
Craving Blackmore’s signature tones? These easy mods will edge you closer.
This month let's explore Stratocaster wirings that will bring your axe more into the Ritchie Blackmore ballpark. These easy mods are worth trying if you want to get closer to his Strat wiring.
I'm not going to write an essay about all the gear Blackmore has used during his long and outstanding career. The details about his Strats, pickups, amps, and boosters—and let's not forget that magical Aiwa reel-to-reel tape deck—would fill a book. I'll just show you some basic mods to let you explore his pickup configuration. They work with any Stratocaster, no matter the pickups.
For details about the guitars, pickups, amps, and pedals Ritchie has used over the years, I recommend this photo-rich article by Bernd C. Meiser.
There are similarities between all the wirings Ritchie has used over the years. Here are some typical traits:
• He only plays the bridge or neck pickup, but never the two together.
• He never uses the middle pickup, which was lowered so that the pickup cover was flush with the pickguard.
• On some guitars he replaced the unused middle pickup with a dummy coil designed to reduce hum from the single-coil neck and bridge pickups. (I'll explore dummy coils in a future column.)
• His tone pots were rewired for independent control of the bridge and neck pickups.
Otherwise, Blackmore's Strats mostly remained stock, so the basic mod is easy. Fig. 1 shows a simplified version of the circuit.
Here's how to wire it up:
- Remove all the wires from the 5-way switch and replace it with a Telecaster-style 3-way switch.
- Remove the middle pickup and install an empty pickup shell to conceal the hole, or leave the pickup where it is, screw it down as low as possible, and cover the bare ends of its wires with electrical tape or heat-shrink tubing.
- Reconnect the wires of the bridge and neck pickups to the new 3-way switch, and solder a jumper wire from the bridge pickup lug to the lug previously used by the middle pickup. (This prevents a dead zone if you accidentally switch to the middle position.)
- Run a jumper from the output of the switch's first stage to the input of its second stage, and from there to the volume pot input.
- Reconnect the tone controls wires. The bottom pot connects to the next lug on stage #2 below the input lug, so it now operates with the bridge pickup. The next lug remains unconnected. The upper tone control connects to the last lug on this stage, where it controls the neck pickup.
That's it! The remaining wiring stays factory stock.
Drilling deeper.
If you want to get a lot closer to Ritchie's classic sound, you need his famous MTC ("master tone circuit") or a replica. John "Dawk" Stillwell, Blackmore's longtime tech, invented this device. He's still in business. (Visit dawksound.com to learn more about him.)
Much has been written about the MTC. Keep in mind that Dawk created it to meet Blackmore's specific needs, so it's designed to suit his equipment. With different amps and stompboxes, the results vary.
The MTC is a so-called LCR network, consisting of an inductor, a cap, and a resistor. But it's a bit more than a basic a LCR network, which is why it isn't a copy of the Bill Lawrence Q-Filter. It combines an LCR network and a treble-bleed network to maintain treble when the volume knob is rolled back. Dawk still sells his MTC, so out of respect for his work I won't dissect the circuit any further. Whether to buy an MTC or get a faithful replica is your decision.
If you decide you need one of these puppies, installation is easy. The new 3-way wiring stays untouched. Simply remove the tone cap from the circuit and keep the wire connecting the tone pots as it is. Next, connect the MTC's four wires as shown in Fig. 2. The two green wires from the treble-bleed network are connected to the volume pot's input and output. (It doesn't matter which green wire goes where.) The black and red wires are for the tone control. The black connects to ground and the red connects to the tone pots.
Okay, we're done! I hope you have fun with this project. I'll have another for you next time, so until then ... keep on modding!
[Updated 9/24/21]
- Mod Garage: The Infamous Telecaster Neck Pickup - Premier Guitar ›
- Guitar Shop 101: The Great Guitar Cleanup - Premier Guitar ›
- 10 Easy Strat Mods to Improve Primary Tone - Premier Guitar ›
- Guitar Shop 101: “Decking” a Stratocaster Trem - Premier Guitar ›
- 3 Simple Ways to Upgrade Your Strat - Premier Guitar ›
- Mod Garage: The Bill Lawrence 5-way Telecaster Circuit - Premier Guitar ›
- Mod Garage: The Bill Lawrence 5-way Telecaster Circuit - Premier Guitar ›
Lutefish, the real-time music collaboration device and platform, is excited to announce a suite of new features designed to simplify setup, streamline collaboration, and offer more flexible subscription options for Lutefish Stream users. These latest updates, Audio Presets, Automatic Session Recall, Improved Scheduling with Contact Visibility, and a new Yearly Subscription Plan, are all about making it easier than ever for musicians to jam together, no matter where they’re based.
Save Time and Stay in the Flow with Audio Presets & Session Recall
Musicians can now save and reuse their exact audio settings, reducing setup time and ensuring every session sounds exactly as they want.
- Automatic Session Recall: When users leave a session, their current audio levels are automatically saved and restored when they rejoin.
- User-Defined Audio Presets: Each user can create and name up to five custom presets, like “Band Practice,” “Studio Mic Setup,” or “Quick Jam,” making it effortless to jump back in with the perfect sound.
“These tools are all about saving time and hassle,” said Patrick Finn, Business Manager at Lutefish. “Musicians want to make music, not spend time rebalancing levels every session. With presets and recall, we’re giving them time back and helping them sound their best, every time.”
Smarter Scheduling and Contact Visibility
The latest update to Lutefish also made it easier to find collaborators and book sessions. Users can now:- View all their contacts at a glance when scheduling a session.
- Instantly identify which contacts own a Lutefish Stream device—so they will always know who’s ready to jam.
Go Yearly and Save 20%
Lutefish now offers a Yearly Subscription Plan, providing users with the same great access as the monthly plan at a 20% discount.
This option is now available within the Lutefish app and web platform, and current monthly users are eligible for a discount with an upgrade to a yearly subscription.
Lutefish’s mission has always been to empower musicians to connect and collaborate without boundaries. With these new updates, Lutefish Stream continues to break down barriers—whether you’re jamming with a friend across town or collaborating with a bandmate 500 miles away.
For more information and to start jamming today, visitlutefish.com.
The veteran Florida-born metalcore outfit proves that you don’t need humbuckers to pull off high gain.
Last August, metalcore giants Poison the Well gave the world a gift: They announced they were working on their first studio album in 15 years. They unleashed the first taste, single “Trembling Level,” back in January, and set off on a spring North American tour during which they played their debut record, The Opposite of December… A Season of Separation, in full every night.
PG’s Perry Bean caught up with guitarists Ryan Primack and Vadim Taver, and bassist Noah Harmon, ahead of the band’s show at Nashville’s Brooklyn Bowl for this new Rig Rundown.
Brought to you by D’Addario.Not-So-Quiet As a Mouse
Primack started his playing career on Telecasters, then switched to Les Pauls, but when his prized LPs were stolen, he jumped back to Teles, and now owns nine of them.
His No. 1 is this white one (left). Seymour Duncan made him a JB Model pickup in a single-coil size for the bridge position, while the neck is a Seymour Duncan Quarter Pound Staggered. He ripped out all the electronics, added a Gibson-style toggle switch, flipped the control plate orientation thanks to an obsession with Danny Gatton, and included just one steel knob to control tone. Primack also installed string trees with foam to control extra noise.
This one has Ernie Ball Papa Het’s Hardwired strings, .011–.050.
Here, Kitty, Kitty
Primack runs both a PRS Archon and a Bad Cat Lynx at the same time, covering both 6L6 and EL34 territories. The Lynx goes into a Friedman 4x12 cab that’s been rebadged in honor of its nickname, “Donkey,” while the Archon, which is like a “refined 5150,” runs through an Orange 4x12.
Ryan Primack’s Pedalboard
Primack’s board sports a Saturnworks True Bypass Multi Looper, plus two Saturnworks boost pedals. The rest includes a Boss TU-3w, DOD Bifet Boost 410, Caroline Electronics Hawaiian Pizza, Fortin ZUUL +, MXR Phase 100, JHS Series 3 Tremolo, Boss DM-2w, DOD Rubberneck, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Walrus Slo, and SolidGoldFX Surf Rider III.
Taver’s Teles
Vadim Taver’s go-to is this cherryburst Fender Telecaster, which he scored in the early 2000s and has been upgraded to Seymour Duncan pickups on Primack’s recommendation. His white Balaguer T-style has been treated to the same upgrade. The Balaguer is tuned to drop C, and the Fender stays in D standard. Both have D’Addario strings, with a slightly heavier gauge on the Balaguer.
Dual-Channel Chugger
Taver loves his 2-channel Orange Rockerverb 100s, one of which lives in a case made right in Nashville.
Vadim Taver’s Pedalboard
Taver’s board includes an MXR Joshua, MXR Carbon Copy Deluxe, Empress Tremolo, Walrus ARP-87, Old Blood Noise Endeavors Reflector, MXR Phase 90, Boss CE-2w, and Sonic Research Turbo Tuner ST-200, all powered by a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus.
Big Duff
Harmon’s favorite these days is this Fender Duff McKagan Deluxe Precision Bass, which he’s outfitted with a Leo Quan Badass bridge. His backup is a Mexico-made Fender Classic Series ’70s Jazz Bass. This one also sports Primack-picked pickups.
Rental Rockers
Harmon rented this Orange AD200B MK III head, which runs through a 1x15 cab on top and a 4x10 on the bottom.
Noah Harmon’s Pedalboard
Harmon’s board carries a Boss TU-2, Boss ODB-3, MXR Dyna Comp, Darkglass Electronics Vintage Ultra, and a Voodoo Lab Pedal Power 2 Plus. His signal from the Vintage Ultra runs right to the front-of-house, and Harmon estimates that that signal accounts for about half of what people hear on any given night.
Kiesel Guitars has introduced their newest solid body electric guitar: the Kyber.
With its modern performance specs and competitive pricing, the Kyber is Kiesel's most forward-thinking design yet, engineered for comfort, quick playing, and precision with every note.
Introducing the Kiesel Kyber Guitar
- Engineered with a lightweight body to reduce fatigue during long performances without sacrificing tone. Six-string Kybers, configured with the standard woods and a fixed bridge, weigh in at 6 pounds or under on average
- Unique shape made for ergonomic comfort in any playing position and enhanced classical position
- The Kyber features Kiesel's most extreme arm contour and a uniquely shaped body that enhances classical position support while still excelling in standard position.
- The new minimalist yet aggressive headstock pairs perfectly with the body's sleek lines, giving the Kyber a balanced, modern silhouette.
- Hidden strap buttons mounted on rear for excellent balance while giving a clean, ultra-modern look to the front
- Lower horn cutaway design for maximum access to the upper frets
- Sculpted neck heel for seamless playing
- Available in 6 or 7 strings, fixed or tremolo in both standard and multiscale configurations Choose between fixed bridges, tremolos, or multiscale configurations for your perfect setup.
Pricing for the Kyber starts at $1599 and will vary depending on options and features. Learn more about Kiesel’s new Kyber model at kieselguitars.com
The Sunset is a fully analog, zero latency bass amplifier simulator. It features a ¼” input, XLR and ¼” outputs, gain and volume controls and extensive equalization. It’s intended to replace your bass amp both live and in the studio.
If you need a full sounding amp simulator with a lot of EQ, the Sunset is for you. It features a five band equalizer with Treble, Bass, Parametric Midrange (with frequency and level controls), Resonance (for ultra lows), and Presence (for ultra highs). All are carefully tuned for bass guitar. But don’t let that hold you back if you’re a keyboard player. Pianos and synthesizers sound great with the Sunset!
The Sunset includes Gain and master Volume controls which allow you to add compression and classic tube amp growl. It has both ¼” phone and balanced XLR outputs - which lets you use it as a high quality active direct box. Finally, the Sunset features zero latency all analog circuitry – important for the instrument most responsible for the band’s groove.
Introducing the Sunset Bass Amp Simulator
- Zero Latency bass amp simulator.
- Go direct into the PA or DAW.
- Five Band EQ:
- Treble and Bass controls.
- Parametric midrange with level and frequency controls.
- Presence control for extreme highs.
- Resonance control for extreme lows.
- Gain control to add compression and harmonics.
- Master Volume.
- XLR and 1/4" outputs.
- Full bypass.
- 9VDC, 200mA.
Artwork by Aaron Cheney
MAP price: $210 USD ($299 CAD).