The Clapton "Layla" tone.

NVBG

New member
Hey all! I just got a new Jackson. I want to Seymourize it. It's a H-H setup. I want to have a solid metal tone from the humbucking mode, and the Clapton tone from coil tapping. Any suggestions? Thanks!
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

What type of rig are you running? That is a huge difference in sound you are trying to achieve.
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Honestly, it's gonna be pretty hard to do with that setup. You'd be better off picking up a used Strat or strat knockoff.
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Choose which is more important the clapton tone or the metal tone. I can get you a set up that will do one great and the other ok-ish. But i cant get both great. If you had a HSS set up I could do it, but HH is hard and im going to guess its also 24 frets which makes it harder.

So which tone is more important to you? and what is your amp set up?
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Never let it be forgotten that a good deal of the "Layla tone" - song and album - came from Duane Allman.
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

It would be easier to metalize the Clapton tone, than to Claptonize the metal tone.

In a 24 fret H+H jackson the clapton tone is always going to be a serious compromise. Where you can do the metal tone without any compromises.

Setting that guitar up for clapton tone would take some finagling...
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

In a 24 fret H+H jackson the clapton tone is always going to be a serious compromise. Where you can do the metal tone without any compromises.

Setting that guitar up for clapton tone would take some finagling...

Absolutely, but if he has to sacrifice on one, it would be easier to sacrifice on the metal side and just use some kind of gain pedal to make up for it than it would be to sacrifice on the Clapton side.

Or he could pickup an ESP Strat copy with a maple board and SSS pickups for $350. Probably $200 if he can find one used.
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Absolutely, but if he has to sacrifice on one, it would be easier to sacrifice on the metal side and just use some kind of gain pedal to make up for it than it would be to sacrifice on the Clapton side.

Gain isnt what he will be missing. The physical location of the coils is wrong

Its as silly as the guys trying to make their strats sound like les pauls... to get a good vintage strat tone you need atleast a vintage style trem with vintage style pups in a 22 or 21 fret spacing... anything else is going to have something missing
 
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Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

I actually got pretty close with a special Overdrive pedal yesterday. (N-audio Firesound, it has swiches to tweak the mid frequencies) No coil tap. I just want to know what humbucker sounds great as a bucker, but also when split sounds like a TRUE single coil.

p.s I have no real guitar amp right now, but will be making something special next month. (based on the 18w Marshall, but with WAY more preamp tubes and 3 channels)
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

I just want to know what humbucker sounds great as a bucker but also, when split, sounds like a TRUE single coil.

Don't we all, ducky. :fingersx:

Strictly speaking, a split humbucker is a true single coil, just not in the commonly understood sense of a Fender style fibreboard and rod magnets pickup.

A humbucker-equiped guitar is going to get pretty close to some of the "Layla" album sounds because many of them were created using a Gibson Les Paul Standard.
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Also, great suggestion on the LTD Strats, they're tone monsters. I'd get the one with a floyd though (don't want to constantly be wary of tuning problems like on my SG Copy that has the JB/Jazz in it)
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

A friend of mine bought an AXL strat knock off some years ago. Monster tone. We didn't expect it from something we got for less than 120 eur!
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Also I might just build a parts strat. I can get one for less than 200 eur. then a spray paint of Oly White Nitrucelulose (x2) and we're looking at 250 eur with the stock pickups. Getting some noiseless single coils wouldn't be a problem. It's just a matter of calculation now :)
 
Re: The Clapton "Layla" tone.

Custom X (X=^2, 5, ferrum - ceramic, 8, 6, unoriented, ...) has a ~7-7.50K AWG #43 slug coil. Some of the real fancy tele broadcaster lead pickups are wound somewhat similar. E.g. my Tele JD lead measures 7.8K with that wire (maybe different insulation... but anyways...). So Custom variants will get you into the real deal single coil tone when split.

And it's HB tone is quite alright.

B ;)
 
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