Strat or Fat Strat

[Quencho092]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

If you want to give up that 4th position quack, what's the point in even calling it vintage? That's what the strat is all about, 2nd and 4th position quack, and rolled off tone bridge pickup near tele tone.

People often overlook the bridge pickup on a strat, but when used properly with a good sounding tone cap you can really squeeze out the soul of a player in the upper register region of the neck.

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

If you want to give up that 4th position quack, what's the point in even calling it vintage? That's what the strat is all about, 2nd and 4th position quack, and rolled off tone bridge pickup near tele tone.

People often overlook the bridge pickup on a strat, but when used properly with a good sounding tone cap you can really squeeze out the soul of a player in the upper register region of the neck.

Are we talking about the same position here? Pos. 4 is neck and middle together, correct? On a H-S-S strat, that never changes. Also, if you get pickups that are balanced correctly, pos. 2 will come out well also. Bridge singles were always too thin for my taste. I could see someone messing with it and doing chicken pickin', but I find a humbucker in that slot is a lot more useful, especially if you're plugging into a Marshall or similar.

 

[kevlar3000]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

I love a PAF type in a Strat bridge, it is a sound that really inspires me. I currently have an SSH but a Twangbanger can definately get you some PAF type tones and Tele tones and Strat tones..... My dream would be a Twangbanger that is humbucking but still looked like a stock single coil ( Evan????). Like the Dimarzio virtual series. I really like a bit more guts in a Strat bridge, it is too thin in stock form for my tastes.

 

[Seraphial]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

Tho I have a fat strat, for full vintage tone and look 3 SCs is the goer.

 

[stevie ray]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

go for sss man

SRV, hendrix, etc still got drive, punch, cleans, etc with em, so why cant u? Its all about make the right choices in Pickups, and good ol' Seymour has ya covered

good luck

 

[Kelsey]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

Yeah, the vintage thing opens a whole can of worms. Vintage Strats from the 50's and 60's came SSS with a 3-way switch -- no 'tweener positions except by catching the switch in between the stock 3 positions. Leo never intended for anyone to use more than one pickup at a time on either the Strat or the Tele. But many classic cuts didn't follow his intentions (e.g., Clapton's work on the Layla album, early Dire Straits, etc.).

I have one Strat set up as SSS with SSL-1's and a Twangbanger, and another with Texas Specials. I am thinking about converting the Texas Special Strat to something different, including a Firecaster with mini-HBs or a Fat Strat with Phat Cat neck and Trembucker bridge.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

Yeah, the vintage thing opens a whole can of worms. Vintage Strats from the 50's and 60's came SSS with a 3-way switch -- no 'tweener positions except by catching the switch in between the stock 3 positions. Leo never intended for anyone to use more than one pickup at a time on either the Strat or the Tele. But many classic cuts didn't follow his intentions (e.g., Clapton's work on the Layla album, early Dire Straits, etc.).

I have one Strat set up as SSS with SSL-1's and a Twangbanger, and another with Texas Specials. I am thinking about converting the Texas Special Strat to something different, including a Firecaster with mini-HBs or a Fat Strat with Phat Cat neck and Trembucker bridge.

Great, response. Thanks.
I need to hear those Twangbangers. I should give them a listen. They must be great.

 

[V-Spot]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

If I wanted a humbucker, I'd get a Gibson. SSS is the only way I'll play a Strat.

 

[royd]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

SSS
I play a strat clone SSS, hardtail and was dissatisfied with the bridge pickup... and went to the UGD and scatter wound what is essentially a twangbanger. It made all of the difference. I can get a very good imitation of a big tele clean, still get nice quack, and dirty it would made SRV blush. So... give the twangbanger a try. I think you'll be more than happy with it.
FWIW, I think that a split humbucker rarely sounds much like a real single coil...maybe the Stagmag would pull that off but Ive not heard one.

 

[GuitarGuru88]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

keep the bucker! i mean yeah make it so that you can tap it but just keep the bucker!

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

I would say it depends on what the humbucker is, but my instinct is to say SSS for the type of tone you want. I have a HSS Strat that I love dearly, but sometimes I long for more of a vintage Strat sound. I intend to get myself a nice sunburst SSS someday.

 

[koolkat]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

Being that you pretty much play blues exclusively, I would go SSS with a twangbanger in the bridge and surfers in the middle and neck. Since I only own one guitar at the moment, I have it configured as HSS so I can get as much versatality as possible. If I were to purchase a second guitar, I would get a HH configuration and convert my current guitar to a SSS.

 

[stevie_bees]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

SSS all the way. If you need a hot bridge pickup put a Twangbanger in there. I don't really like S/S/HB Strats much at all. I like humbuckers and I like single coils but not both types on the same guitar.

4 months ago I would have said HSS, but after getting my Legacy and fitting a Twangbanger it's no contest. :dance:

 

[Gamera]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

If you want to give up that 4th position quack, what's the point in even calling it vintage? That's what the strat is all about, 2nd and 4th position quack, and rolled off tone bridge pickup near tele tone.

I was under the impression that factory Strats didn't actually come with a 5-way switch until the late 70's. I understand the 5-way was a common mod but it wasn't stock until then. And I suppose it depends on your definition of "vintage" but when I think of classic Hendrix, Trower, Gilmour, etc, Strat tones I don't hear any "quack." It's mostly the full neck sound or the twangy bridge. No?

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

I was under the impression that factory Strats didn't actually come with a 5-way switch until the late 70's. I understand the 5-way was a common mod but it wasn't stock until then. And I suppose it depends on your definition of "vintage" but when I think of classic Hendrix, Trower, Gilmour, etc, Strat tones I don't hear any "quack." It's mostly the full neck sound or the twangy bridge. No?

Absolutely correct. Strats all had a 3-position switch during what most would consider to be the "vintage" period (early 50's - late 70's). I have read that the mod came about because players were finding really cool sounds when their switches were not quite "locked in" to one position or another. I also read that none other than Seymour Duncan invented the concept of the RW/RP middle pickup that provides hum cancellation in positions 2 and 4. Can anyone confirm or deny this?

 

[Stringmachine]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

If I could have only one, I would go with a 'bucker in the bridge. Gives me a little more versatility.

 

[flank]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

yea, hendrix wasnt quacky, other than on "Wait Until Tomorrow", and Little Wing is probably in the in between position

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

Only shredders can play a HSS strat?

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

I've got both and if you add Gillmore to your list, these are the sounds I go for the most- To sum up what others have said, if you want entirely the classic sounds you would go SSS-

But, the S in the bridge is the sound I least use and I use lots of combintaitons- If you are going live a good splitable Humb (like the JB) it would sound extremely stratish in 2 position. But the addition of the bridge full humb is something you just can't otherwise get on a strat- So if you will ever play rock that isn't clapton/srv/knopfler, it will sure come in handy-

Note that not a lot of humbs split very strat like and this is one of the reasons I highly recomend the JB.

 

[Robbiedbee]

Re: Strat or Fat Strat

I prefer to have a humbucker in the bridge. A big fat tone is what I associate with bridge positions. Though saying that, The HB Crunch Vs the SC Bite is a decision I find increasingly hard to answer at the moment. I have played a few Ernie Ball MMs with really nice sounding SC bridges.