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Midrange boosters also make the signal louder but, it could be argued, in a more useful way. Turning up the midrange whilst barely altering the treble and bass frequencies will imbue your Stratocaster pickups with a more humbucker-like tone.
I have used the EMG-SPC in several guitars. I like it best in my elderly Charvel Model 3 with EMG-SLV, -SLV, -HA pickups. Bridge + middle + boost compensates for not having a humbucker as bridge pickup.
I am also quite keen on the Seymour Duncan Prototype EQ device (as used by Frank Zappa). This combined a cut/boost control and a centre frequency selector.
The EMG-VMC works the same way. IMO, its sweepable frequency control would be of greater use in a studio guitar than the -SPC.
The downside to any of these devices is the need to make space for a PP3 to power the electronical gubbins. It is usually possible to cram it into the control cavity. OTOH, it is a drag, having to slacken the strings and raise the pickguard just to check/replace the battery.
There is, therefore, an argument for applying the boost outboard. Some Fretboarders favour graphic EQ pedals. Alternatively, there are semi-parametric EQ pedals. These usually have a pot to dial in the frequency band to be cut/boosted.
One thing is I don’t fancy cutting a hole in my USA strat…am I being silly? It’s just an object isn’t it?
The Charvel Model 3 mentioned previously has the unfair advantage of rear access to the control cavity.
My recollection is that, on his personal modern Stratocasters, Clapton has the PP3 in the vibrato spring cavity. If any wood has been removed to allow this, it is concealed beneath the cover plate.
Router with an accurate template for a plastic battery box is the correct tool.
On a practical level, why not just run the guitar on say, 5 most of the time, both vol and tone. Then you've got level to spare and you can go brighter or darker. No need for boosts?
Ok, it won't drive the preamp of a valve amp as hard, but you can always just...turn up the preamp right? I guess it's all about gain staging.
If this is correct, then the only onboard circuitry that would be truly useful on a strat would be a mid boost, as this can't quite be achieved with the usual passive controls.
As long as you like how it sounds turned down... that's the big problem. There's some quirky stuff that happens with passive electronics when you turn them down, which is (probably) why a lot of people are a bit reticent to do so a lot of the time.
"Take these three items, some WD-40, a vise grip, and a roll of duct tape. Any man worth his salt can fix almost any problem with this stuff alone." - Walt Kowalski
"Only two things are infinite - the universe, and human stupidity. And I'm not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein
The effect you get from a booster varies depending on the frequency range you’re boosting (sometimes referred to as the central frequency and the Q, or width of frequency range), and the size of the boost. I’d definitely start with an external EQ pedal, and work out what you want these value to be.