Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

ubertwerp

ubertwerp

New member
I find myself gravitating more and more toward :
1)neck pickups
2)single coil /lower output

in my "old " age ..(38)

I appreciate the clean or slightly distorted much more than I did in my 20's
(clean -who needs clean ?just play acoustic if thats what you need ..)

I suspect that given enough time I will probably convert over Gibson/charvel/carvin to Fender strats /teles -I am in superstrat mode now


Though I appreciate the great clean sounds a strat can make ,as well as the cool lead sounds ,I have never really heard a "great" rock rhythm come from a strat .
I would call a great rock rhythm something that crunches and sustains
like Michael Schenker or Wolf Hoffman or Van Halen I for that matter ..

Maybe it's the nature of the beast,but has anyone ever heard a "great " rock rhythm come from a strat single coil?

If so, what would be a good pickup choice for a strat to do this ? I know a JB jr or hot rails would probably rock ,but is there anything that remains single coilthat can get there ?

If not, I might continue to be a "super strat " 1 humbucker 2 singles style player ..




_Ube
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

For a lot of Van Halen's tones, I have to end up using a strat with singles.

I'd say yea, as long as it's not heavy rhythm. I still think you're best off with an H/S setup using moderate output pickups and coil taps/splits. There's not much you can't do with that setup, add a middle single and you're even better off.

I actually prefer singles for everything not classified as high gain.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

I play alot of what would be classified metal on a strat guitar. As such, my technique has developed in a way to get the hardest hit I can with the least motion, and get the most chunk out of single coils. You can do it if you have the will to do it.. hmm.. I'll record a clip or two tomorrow.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

Yngwie Malmsteen is ALL single coil. I thought the YJM Fender strat sounded righteous in the bridge position. The SD Quarter Pounders are SICK single coils. True ones at that.

Mephis said:
For a lot of Van Halen's tones, I have to end up using a strat with singles.
Click to expand...

That's cause for alot of VH tones he's using his trademark "Busted Humbucker" which is rumored to only have one working coil.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

I really like my Fender Strat with the Fender CS '54 single coils. I've played everything with them. Of course they have a tone of their own, but I like them as a different flavour. They have a surprising ability to combine warmth with clarity, cut and bite that I really really like. With a good amp I think that single coils can do anything I like.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

thanks for the responses guys -maybe the dream is possible

_Ube
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

I really dig the Samarium Cobalt Fender s/c's that come in the uhhh...Deluxe? Cant remember but you can buy them separate. 11k. Nice and meaty.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

I think guys who prefer to play with distortion most or all of the time (which would be most of the members of this forum according to the poll I posted a few weeks ago) tend to prefer humbuckers.

I think most guys who prefer to play clean to semi-clean much of the time but like to play distorted some of the time too, tend to prefer single coils.

I also think that as most players get better and mature musically that they are able to express themselves using cleaner tones than when they were younger players with less control and experience.

Lew
 
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Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

The first name that comes to mind is Richie Blackmore. I really like his tone but I know nothing about single coils to make any suggestions though.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

Yes, It is Yngwie who lets me know that single coils can rock so hard! But I think there is something very important, that is, er, you should get a all tube Marshall or something like that, which could certainly fatten up your single coil tone, and won't get harsh through high gain channels. Besides, you need some noisecontroller to get rid of the noises.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

listen to disciples of Hell from Malmsteen (Marching out album)
or Viking Massacre from Derek Sherinian (Malmsteen again ,Blood of the Snake album)...
Both have Balls without end ,extreme cool rythm work...If you a good Noisegate (Isp Decimator or MXR) ,you won't have a big problem.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

ubertwerp said:
Maybe it's the nature of the beast,but has anyone ever heard a "great " rock rhythm come from a strat single coil?

If so, what would be a good pickup choice for a strat to do this ? I know a JB jr or hot rails would probably rock ,but is there anything that remains single coilthat can get there ?

If not, I might continue to be a "super strat " 1 humbucker 2 singles style player ..

_Ube
Click to expand...

I love the Strat sound, and yes it can do great rock rhythm. Do SRV or The Red Hot Chili Peppers (sp?) ring a bell? I think mainly the people that started the humbucker snobbery were Les Paul players with lots of money and gear.

I've been down this road mentally before. I get great sounds from my Lite Ash Stratocaster (mainly due to Seymour Duncan pickups :D), and I can do almost everything anyone else can do. It really depends on what bands you want to emulate, really. A mid boost and some amp EQ can get you close enough for cover bands any old day.

But still, this is coming from someone whose philosophy is to love my instruments for what they can do, not to cry because they can't do something I need. That being said, I've also started many threads out of trying to make one guitar do everything, and it's not worth your time to try, in my opinion.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

I love single coils they simply are great for clean tones. But also do well under gain. IMO single coils are more versatile for chord work and rock rhythm.
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

Lew -I think we have the same philosophy on tone ..
Thanks everybody for the comments -
I'll GAS until I get a maple neck American Standard strat ..
I was thinking lefthanded sunburst ..
Thats a dream right now though -heh

_Ube
 
Re: Can a single coil strat sound good on rock rhythm?

Timmy _I think you answered my question with that Meshuggah clip -wow .
I did not think a strat could sound that heavy

_ube
 
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