Shine
Squier-holic
Just ran across this video. Seems especially pertinent to this thread.
Help - Cannot get "Stratty" Tone from VM Modified 70's Strat
- Thread starter Numerov
- Start date
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Maybe try a Plexi style pedal. There are many around for less than $40, from Joyo, Caline, Tomsline, Mosky, and other Chinese companies.
Hendrix also used a fuzzface a lot.
Hendrix also used a fuzzface a lot.
jefffam
Dr NC
Those with far more experience, especially with Strats than I, have given you many good suggestions about getting closer to a 60's era Strat tone.
You mentioned the sparkle and chimmey sound for a Strat. One thing is lowering the pickups so low will tend to emphasize the mids and lower tones. If you are looking for shimmer and sparkle, you would need to raise the pickups considerably. You also possibly might explore for a different brand of strings. Something akin to what was available in the 60's.
Outside of possibly the cost of strings (I'd ask Strat players for brand/size suggestions), adjusting pickup heights is free. Just time consuming if done in small increments looking for the 'sweet spot'.
Good luck.
You mentioned the sparkle and chimmey sound for a Strat. One thing is lowering the pickups so low will tend to emphasize the mids and lower tones. If you are looking for shimmer and sparkle, you would need to raise the pickups considerably. You also possibly might explore for a different brand of strings. Something akin to what was available in the 60's.
Outside of possibly the cost of strings (I'd ask Strat players for brand/size suggestions), adjusting pickup heights is free. Just time consuming if done in small increments looking for the 'sweet spot'.
Good luck.
As Jefffam said, first of all, you could raise the pickups' height to get more treble. It would be easy and wouldn't cost anything (just beware that when you start getting a weird chorussy effect and the readings on your tuner become odd - especially on the low e string - then your pickups may be getting too close to the strings. You need to find the sweet spot).
As to Rory Gallagher's sound, the Bare Knuckles pickups are super high-end and are based on Rory's "Live Irish Tour" album, so they should at least take you in that ballpark soundwise. I think I read somewhere that Rory often used Vox amps (AC15, AC30) - which are super loud and rather bright btw - with a treble boost pedal (I think it was called "Dallas Range Master" but not 100 % sure). Our fellow ST member @rorygman would know, though. You could ask him.
As to John Frusciante and Hendrix, I think they both used Fender and Marshall amps + pedals (overdrive, fuzz..) and did some eqing as well.
Anyway, perhaps you could get at least a good EQ pedal and try boosting the treble with it or something like Rory's treble booster? You may also want to check that your amp can emulate different brands/amp models.
Good luck with your quest!
PS I don't think switching to an alder body for your strat would be as dramatic a change as getting an equalizer pedal and checking that your amp can produce the tones you like (or getting a pedal that emulates those amp sounds once plugged into your amp. Some of them cost about £40).
Basswood is totally alright imo.
I've never tried a Peavey amp but they usually have good reputation.
As to Rory Gallagher's sound, the Bare Knuckles pickups are super high-end and are based on Rory's "Live Irish Tour" album, so they should at least take you in that ballpark soundwise. I think I read somewhere that Rory often used Vox amps (AC15, AC30) - which are super loud and rather bright btw - with a treble boost pedal (I think it was called "Dallas Range Master" but not 100 % sure). Our fellow ST member @rorygman would know, though. You could ask him.
As to John Frusciante and Hendrix, I think they both used Fender and Marshall amps + pedals (overdrive, fuzz..) and did some eqing as well.
Anyway, perhaps you could get at least a good EQ pedal and try boosting the treble with it or something like Rory's treble booster? You may also want to check that your amp can emulate different brands/amp models.
Good luck with your quest!
PS I don't think switching to an alder body for your strat would be as dramatic a change as getting an equalizer pedal and checking that your amp can produce the tones you like (or getting a pedal that emulates those amp sounds once plugged into your amp. Some of them cost about £40).
Basswood is totally alright imo.
I've never tried a Peavey amp but they usually have good reputation.
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duzie
Squier-Nut
Your suggestion of trying different strings seem very solid .
Pure nickel strings may be helpful.
Benlostforyears
Squier-holic
I have pine, basswood, and alder strats that can all sound pretty "stratty". A tube amp and a good overdrive pedal really helped me a lot. Hendrix did use a lot of fuzz, octave, and other effects too, but apparently his tech kept his Fender pickups stock. He used a very unique string guage combination too. Here is a cool interview with his tech about his actual guitar setup.
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gu...i-hendrixs-guitar-setup-interview-roger-mayer
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.gu...i-hendrixs-guitar-setup-interview-roger-mayer
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
Pure nickel strings have less highs and are warmer and not as bright as nickel plated steel.
And, in Jimi's day there were no after market pickups.
And, in Jimi's day there were no after market pickups.
I've just listened to a demo made with a Peavey 112 amp on Shane's 'In the blues" Youtube channel. He used a telecaster with it - clean at first, then with pedals - and to me it sounded really nice imho.
Apparently the Peavey 112 has two channels, good eq possibilities, and many knobs and switches to try out... Maybe it's just a question of managing to dial in the amp to get closer to what you'd want? And perhaps a few pedals?
The strings suggestion is great too.
Apparently the Peavey 112 has two channels, good eq possibilities, and many knobs and switches to try out... Maybe it's just a question of managing to dial in the amp to get closer to what you'd want? And perhaps a few pedals?
The strings suggestion is great too.
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Here is a little guide to fx pedals which might be useful (although he doesn't mention reverb which is imho really important). It starts around 2:18 :
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If you could add a few sound samples of what you're getting with your current gear, it would really help. 
DougMen
Squier-Axpert
What a moron that guy is. That sounds terrible putting the chorus and the delay before the overdrive, because it's distorting the chorus and delay. The correct order for an effects chain should be compressor first, then overdrive or distortion, then modulation, then delay, and finally reverb last. Everything will sound much better that way, unless you want your chorus, delay and reverb horribly distorted. Jeez Louise!
Tconroy
Squier-holic
I dont know if anybody has mentioned this but have you tried getting you amp off the ground or move to another room and see what it sounds like?
I would say rewire your guitar and wire it with a G&L style PTB wiring. It will allow you to cut down some of the bass witch can overwhelm the rest of the signal, and cover up that stratty sound.
I have plenty of people come to me and say the same thing. Most were used to ceramic pickups, and when they start using Alnico, they are not happy with the sound.
The PTB with the bass slightly rolled off is the best way to get "that sound". The sound that shines clean or slightly overdriven. I think the best pickups for that sound are the MIM stock ceramic with the side by side magnets. But, they are too bright with distortion and sound crappy.
But with the PTB you have the best of both worlds, the warmth of Alnico's, and the accentuated mids and highs of the ceramics. The only downfall is when you cut bass it also cuts a lot of the signals power. You will find a lot of the oomph in a guitars signal comes from the bass. Also with Alnico magnet pickups you have to work to get that highly percussive sound. Ceramics put out more power and accentuate picking dynamics more.
Try this, you will be very happy with it. But you need to follow the wiring 100%...the 1meg pot must be C1meg.
Others that do the same but in a slightly different way, Precision Music Technologies DMT Control, Fender TBX, and Artec's BCU (active). I find the G&L the best, in dependant controls, and not powered.
I have plenty of people come to me and say the same thing. Most were used to ceramic pickups, and when they start using Alnico, they are not happy with the sound.
The PTB with the bass slightly rolled off is the best way to get "that sound". The sound that shines clean or slightly overdriven. I think the best pickups for that sound are the MIM stock ceramic with the side by side magnets. But, they are too bright with distortion and sound crappy.
But with the PTB you have the best of both worlds, the warmth of Alnico's, and the accentuated mids and highs of the ceramics. The only downfall is when you cut bass it also cuts a lot of the signals power. You will find a lot of the oomph in a guitars signal comes from the bass. Also with Alnico magnet pickups you have to work to get that highly percussive sound. Ceramics put out more power and accentuate picking dynamics more.
Try this, you will be very happy with it. But you need to follow the wiring 100%...the 1meg pot must be C1meg.
Others that do the same but in a slightly different way, Precision Music Technologies DMT Control, Fender TBX, and Artec's BCU (active). I find the G&L the best, in dependant controls, and not powered.
Treehouse
Squier-Nut
your guitar>American Sound>your amp
Is anyone else wondering if GMadness is a certain pickup merchant? The name sure is similar.
rollytabora
New Member
Have you tried changing the potentiometers to 500K? That will boost the treble a bit. Also, are using a long cord? A long cord have a large distributed capacitance that will change the resonance frequency of the pickups - it also attenuate treble frequencies.
Doug Casper
Squier Talker
I took a VM, set it up like a ‘50s Strat. TexMex pups, ‘50s 7.25 Vintage Fender MIM Maple neck.
Fender 3 position switch, Fender Vintage .1 MF vap. Fender 250 pots.
I put two of the DSs with a TexMex in the bridge, into a BurgundyMist Affinity Strat body...
By the way, Affinity Strat’s are Great.
Anyway, I took the VM neck, mounted it on the B-Mist body.
It’s sitting on the couch right next to me, as I write this.
Been like that, for six years since I got cancer. Had it in hospitals, rehab...
It’s a Rock!!!
I’ve been playing since ‘63, my feelings on pups is this!
Ceramic magnets, are the Best
IMO!
Tech advances for a reason.
Ceramic doesn’t degrade, their louder, more articulate...
And forever!
Texas Specials are the better AlNiCo’s bit more spank than TexMex. Noiseless are really nice.
I have two other partscaster’s. I won’t get into them.
Old Yeller’ is an example of what you can do, for more spank. less
Hit to your wallet!
Later
