How to make a fatter Strat tone?

[JohnnyGuitar]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

How about using an active boost in your guitar? that's what Clapton, Gilmour and Buddy Guy do. ENG and GFS sell them, you can also search for a Clapton kit...

 

[Snake Aces]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

The SSL-3 is very cool.

I think it's more about which pickup you would prefer to have wide open. There is even a way to wire in your tone pot to control both the middle and bridge pups at the same time.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

Just throwing this out there, but would certain pedals get me there along with a relatively STOCK setup?

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

1) I could wire the tone to the bridge, but then do I have the tone still goto the middle?

That sounds like the Eric Johnson mod, which I use. I don't think the middle needs a tone knob, helps with the quack. I also think a weaker/brighter middle makes for better quack.

2) do I get a Fralin baseplate?

Maybe -- in my experience it DOES widen the tone slightly. The downside is no matter how much wax or silicone I put between it and the bottom of the pickup, I couldn't get it to stop squealing.

3) Maybe a Dimarzio VV Solo in the bridge or somethign P90 like?

I had a VV Solo about 10 years ago and it seemed to work pretty well. But I think the Fralin Steelpole or something similar would be better.

4) How about a Duncan Twangbanger, Rio Stelly (sp?), or anything that gives a TELE like thickness? I LOVE 52 RI Teles and NOcasters.

I think the best thing to do for the bridge is get a pickguard custom cut for a real (overwound) Tele pickup, and possibly even install some small steel plates under the pickguard on either side of the pu to sort of duplicate the effect of the steel bridge that surrounds the Tele pu. This latter part may work so well that you could do it with a Strat pu too.

5) Go with a Single Coil sized HB because there is no choice?

That depends on how thick you want the tone, but I think a beefy Tele bridge would cover it.

Just throwing this out there, but would certain pedals get me there along with a relatively STOCK setup?

This may be the best idea. I use the ol' Boss GE-7 6-band graphic EQ, seems to work great for that.

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

hmmmm Zhang, well I opted thus far to stay with the Fat 50s bridge. I wanted the tech to put on a base plate but I cannot find any locally, and I want the guitar back to record.

I am having the tone wired to all 3 pups, knob one neck/middle, knob 2 bridge. It already has Callaham pots and switches, and Fender Fat 50s pups which are nice though the SSL-3 etc etc have soudned like appealing options. I might make a move by tomorrow.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

I like the Fat 50's overall. Bridge could be hotter but it's still good. I have a couple of Fralin baseplates floating around the shop somewhere...

 

[OlinMusic]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

I like the Fat 50's overall. Bridge could be hotter but it's still good. I have a couple of Fralin baseplates floating around the shop somewhere...

If you have a baseplate lying around I can pick up from you let me know

=)

 

[uOpt]

Re: How to make a fatter Strat tone?

Check out what an LCR network can do for you. It's used like a tone control pot, but instead of just cutting highs it makes the sound sweeter. Ritchie Blackmore uses one on the neck pickup for his "singing" Strat sounds, except his roadie calls it "MCT". Bill Lawrence's "Q-Filter" is a similar product. Don't expect wonders but it does move you in the right direction. There are some clips of the MCT floating around somewhere.

Still have one of these overwound SD Antiquity Hot Custom Bridge for Strat pickups for sale, BTW, along with APS-1s. (/shameless plug end)