Uploaded January 2021 | Updated September 2026, 2 weeks ago
How to easily create your perfect Strat style guitar Part 3: Routing out the body for the Fender 'Clapton' mid-boost board that gives you up to 25db gain.
What you will learn:
Is this pre-amp easy to install?
What tools will I need for routing?
How much does the mid-boost board cost?
Are there any options?
Can I use any other tools?
What if my body is hollow? is that a problem?
How is the mid-boost board held in place??
Other videos in this complete series:
Full Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2HoYOlX1LULsuc9lfqQCvRMj3ZGxsaur
Part One: youtu.be/zFlXC2RJ2EQ Dye The Body
Part Two: youtu.be/4ym_6WpSvds Dye The Neck
Part Three: youtu.be/t5OBM2RosiY Routing for Fender Clapton Mid-boost Pre-amp
Part Four: youtu.be/wb5La9ybdTA The ABM 2 Point Tremolo - later returned
Part Five: youtu.be/JrDhkQRBwDE The Figured Maple Pick Guard
Part Six: youtu.be/B1vG4lkyH4Y Sealing the Water Based Dye
Part Seven: youtu.be/xaTp-_xrHWk Babicz Full Contact Hardware Tremolo
Part Eight: youtu.be/-jLRkg3WFjc Using acrylic clear coat for the body and neck
Part Nine: youtu.be/oDOpSgLCtaI Final Buffing The Parts
Part Ten: youtu.be/tEY15uBxiUE Fitting the Tremolo & Tuners & Overcoming MAJOR Problems
Part Eleven: youtu.be/SFU7rxyWGwI Electronics - Fitting Pickups & Mid-Boost Board
Part Twelve: youtu.be/fjw1SK3-bkI Setup & playing of the finished electric guitar
Here I show you how I routed out a hole in the body of an electric guitar to embed the genuine Fender mid-boost pre-amp board (also known as the Clapton mid-boost board) under the pick guard which is a very convenient place for it to hide.
Unlike Fender guitars, I have a dual battery box on the back of the guitar that allows me to very easily change out the batteries if and when they run down, thus making this installation very convenient indeed. On Fender Clapton Stratocasters typically you have to lift the pick guard to change the battery... a real problem. If you're going to do this then get Warmoth to route the battery box! I think they charge $15.00 or thereabouts. The mid-boost board comes with three pots and enough info to install a TBX control as standard so it is great value.
I bought my Fender genuine mid-gain pre-amp board for just around £55.00 from firstguitars.co.uk and John Southwart who is always a very helpful guy in the UK for buying genuine Fender parts and one reason I mention him here. I am not paid in any way by this company or any other!
This whole series of videos will show you EXACTLY how to create a Fender Strat style guitar (with licensed parts) and Warmoth body and neck right through to the final guitar over a series of videos. I have a very specific design of this guitar and this mid-boost pre-amp board is just one aspect of the whole specification. While this guitar might look similar to a regular Strat style guitar, it is more a bit like a wolf in sheep's clothing and very suitable for rock music. And of course the pre-amp can be turned on or off easily as you will see later.
Part four will show the tremolo unit I used - an 'ABM' unit that is made in Germany to the highest standards, and while its no 'Halon' bridge it is still very well made. The ABM bridge design externally resembles a PRS type bridge where the saddles are not able to move sideways. One reason for this choice of bridge.
Other components used in the series include: Fender locking machine heads, a Fender Clapton mid-boost circuit, Fender 69 custom shop pickups and one or two other surprises along the way if they ever arrive!
This video series is entirely unsponsored and I purchased every single part just as you would have. I have not carried out before many of the procedures in the making of this guitar and have had no training whatsoever in this. I sincerely hope that this series of videos can inspire you too to 'have a go' at creating a guitar what ever type or style it might be. I have spent considerable time and money creating these video series at my expense for viewers benefit:
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RING THE BELL, AND THUMBS UP to give my channel a boost and thank you for watching - I hope the series is enjoyable and you become inspired to create your own masterpiece.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2021
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged
Visit tonymckenzie.com for more incredible reviews or my YouTube channel
#fender #stratocaster #routing #claptonmidboostpreamp
How to easily create your perfect Strat style guitar Part 3: Routing out the body for the Fender 'Clapton' mid-boost board that gives you up to 25db gain.
What you will learn:
Is this pre-amp easy to install?
What tools will I need for routing?
How much does the mid-boost board cost?
Are there any options?
Can I use any other tools?
What if my body is hollow? is that a problem?
How is the mid-boost board held in place??
Other videos in this complete series:
Full Playlist: youtube.com/playlist?list=PL2HoYOlX1LULsuc9lfqQCvRMj3ZGxsaur
Part One: youtu.be/zFlXC2RJ2EQ Dye The Body
Part Two: youtu.be/4ym_6WpSvds Dye The Neck
Part Three: youtu.be/t5OBM2RosiY Routing for Fender Clapton Mid-boost Pre-amp
Part Four: youtu.be/wb5La9ybdTA The ABM 2 Point Tremolo - later returned
Part Five: youtu.be/JrDhkQRBwDE The Figured Maple Pick Guard
Part Six: youtu.be/B1vG4lkyH4Y Sealing the Water Based Dye
Part Seven: youtu.be/xaTp-_xrHWk Babicz Full Contact Hardware Tremolo
Part Eight: youtu.be/-jLRkg3WFjc Using acrylic clear coat for the body and neck
Part Nine: youtu.be/oDOpSgLCtaI Final Buffing The Parts
Part Ten: youtu.be/tEY15uBxiUE Fitting the Tremolo & Tuners & Overcoming MAJOR Problems
Part Eleven: youtu.be/SFU7rxyWGwI Electronics - Fitting Pickups & Mid-Boost Board
Part Twelve: youtu.be/fjw1SK3-bkI Setup & playing of the finished electric guitar
Here I show you how I routed out a hole in the body of an electric guitar to embed the genuine Fender mid-boost pre-amp board (also known as the Clapton mid-boost board) under the pick guard which is a very convenient place for it to hide.
Unlike Fender guitars, I have a dual battery box on the back of the guitar that allows me to very easily change out the batteries if and when they run down, thus making this installation very convenient indeed. On Fender Clapton Stratocasters typically you have to lift the pick guard to change the battery... a real problem. If you're going to do this then get Warmoth to route the battery box! I think they charge $15.00 or thereabouts. The mid-boost board comes with three pots and enough info to install a TBX control as standard so it is great value.
I bought my Fender genuine mid-gain pre-amp board for just around £55.00 from firstguitars.co.uk and John Southwart who is always a very helpful guy in the UK for buying genuine Fender parts and one reason I mention him here. I am not paid in any way by this company or any other!
This whole series of videos will show you EXACTLY how to create a Fender Strat style guitar (with licensed parts) and Warmoth body and neck right through to the final guitar over a series of videos. I have a very specific design of this guitar and this mid-boost pre-amp board is just one aspect of the whole specification. While this guitar might look similar to a regular Strat style guitar, it is more a bit like a wolf in sheep's clothing and very suitable for rock music. And of course the pre-amp can be turned on or off easily as you will see later.
Part four will show the tremolo unit I used - an 'ABM' unit that is made in Germany to the highest standards, and while its no 'Halon' bridge it is still very well made. The ABM bridge design externally resembles a PRS type bridge where the saddles are not able to move sideways. One reason for this choice of bridge.
Other components used in the series include: Fender locking machine heads, a Fender Clapton mid-boost circuit, Fender 69 custom shop pickups and one or two other surprises along the way if they ever arrive!
This video series is entirely unsponsored and I purchased every single part just as you would have. I have not carried out before many of the procedures in the making of this guitar and have had no training whatsoever in this. I sincerely hope that this series of videos can inspire you too to 'have a go' at creating a guitar what ever type or style it might be. I have spent considerable time and money creating these video series at my expense for viewers benefit:
PLEASE SUBSCRIBE, RING THE BELL, AND THUMBS UP to give my channel a boost and thank you for watching - I hope the series is enjoyable and you become inspired to create your own masterpiece.
(c) A B McKenzie and tonymckenzie.com 2021
All Rights Reserved. All Trade Marks Acknowledged
Visit tonymckenzie.com for more incredible reviews or my YouTube channel
#fender #stratocaster #routing #claptonmidboostpreamp
