Early Hendrix tone ?

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

I just got the Jimi Hendrix ''Live at BBC'' CD.
LOVE his tone he got there.
It does not even sound like a Strat ! (???)

I currently have some Squire set in my partscastter Strat.
You know, (too...) high out put ceramic ones with those thick metal baseplates glued under it.
I want some alnico units, to get much closer to those BBC recordings.

Any Suggestions ?

 

[freefrog]

I wouldn't focus too much on pickups...

Any low output Strat set with AlNiCo rods should do the job - or even your original pickups stuffed with AlNiCo rods, if they accept such a mod.

What makes the Hendrix sound is a series of things like the reverse angled bridge PU, the strings, amps and effects but also traditionally unseen parameters like... cable capacitance.

A long coily cord will soften the tone of any Strat thanks to stray capacitance. Another long coily cord after a Fuzz Face circuitry will become no less than an external EQ for the fuzz... I've devoted a whole thread to this question here: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/do-cables-matter-with-a-fuzz-face-tests.449103/

And, good news: cumbersome curly cables can be mimiced by cheap low value capacitors between hot and ground. See the 3rd paragraph from the bottom here: http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/All_About_Tone.htm/CableandSound.htm

If you use a set of passive "hot" pickups in order to get more warmth from a Strat, added inductance will darken the tone in the same way than stray capacitance but the loudness of the PU's won't be no more adapted to a good Hendrixy Fuzz Face tone.

FWIW. Good luck in your tone quest.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

I wouldn't focus too much on pickups...

Any low output Strat set with AlNiCo rods should do the job - or even your original pickups stuffed with AlNiCo rods, if they accept such a mod.

What makes the Hendrix sound is a series of things like the reverse angled bridge PU, the strings, amps and effects but also traditionally unseen parameters like... cable capacitance.

A long coily cord will soften the tone of any Strat thanks to stray capacitance. Another long coily cord after a Fuzz Face circuitry will become no less than an external EQ for the fuzz... I've devoted a whole thread to this question here: https://www.mylespaul.com/threads/do-cables-matter-with-a-fuzz-face-tests.449103/

And, good news: cumbersome curly cables can be mimiced by cheap low value capacitors between hot and ground. See the 3rd paragraph from the bottom here: http://www.billlawrence.com/Pages/All_About_Tone.htm/CableandSound.htm

If you use a set of passive "hot" pickups in order to get more warmth from a Strat, added inductance will darken the tone in the same way than stray capacitance but the loudness of the PU's won't be no more adapted to a good Hendrixy Fuzz Face tone.

FWIW. Good luck in your tone quest.

GREAT INFO . . . thank you very much !!!

 

[freefrog]

You're welcome. Feel free to chime if I can help.

 

[jeremy]

the reverse bridge pup does change the tone a bit, but there are many other important things going on as freefrog said. low output alnico single coils->coily cord->good germanium fuzzface

 

[Securb]

Jimi used a Marshall JTM - 45 back then so a Fender Bassman type of tone would be a great foundation and starting point.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

the reverse bridge pup does change the tone a bit, but there are many other important things going on as freefrog said. low output alnico single coils->coily cord->good germanium fuzzface

The coily chord i have
I also have a few fuzz units, incl. a decent (for the price) MXR Classic 108 & Throbak Fuzz Haze.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Jimi used a Marshall JTM - 45 back then so a Fender Bassman type of tone would be a great foundation and starting point.

I have a modern era ''JTM-45-like'' amp, in the form of a 50W Vintage Modern, and a black face Bassman.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Sounds like you've got all the equipment you need. What year is the Bassman?

 

[jeremy]

i have a bullet coily cable and it sounds good, not quite the same as the old crappy ones hendrix was using but im also not running big ass marshalls turned up loud

 

[Wattage]

The Fender CS69 set is really good, haven't tried the SD Jimi set but I imagine they are top notch

Nailing Jimi's sound sells lots of gear lol

 

[LLL]

Sorry fellas, but you need to be left handed to sound like Jimi.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Sounds like you've got all the equipment you need. What year is the Bassman?

For 'my' Hendrix tone, i have a 1966 black face Bassman, and a 50W Marshall Vintage Modern (head)

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

i have a bullet coily cable and it sounds good, not quite the same as the old crappy ones hendrix was using but im also not running big ass marshalls turned up loud

. . . hahahahaha, fair enough.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

The Fender CS69 set is really good, haven't tried the SD Jimi set but I imagine they are top notch

Nailing Jimi's sound sells lots of gear lol

Will deff look into both - thank you very much.

 

[SirJackdeFuzz II]

Sorry fellas, but you need to be left handed to sound like Jimi.

OH BUGGER . . . there lies the secret.
I am right handed :2:

 

[GuitarDoc]

For 'my' Hendrix tone, i have a 1966 black face Bassman, and a 50W Marshall Vintage Modern (head)

I have that Marshall, it's capable of some really great tones.
Your Bassman has the large 2x12 spkr cab right? Original speakers?
I thought they stopped making that blackface in '65. You willing to sell that Bassman?

 

[jeremy]

in general, bf was through '67, then sf in '68.

 

[GuitarDoc]

in general, bf was through '67, then sf in '68.

Thanks for clarifying that for me.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Wait, didn't they have some SF in '67?

I'm getting confused.