Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

[marcg71]

Was hoping to grab some tricks on fattening up a strat with 9s. Suggestions?

Also - please understand that I cannot go up string gauge, I have carpal tunnel....which is why I am trying to find an alternative such as, boosts, string brand, etc.

I'm able to fatten up the neck pup, but fail with the bridge, just sounds thin and brittle (although I am going to try a Dimarzio heavy blues 2 pup out)


thanks in advance!

 

[JordanM82]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Is the bridge pickup wired to the tone control? That could help some... also maybe consider just putting a baseplate on the bridge pickup, that helps a lot too, you can get those from Callaham as well and those are both easy solder jobs.

 

[Jay 77]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

A good block may help, but also try different string brands too. If all else fails, pick up an Electro Harmonix LPB-1. Even set with no volume boost, it fattens up everything. I loved my SC strats through it.

 

[sosomething]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

What about that SD Pickup Booster pedal? I've never used it but I've always been curious. Seems like an easy route to a thicker tone...

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

pickup height? lower is usually better.

i'm actually think putting it to the tone pot (or at least a cap or something) would really help.

the tone wire fell off my LP and it was all thin and brittle too

 

[JacobTM]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

+1 on the SD Pickup Booster, the resonance peak switch really adds a good amount of fat chunk to your sound if you want it.

But there are plenty of great fat sounding single coil pickups, or single-coil sized humbuckers. A quarter pounder, perhaps?

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

what would make the most difference in all truth is a different amp... seriousy i've had some great sounds out of a stock Custom Shop strat thru some amps and the same strat would sound awful thru some other amps... worst thing i have that makes that strat sound awful is my Marshall TSL100... yuck... yet that same strat thru something like a Peavey Classic 50, or a Classic 30... or some of the Fender amps out there and it sings... hell that Custom Shop strat even sounds great thru my 5150 stack...

i'd love a Fender Vibroking... or even just a Bassman for that strat oneday!!!

more and more i'm finding changing a strat or Teles PU's and adjustments do not always make a huge enough impact on the sound... sure they can depending on things involved.... but sometimes when you hate the sound you are getting it's more then likely the wrong amp in the first place...

 

[Stef]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

no tricks: just a good - amp, cabinet and speakers, guitar, SC pickups and perhaps a booster pedal

 

[j9fd3s]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

what would make the most difference in all truth is a different amp... seriousy i've had some great sounds out of a stock Custom Shop strat thru some amps and the same strat would sound awful thru some other amps... worst thing i have that makes that strat sound awful is my Marshall TSL100... yuck... yet that same strat thru something like a Peavey Classic 50, or a Classic 30... or some of the Fender amps out there and it sings... hell that Custom Shop strat even sounds great thru my 5150 stack...

i'd love a Fender Vibroking... or even just a Bassman for that strat oneday!!!

more and more i'm finding changing a strat or Teles PU's and adjustments do not always make a huge enough impact on the sound... sure they can depending on things involved.... but sometimes when you hate the sound you are getting it's more then likely the wrong amp in the first place...

agreed

 

[Blue313]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

What's your current rig including pickups/effects/amp? We'll need a point of reference.

 

[tc]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Is the bridge pickup wired to the tone control? That could help some... also maybe consider just putting a baseplate on the bridge pickup, that helps a lot too, you can get those from Callaham as well and those are both easy solder jobs.

What about that SD Pickup Booster pedal? I've never used it but I've always been curious. Seems like an easy route to a thicker tone...

But there are plenty of great fat sounding single coil pickups, or single-coil sized humbuckers. A quarter pounder, perhaps?

what would make the most difference in all truth is a different amp...

no tricks: just a good - amp, cabinet and speakers, guitar, SC pickups and perhaps a booster pedal

+∞

And I thought I'd be able to add something productive to this thread.

The only thing though, is that keep in mind a hotter pup will give you a different Mid/Bridge notch tone.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

What kind of Strat and what kind of bridge?

 

[richard parker]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Have you tried a graphic EQ ? With something like a Boss GE7 you can use the volume slider to up the input gain a little or even just raise the mids a little, or both. A clean boost would also be good but with a graphic you have the control over the EQ which might be more what you need.

 

[ImmortalSix]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

i'm able to fatten up the neck pup, but fail with the bridge, just sounds thin and brittle (although i am going to try a dimarzio heavy blues 2 pup out)


thanks in advance!

ssl-3!

 

[Aceman]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Replace neck with 24 3/4 scale conversion (warmoth)
Replace Bridge pup with single sized HB (Little SuperD)
Put 11's on and tune down to D. (easy to bend!)

It'll fatten right up...

 

[shredhed]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

You can get Hybrid Slinkies (Ernie Ball strings)

They are.....009, .011, .016 on the plain strings just like any set os .009s

But the wound strings are one size larger (like from pack of .010s).....026, .036, .046

So on the high strings you cn still bend, but on chords it will be a bit beefier on tone and sustain

 

[Wattage]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Duncan Pickup Booster

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

Alnico II Pro's or Antiquity Texas Hots will get you started on a thicker tone.

A good clean boost will add a little volume and punch.

A killer bridge (I like the Callaham) will add sustain and punch.

 

[kmcguitars]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

I'm gonna take the high road here.:cool2: I have carpal tunnel, As well as more medical issue's than I could possibly list. What are you doing to treat the CP? I got my CP under control by wearing them wrist braces at night ,And some Doctors RX's. I hear CT can be cured now w/t laser surgery? Just one more option to ponder.

 

[ganzosrevenge]

Re: Fattening up a Strat w/9's - Suggestions?

I have CTS from typing and piano. I use 10s. My tone is fattened up through a humbucker, more punch from a callaham kit, and I can really bottom out the sound with some good pots and caps. It's not what you have in your guitar so much as it's how you use the resources available to maximize your return (ie: what you have, and what you can feasibly get, to maximize "beefy strat"). the bridge and electronics would be a good place to start.