darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

[hermetico]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

IMO most good players will sound like themselves no matter what guitar. Clapton can sound like himself on a classical guitar. Kirk Hammett sounds like himself even when he's playing those POS ESP's.

More than good players, I would say High Personality players. There are a lot more of really good players than players with a high personality (from the sonic point of view). It really, doesn't matter if their playing skills are medium or high, once they have a very recognoscible signature sound. You hear some notes or chords and you say: I bet he is...

By example, B.B. King. Not the skillest player but, man, you only need to hear one or two sustained noted to clearly identify that those are coming from B.B. King fingers (or soul).
A bit more skilled but, same with Gilmour.
We can even identify the delayed struming sounds of U2's guitarrist.
You hear a creamy eternally sustained note from Santana and you inmediatelly identify him.
Even you can recognize chops from Keith Richards!.

That's my point. Better to look for a signature sound, that makes you different from others than try to copy others. To learn riffs and chops from others is always good, to fill in your toolbox but, to sculpt your own personality is the only thing that would allow you to pop up as a new reference for others, because you are doing things in a different way.
This is the way reserved to guitar's gods.
I, mortar, have to consider other little goals to don't throw the guitar thru the window.

 

[appar111]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

According to Wikipedia, the second incarnation of the Blackmore strat was introduced in 2009. The first featured a CBS era headstock and hardware along with two Gold Lace Sensor pups. The second is the one we have today, with SD Quarter Pounder pups. I was never a huge Blackmore fan, so I never really payed attention to what he was using for gear.

Wiki gets it wrong again!

A buddy of mine had the Blackmore signature strat (w/ the quarter pound pickups, dummy middle pickup and big headstock) back in 2005-2006, so I know they came out well before 2009.

I think it was out in the 90's, then it went away for a while when they did the 2-pickup lace sensor version, then brought it back in 09? Maybe that's what they meant.

 

[zenmindbeginner]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Whatever you get, go noiseless because a strong treble detail was never a part of Blackmore's tone. A would say fluid and smooth... Classic stack plus or even YJM Fury will get you into the Blackmore area. Speaking of Area, DiMarzio Area 61 would get you there too IMO.

 

[uOpt]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Wiki gets it wrong again!

A buddy of mine had the Blackmore signature strat (w/ the quarter pound pickups, dummy middle pickup and big headstock) back in 2005-2006, so I know they came out well before 2009.

I think it was out in the 90's, then it went away for a while when they did the 2-pickup lace sensor version, then brought it back in 09? Maybe that's what they meant.

The QP equipped nonsense is definitely older than 2009. I think there might be slightly different versions but maybe I mix that up with the Malmsteen.

Last I've seen the scallop was all wrong, too.

 

[appar111]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Scored some brand new silver Fender Lace Sensors (I always liked seeing the "Fender" on those plain white pickups) for $34 a piece tonight online.

I also ended up getting a used silver Fender Lace Sensor (black) at a local shop on the way home for $30. I figured if I liked it, I could order them in white online for fairly cheap (didn't realize exactly how cheap though!). So I popped the black one in the strat and tried it in the neck, then in the bridge. Liked it in both spots, so online I went!

I like the Silvers because they don't sound super weak and thin, but don't sound like a typical overwound single coil either. I figured the Golds, while more accurate to RB's guitar, might be a little weak for my particular setup and style of playing.

I'll give a report once I get them in the strat and fire it up. Now I'm just wondering if I should order a custom pickguard from Warmoth with just the neck and bridge pickup slots and the usual V/T/T and switch setup. I used to think that look was so weird, but after seeing Blackmore play it, it looks kinda cool.

 

[appar111]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

update:

The place where I got the silver laces for $34 a piece had the regular golds on sale for the same price, so I snagged 2 of those as well. The silvers should be here today.

I think I'll just use the golds when they get there and save the silvers for a separate pickguard. I'll do the Richie wiring w/ the golds and then do a regular 5-way switch on another guard with the silvers.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

he used fully scaloped fretboard?.

he did not :smack:

 

[hermetico]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

he did not :smack:

That's what I've read in a very old magazine (around '70-'80-'90). According to that magazine, he scaloped it himself, because he achieved a faster playing. Maybe, that magazine was wrong. I dunno.

Er... the wikipedia says the same...

" He is also one of the first rock guitarists to have used a "scalloped" fretboard where the wood is filed and carved out into a shallow "U" shape between the frets." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ritchie_Blackmore)

Maybe, wikipedia is also wrong.

Maybe it was just during some few years or a single year. I dunno, but this created trend during that time.

What's your source to say the contrary?. Just curious

 

[uOpt]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

If you check the archives with posts from me and others the right scallop pops up, including pictures of his guitar.

The symmetric scallop only starts on or after fret 12.

 

[hermetico]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

If you check the archives with posts from me and others the right scallop pops up, including pictures of his guitar.

The symmetric scallop only starts on or after fret 12.

Ah, Ok!.
I thought he scalloped the whole fretboard. My fault then.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

What advantage/disadvantage does a scalloped board have anyway?
I'm in the process of assembling a parts-o-caster

 

[hermetico]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

What advantage/disadvantage does a scalloped board have anyway?
I'm in the process of assembling a parts-o-caster

Theoretically, you shred faster, since to get the note, you haven't to push down the string against the wood. Your finger is floating is some way and, therefore, there is no "friction" when jumping to the next fret, etc.
I only experienced the scalloped frets with a JEM7W and, just the three or four last frets were scalloped. I honestly, felt no difference on those narrow frets but, maybe up, were frets are wider, they make some difference.

 

[uOpt]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Ah, Ok!.
I thought he scalloped the whole fretboard. My fault then.

He does. But it is asymmetric from fret 1-11 or 1-12. It's really worth looking up the photos.

 

[Meggo]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Fender CS-69.
Perhaps closer to his 70s sound, however, very blackmoreish.

 

[DeanSweden]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

Theoretically, you shred faster, since to get the note, you haven't to push down the string against the wood. Your finger is floating is some way and, therefore, there is no "friction" when jumping to the next fret, etc.
I only experienced the scalloped frets with a JEM7W and, just the three or four last frets were scalloped. I honestly, felt no difference on those narrow frets but, maybe up, were frets are wider, they make some difference.

sounds like it would be a hassle to apply the correct pressure on to
the string, so it doesn't get sharp/flat.

 

[Jocelyn]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

I wanted to the Ritchie Blackmore Strat thing. But I realised it was stupid. That man's got his tone in his fingers. I guess it was the fact that he was my first guitar hero. Now I got Perfect Strangers hitting my head.

 

[hermetico]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

sounds like it would be a hassle to apply the correct pressure on to
the string, so it doesn't get sharp/flat.

Yup!, there is also a lot about it.

 

[Mincer]

Re: darn you, Ritchie Blackmore! (SSL-3 vs. SSL-1 questions)

sounds like it would be a hassle to apply the correct pressure on to
the string, so it doesn't get sharp/flat.

Actually, your hands and brain are pretty good at making those kind of calculations so it doesn't happen when you don't want it to. I got into scalloped boards listening to Blackmore as well as John McLaughlin- It just requires more control, but once you do it for awhile, it is no big deal. I switch from scallops to non-scalloped easily.