Soft Strat sound

[Jaba]

Hello! I was wondering if you guys could help me to achieve a soft and creamy sound for my 70's Classic Strat. I've been looking for a sound like Ritchie Blackmore has on Machine Head and Made In Japan + in this video http://youtube.com/watch?v=F54sIDRWkNM&search=highway star.
The original pups on my Strat are terrible, and produce way too much treble and hum. Although I need only the neck and bridge, because I don't like the sound of the middle pup. I've been thinking about the Dimarzio HS-3 or YJM, 'cause I like the sound of Yngwie too. But I would prefer more a true single coil with minimum hum. The name of the pup doesn't really matter, but not too expensive neither. I really appreciate if you guys would help me. Cheers!

 

[theodie]

Re: Soft Strat sound

If you go with a true single coil, its still going to have about the same hum. There is no way around it.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Here's a tip for "true" single with reduced hum: Buy a stacked single, say the HS-3's/YJM, and split them- permanently! Just wire them in as split. I'm pretty sur those things are four conductor. If not, get a hotter pup that is four conductor. That second coil will act as a "dummy" coil and significantly reduce the hum- but not eliminate it. I think Eric Johnson did this before he had his signiture pups. You get tru single coil, with much less hum. Win/Win!!!

 

[Jester700]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Why does the second coil reduce the hum if it's not in circuit? This makes no sense to me. I split my HS-2 pickups, but I remove the bottom coil, since it allows more wiring room & pickup height options. But then, I pretty much only use them in combination with another coil, so maybe I wouldn't notice this effect.

 

[Vasshu the humanoid typhoon]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Aps-1.

 

[open]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Aps-1.

That's what i would go with

 

[adrian]

Re: Soft Strat sound

A soft and almost noiseless Strat sound? For many years Ritchie Blackmore used Lace Golds for his signature Strat. The upgraded Hot Golds would probably do what you want.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Why does the second coil reduce the hum if it's not in circuit? This makes no sense to me. I split my HS-2 pickups, but I remove the bottom coil, since it allows more wiring room & pickup height options. But then, I pretty much only use them in combination with another coil, so maybe I wouldn't notice this effect.

You leave the mags where they are. They are so close that they are within each others "field" or some such thing. It's just like if you bring another magnet of the wronfg polarity close to a microphone...you get more hum. In this case, it's the correct polarity and you get LESS hum. To get no hum it has to be in the circuit. Ask Zhang if you don't believe this will work.

 

[Jaba]

Re: Soft Strat sound

A soft and almost noiseless Strat sound? For many years Ritchie Blackmore used Lace Golds for his signature Strat. The upgraded Hot Golds would probably do what you want.

Yeah, but that was in the 80's and 90's, right? I'm more into his early 70's sound: Fireball, Machine Head and Rainbow Rising etc. Btw, can you tell me how did 60's and 70's Strat players (Blackmore, Hendrix etc.) get rid of the hum? When I look the DVD's, I don't hear the hum, only feedback sometimes. Is it because they didn't use so much gain, just the Marshall Plexi and others?

I've been thinking about the APS-1 also. I'm only worried about the hum, and should I go for the HS-3. Tough decision.

 

[saladin]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Blackmore's smooth tone from the period you stated is coming from the the reel-to-reel recorder that he used inbetween his guitar and amp. He used it as a gain boost but it definately "smoothed" out his tone.

 

[Jaba]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Blackmore's smooth tone from the period you stated is coming from the the reel-to-reel recorder that he used inbetween his guitar and amp. He used it as a gain boost but it definately "smoothed" out his tone.

Reel-to-reel recorder? :/

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Soft Strat sound

You leave the mags where they are. They are so close that they are within each others "field" or some such thing. It's just like if you bring another magnet of the wronfg polarity close to a microphone...you get more hum. In this case, it's the correct polarity and you get LESS hum. To get no hum it has to be in the circuit. Ask Zhang if you don't believe this will work.

Nah, don't ask me -- I don't have a lot of experience with stacks. Although it sounds fairly logical...

 

[Farkus]

Re: Soft Strat sound

Hey Jaba,

I myself do not like the YJM or HS-3 pickups. Believe me when I tell you that YJM's setup is much more amp than it is pickups. This is, of course, only my opinion. Having used both pickups before, they are not at all what I'd call "creamy". They're pretty bland unless they're split.

I use "Chubtone" Strat pickups now in my main axe. I think they're the polar opposite of the HS-3/YJM pups. They have a lot of personality. They're the bomb for more classic tones. My '63 neck and middle are just perfect for older Strat sounds (Hendrix-y) and the El Gordo at the bridge is a great match (hotter than the 63's) when you want to kick up a little dirt. I think they'd do great Purple. PM me if you want more info on them.

 

[Jester700]

Re: Soft Strat sound

You leave the mags where they are. They are so close that they are within each others "field" or some such thing. It's just like if you bring another magnet of the wronfg polarity close to a microphone...you get more hum. In this case, it's the correct polarity and you get LESS hum. To get no hum it has to be in the circuit. Ask Zhang if you don't believe this will work.

Sorry for rekindling this, but...

I don't understand "leave the mags where they are". There are no mags in the bottom coil of an HS stack, just a dummy coil. In fact, there is a thin shield between the coils, I assume to isolate the coils and direct the field toward the strings. So again, I don't see the theory behind leaving the bottom coil present.

In before/after removal of the bottom coil, I didn't notice any difference in noise. I wasn't specifically testing for this, but if there was more noise, there wasn't a lot more.