and Q factor: What the heck do they mean and how do they affect electric guitar tone?

Mod Garage: “Jimmy Page” Les Paul Wiring

March 29, 2019

Dirk Wacker

With 21 switchable sounds, this mod can turn a LP-style guitar into a veritable tone monster.

Mod Garage: The Pros and Cons of Plastic-Coated Wire

February 22, 2019

Dirk Wacker

It’s the most common type of wire found in modern production electrics. But how much do you actually know about it?

Mod Garage: Deep Diving into Treble-Bleed Networks

January 22, 2019

Dirk Wacker

Does it bug you to lose treble when you roll back the guitar volume? Here are three solutions to that problem.

Mod Garage: Working with Wire

December 28, 2018

Dirk Wacker

What are the best tools and practices for wiring a guitar? And what’s up with “push-back” wire? Glad you asked.

Mod Garage: How to Shield Humbucking Pickup Covers

November 30, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Metal covers offer shielding, but they also rob high end. Is there a way to get around this and have the best of both worlds?

Mod Garage: The Sound of Silence—Revised and Expanded

November 2, 2018

Dirk Wacker

We’ll show you how to get 15 switchable sounds from a pair of 4-conductor humbuckers, courtesy of an avid PG reader.

Mod Garage: Swap That Tone Knob for a Warmth Control

October 5, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Here are five inexpensive ways to bring your passive tone control to life.

Mod Garage: Dialing in the Passive Tone Control

August 24, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Do you always leave your tone pot wide open? Here’s how to squeeze more utility from this oft-neglected knob.

Mod Garage: Ultra-Flexible HH Wiring

July 27, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Crave more sounds from your dual-humbucker guitar? Here’s how to make that happen.

Mod Garage: Fighting Fret Wear

June 22, 2018

Dirk Wacker

What does a vintage barber shop have in common with advanced fret maintenance?

Mod Garage: Lean, Mean Series Wiring for Telecasters

May 25, 2018

Dirk Wacker

It’s easy to convert the middle position on a stock 3-way switch into a potent “solo preset.”

Mod Garage: Breakthrough! Electroswitch’s New 6-Way Strat Switch

April 27, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Now it’s easier than ever to add that missing Tele-inspired dual-pickup configuration to your Strat.

Mod Garage: Meet Göldo’s Double Wafer 3-Way Switch

March 30, 2018

Dirk Wacker

When it comes to 3-way pickup selectors, there’s a new kid in town. Would you like an introduction?

Mod Garage: How to Shield Single-Coil Pickup Covers

March 2, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Can you get benefits of shielding without sacrificing high-frequency shimmer? Where there’s a will, there’s a way.

Mod Garage: The Sound of Silence

February 14, 2018

Dirk Wacker

Here’s how to adapt the cool humbucker coil-splitting scheme found in Fender’s Select Carved Top Jazzmaster to your guitar.

Mod Garage: Reverse-Engineering a Generic 4-Conductor Humbucker

December 26, 2017

Dirk Wacker

If your guitar’s pickups are unbranded, you’ll face uncertainty about its internal wiring scheme. Learn how to crack the all-important color code using basic diagnostic tools.