SRV Tone

[Guitar Toad]

It's not really a big deal, but on the Austin City Limits DVD when SRV played Texas Flood he was playing the intro on the DGB strings at around the 6-8 frets and sounds just as bright as when I play the same intro on the unwound GBE strings on the 3-5 frets. It made me start questioning my pickups. Again. ARG!.



The bright tone that he got is amazing to me.

 

[Jeff5]

Re: SRV Tone

Toad what gauge strings are you using? I think SRV used 11s or even 12s.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: SRV Tone

Toad what gauge strings are you using? I think SRV used 11s or even 12s.

ummm, well....I'm using Fender Super 250, 09-11-16-24-32-42, currently.

Should I make the quantum leap to 11's? Or step my way there through 10's first?

 

[koolkat]

Re: SRV Tone

11's are a very heavy gauge, especially if you're in standard tuning. I would first try the 10's as they will make a noticeable difference in your tone while still retaining some of the playability of the 9's.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: SRV Tone

Are you tuned down to E Flat?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SRV Tone

Stevie used normal vintage Fender pickups (NO ALNICO II MAGNETS), but he did use a set of strings that was a 13-56 but he replaces the 13 with an 11 so we're talking about a set of strings that went something like
11,17,20,30,40,56 and then drop to Eb...that will give thengs a different tone. There comes a point where you have to stop questioning everything and just buy some pickups...either way you go, tou will enjoy your tone

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SRV Tone

GT...my point was this...Stevie was able to get that thick tone partly because of his big ass strings and tuning down a half step, with 9's you should still be able to get a bright chimey tone with alnico II pickups...

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: SRV Tone

SRV was great....Just try to be you and not SRV...Find your own tone and run with it...With all the weird amps I've bought I can surely tell you that I'm not copying any one man's tone....I mean I went from tube amps to SS modeling amps for God's sake! I'm going backwards....LOL

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: SRV Tone

I can get close enough with alnico 5 staggered single coils like the SSL-1's. SRV did not use overwound pickups. He used stock Fender early 60's alnico 5 staggered single coils in the 6K range. That, big strings tuned to E flat and his talent and soul are what got SRV his tone. Lew

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: SRV Tone

He's getting bright sound from wound strings that I don't expect to be bright.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: SRV Tone

He's getting bright sound from wound strings that I don't expect to be bright.

Yep. 6K - 6.4K alnico 5 Strat pickups are clear, deep, bright and chimey. Some guys can't handle that kind of clarity...they need hotter pickups with smoother treble to mask thier mistakes, especially if they play mostly at home. :laugh2: SRV had great touch and technique. Lew

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: SRV Tone

Yep. 6K - 6.4K alnico 5 Strat pickups are clear, deep, bright and chimey. Some guys can't handle that kind of clarity...they need hotter pickups with smoother treble to mask thier mistakes, especially if they play mostly at home. :laugh2: Lew

Lew, you are on fire today! You're killin' me with laughter right now.:laugh2::laugh2:

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SRV Tone

Yep. 6K - 6.4K alnico 5 Strat pickups are clear, deep, bright and chimey. Some guys can't handle that kind of clarity...they need hotter pickups with smoother treble to mask thier mistakes, especially if they play mostly at home. :laugh2: Lew

good call!

That is part of the reason I had my CS Strat pickups slightly underwound, I really dig the overall tone of Alnico II magnets, but the Texas hots are a tad too thick for me, and the Surfers are just a tad too bright for me.

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: SRV Tone

Yep. 6K - 6.4K alnico 5 Strat pickups are clear, deep, bright and chimey. Some guys can't handle that kind of clarity...they need hotter pickups with smoother treble to mask thier mistakes, especially if they play mostly at home. :laugh2: SRV had great touch and technique. Lew

Lew....Interesting story I have regarding SRVs pickups...Years ago I had called Seymour Duncan's company for some technical support about some single coils I bought...I can't remember the tech and I'm hoping this tech wasn't blowing any smoke up my(you know what)..told me that they had wound pickups for SRV? Just curious as to how you in fact know SRV used stock 6k or so strat pickups? These kinds of statements always peek my curiosity....Same thing with the tubes Hendrix used in his Marshalls,and EVH etc...Where does all this stuff start? LOL....

We all know SRV had it in his heart,soul,and hands,but we also know that he was another great player that was constantly trying to improve his overall tone....I mean the guy used like 30 different amps during the In Step sessions and also used many amps during his career...You'd have to think that somewhere along the line SRV also had his pickups either tweaked or replaced....No?

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: SRV Tone

Lew....Interesting story I have regarding SRVs pickups...Years ago I had called Seymour Duncan's company for some technical support about some single coils I bought...I can't remember the tech and I'm hoping this tech wasn't blowing any smoke up my(you know what)..told me that they had wound pickups for SRV? Just curious as to how you in fact know SRV used stock 6k or so strat pickups? These kinds of statements always peek my curiosity....Same thing with the tubes Hendrix used in his Marshalls,and EVH etc...Where does all this stuff start? LOL....

We all know SRV had it in his heart,soul,and hands,but we also know that he was another great player that was constantly trying to improve his overall tone....I mean the guy used like 30 different amps during the In Step sessions and also used many amps during his career...You'd have to think that somewhere along the line SRV also had his pickups either tweaked or replaced....No?

John,

Just a year or so ago the Fender CS did an SRV relic...they borrowed #1 from Jimmy and did 3 exact copies of it, there was a huge write up about that in Fender Frontline, and in that article they mentioned that the pickups in #1 measured in the high 5k to low 6k range! It also said that Stevie really liked pickups in that range, and that quite a few of his guitars had pickups in that range.

 

[jimo]

Re: SRV Tone

I know Van Zandt wound some pichups for Stevie and Jimmy. Mr. Van Zandt told me that anyway and I don't think he would lie about it.---cheers!---JIMO

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: SRV Tone

So, it takes under wound pickups, heavy strings, great chops and experimenting with 30 plus amp combinations to get great SRV tone. Great formula. I better get busy.

Especially since I play at home for an audience of the toughest critic! Ha ha ha ha he he ho ho ho

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: SRV Tone

John,

Just a year or so ago the Fender CS did an SRV relic...they borrowed #1 from Jimmy and did 3 exact copies of it, there was a huge write up about that in Fender Frontline, and in that article they mentioned that the pickups in #1 measured in the high 5k to low 6k range! It also said that Stevie really liked pickups in that range, and that quite a few of his guitars had pickups in that range.

I have that Frontline and I read it....Just wondering why a tech at Seymour Duncan told me they wound pickups for SRV is where I was going? Did he have backup pickups that were wound by Seymour with his stock Fender pickups? Were the pickups in Stevie's Number 1 actually Fender pickups or rewound Duncans? What I'm saying,is there's so much hype and a$$ smokin on this stuff that we'll never "really" know the truth.....Follow me brother? :dance:

 

[STRATDELUXER97]

Re: SRV Tone

So, it takes under wound pickups, heavy strings, great chops and experimenting with 30 plus amp combinations to get great SRV tone. Great formula. I better get busy.

Especially since I play at home for an audience of the toughest critic! Ha ha ha ha he he ho ho ho

No...Just be yourself brother....1 great amp and many great guitars...You won't be SRV anytime soon more than likely,but it's fun trying...LOL :laugh2:

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: SRV Tone

No...Just be yourself brother....1 great amp and many great guitars...You won't be SRV anytime soon more than likely,but it's fun trying...LOL :laugh2:

Yes, it is fun.

I'll never be even close to what SRV was. But, I'm gonna try!