How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

[FAC]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

If you are after the "in between" sounds on a strat (neck + middle, or middle + bridge)...the quacky sounds...you won't get too close with a two pickup SG because the pickups are too far apart. It might sound good, but it won't be classically quacky, if that is what you want. I have a Les Paul Black Beauty loaded with 3 Phat Cats, and I can get a pretty convincing quack out of it combining the middle pickup with the bridge or the neck pickup, but it won't be the same with a two pickup SG.

I put a Lindy Fralin Twangmaster in the neck position of my SG...sounds great, is totally single coil sounding, and is noiseless. It sounds more "fendery" than the Phat Cats (although Phat Cats are one of my favorite pickups of all time...).

 

[El CHupacabra]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

Unfortunately to get "The Strat Sound", you need the genuine Fender. There are too many factors different between the SG and the Strat that make them sound too far away from each other. Scale length, wood choice, pickup style, fixed bridge vs. spring trem, combinations in pickups, your own amp & rig, ....

Point is to get Fender sound you need Fender. Gibson just don't make Fender sound, and Fender don't make Gibson sound. If they did they'd have already merged by now.

 

[jimijames]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

If you want a strat-like sound that's warmer, I'd try getting a PG/Custom set and one or two push pulls so you can deactivate one of the coils (in each pickup to get a strattier sound).

It's cheaper than trying to find a strat, and when you do get a strat, you may like the scale legnth and warmer tone of the SG better. This way, you can still get some strat-like sounds without having to sacrifice the playability and tone of the SG.

I love strats, and I love SGs, but you can't really compare them. They're two very different guitars, so if you like the way your SG plays and sounds acoustically, I wouldn't give up on it just yet.

edit: Wow, I can't believe how many people went straight for the trade-your-guitar option. I mean, nothing but a strat sounds exactly like a strat, but with coil taps, you can get close. And you said you like the feel of your guitar, which is way more important than how it sounds, because you can always change how it sounds. I'm telling you man, get a push-pull pot so you can coil-split the pickups. You don't even need to buy new pickups, and you can do it yourself, or have a tech do it for you. If you have a tech do it for you, I'd recommend upgrading the pickups while you're in there, because if you don't know how to work on your guitar yourself you're gonna be paying every time you change something, and pickups are definitely worth it.

Good luck and godspeed.

 

[Mark Cearlock]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

Coil taps first, Double a-5 bridge phat cat, a-5/a-3 phat cat neck next.
Coil taps would be a better option because you still have 2 hb's in there, as a added bonus when you want to rock. Not going to be exactaly a strat, but you won't lose your a$$ when trading the sg in.

 

[Empty Pockets]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

laughed out loud at the thought of trading a faded SG for a USA strat

if you'll give me $1250 in exchange for $700 please PM me your contact information.

anyway man, brighter pickups and 500k push-pull pots will do the job and then some.

 

[SlowGroove]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

The faded is a badwing SG, it doesn't use rings.

You can order a pickguard with slots for Strat pickups, of course.

Oh bugger - OK, ignore what is said



James

 

[Jay 77]

Re: How can I make my SG sound like a Strat?

The Electro Harmonix Knockout pedal is what you need to try. A friend of mine has it, and you wouldn't believe how well it works.


Check it out