which pickups for SRV tone???
- Thread starter kelvin13
- Start date
jerryjg
PinkElephantologist
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
thats like asking what clubs can you get to golf like Tiger Woods. You can get the most expensive clubs In the world, and youll still go out and swing like a hack. Better you just go to a thrift store and get an old beat up set of Sam Sneads and practice.. prctice.. practice.
Dont forget , Sam Snead with old Clubs was 100 times better than 99% of modern players with the most modern and technoligically advanced clubs available.
Now, if youre always gonna be "sub par", then a set of $3000.00 clubs might improve your game
see wher Im goin' with this anology?
Get a good set of SSL-1's. They are really very afordable. They will make even average gear sound great.
After you start slammmin riffs like stevie, than you can worry about some Aintiquities .Thats if your guitar is nice enough to put them into.
thats like asking what clubs can you get to golf like Tiger Woods. You can get the most expensive clubs In the world, and youll still go out and swing like a hack. Better you just go to a thrift store and get an old beat up set of Sam Sneads and practice.. prctice.. practice.
Dont forget , Sam Snead with old Clubs was 100 times better than 99% of modern players with the most modern and technoligically advanced clubs available.
Now, if youre always gonna be "sub par", then a set of $3000.00 clubs might improve your game
see wher Im goin' with this anology?
Get a good set of SSL-1's. They are really very afordable. They will make even average gear sound great.
After you start slammmin riffs like stevie, than you can worry about some Aintiquities .Thats if your guitar is nice enough to put them into.
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
thanks ,, and yeh i know that its not all about the equipment just wandered what would be good for that kinda music,, im a les paul/ humbucker player and have no experience in single coils,, and theres so many to choose,, just wandered what would be good ,, thanks for that il have a look at them
thanks ,, and yeh i know that its not all about the equipment just wandered what would be good for that kinda music,, im a les paul/ humbucker player and have no experience in single coils,, and theres so many to choose,, just wandered what would be good ,, thanks for that il have a look at them
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Do a search as this tipic has been discussed (into the ground) on this (and almost every other guitar) forum in the world.
However if you just want a quick answer get a set of 3 Duncan SSL-1's and roll with it...they are bright and can be thin sounding, they hum and the bridge lacks enough output to really rock with however they are very close to what Stevie really used...he did it, if you got the hands and the rest of the gear you can do it too!
Do a search as this tipic has been discussed (into the ground) on this (and almost every other guitar) forum in the world.
However if you just want a quick answer get a set of 3 Duncan SSL-1's and roll with it...they are bright and can be thin sounding, they hum and the bridge lacks enough output to really rock with however they are very close to what Stevie really used...he did it, if you got the hands and the rest of the gear you can do it too!
the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
His pickups were NOT overwound, not at all in fact they were a pretty low DC resistance.
heavy guage strings do help get close to that SRV vibe, as does tuning down a half step...tuning down also helps be ABLE to play on strings that big...
WARNING...you CAN damage your hands using strings that are too big for you!!! TRUST ME ON THAT...
If you don't play everyday, tunedown and have very powerful hands please use your head and don't try to use 13-60 guage strings just because somebody else did/does. I know a guy that has permanet damage to his hands, wrists and arms because he tried to use heavy guage strings because SRV did...
Don't forget to slap a set of .013s on your Strat, too...His pickups may have been slightly overwound, but another factor to his tone also has something to do with the fact that he was using bridge-cables for strings, too...
His pickups were NOT overwound, not at all in fact they were a pretty low DC resistance.
heavy guage strings do help get close to that SRV vibe, as does tuning down a half step...tuning down also helps be ABLE to play on strings that big...
WARNING...you CAN damage your hands using strings that are too big for you!!! TRUST ME ON THAT...
If you don't play everyday, tunedown and have very powerful hands please use your head and don't try to use 13-60 guage strings just because somebody else did/does. I know a guy that has permanet damage to his hands, wrists and arms because he tried to use heavy guage strings because SRV did...
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
thanks for all replies! yeh i know he uses huuge strings but im used to what i have and yeh ive heard that somewhere about damaging hands n stuff, think il be sticking to the 10s i use,, but thanks for comments!! also with the SSL-1s people are suggesting will these sound good for playing more rock/grunge type stuff like pearl jam, soundgarden,, audioslave,, i know tom morello uses a hot rail in the bridge ,, could i combine all these or willl that not work?? thanks again!
thanks for all replies! yeh i know he uses huuge strings but im used to what i have and yeh ive heard that somewhere about damaging hands n stuff, think il be sticking to the 10s i use,, but thanks for comments!! also with the SSL-1s people are suggesting will these sound good for playing more rock/grunge type stuff like pearl jam, soundgarden,, audioslave,, i know tom morello uses a hot rail in the bridge ,, could i combine all these or willl that not work?? thanks again!
jhale667
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Wasn't stating it like it was a fact, that's just what I'd heard....So that was just clever marketing on Fender's part to sell Texas Specials?
And personally I'm not going above .10-.52s for strings...totally with ya on the tendon damage thing....
Wasn't stating it like it was a fact, that's just what I'd heard....So that was just clever marketing on Fender's part to sell Texas Specials?
And personally I'm not going above .10-.52s for strings...totally with ya on the tendon damage thing....
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the guy who invented fire
Fuzzy. Guitars
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Texas Specials were originally desinged to be a BRIDGE pickup for Stevie but he never even got to so much as try them! IMO Texas Specials sound NOTHING like Stevie's tone but maybe it's just me...
Wasn't stating it like it was a fact, that's just what I'd heard....So that was just clever marketing on Fender's part to sell Texas Specials?
And personally I'm not going above .10-.52s for strings...totally with ya on the tendon damage thing....
Texas Specials were originally desinged to be a BRIDGE pickup for Stevie but he never even got to so much as try them! IMO Texas Specials sound NOTHING like Stevie's tone but maybe it's just me...
S
Skarekrough
Guest
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Getting an SRV-like sound will likely have less to do with pickups than just about any other single item in the chain.
Getting an SRV-like sound will likely have less to do with pickups than just about any other single item in the chain.
Big Mike Blues
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
I thought the Alnico 2's did a reasonable facsimile and got me in the neighborhood as long as I was doing my part.
I thought the Alnico 2's did a reasonable facsimile and got me in the neighborhood as long as I was doing my part.
Zhangliqun
Questionologist
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
It's all about big strings and a heavy picking hand, which also means a heavier pick -- one that doesn't bend. His pickups were in the vintage 6.0 to 6.5k range.
You can get a solid SRV tone with 11.5's or 12's, 13's not necessary.
It's all about big strings and a heavy picking hand, which also means a heavier pick -- one that doesn't bend. His pickups were in the vintage 6.0 to 6.5k range.
You can get a solid SRV tone with 11.5's or 12's, 13's not necessary.
hamerfan
Well-known member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
I think that the reason for the Texas Special (I have a Fender Lone Star Strat Set in a Squier.). The TS were made to mimic a .13 set played with brutal force. I think Fender hit the bullet with the TS they bring Stevies sound to a T, but they are a one trick pony. I dont get any Dire Straits on the way with them.
Wasn't stating it like it was a fact, that's just what I'd heard....So that was just clever marketing on Fender's part to sell Texas Specials?
And personally I'm not going above .10-.52s for strings...totally with ya on the tendon damage thing....
I think that the reason for the Texas Special (I have a Fender Lone Star Strat Set in a Squier.). The TS were made to mimic a .13 set played with brutal force. I think Fender hit the bullet with the TS they bring Stevies sound to a T, but they are a one trick pony. I dont get any Dire Straits on the way with them.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
I'm gonna throw this out there. Just something to think about and I could be totally wrong on this- maybe it's just my ears...
First - I totally agree with the string gauge issue. But for a radical pup recommendation:
P-90's. Think about it....
I'm gonna throw this out there. Just something to think about and I could be totally wrong on this- maybe it's just my ears...
First - I totally agree with the string gauge issue. But for a radical pup recommendation:
P-90's. Think about it....
JohnnyGuitar
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Just to comment about the Grunge thing - they've all used vintage guitars so you'll get some of their tones. I don't know if the amp and Tube Screamer that you have to use for SRV tones (also important factors) are the right choice for grunge.
If you would add a fuzz though and a higher output bridge pickup (SRV is mainly about the neck and middle pups IMHO) you could get both in the same guitar.
Just to comment about the Grunge thing - they've all used vintage guitars so you'll get some of their tones. I don't know if the amp and Tube Screamer that you have to use for SRV tones (also important factors) are the right choice for grunge.
If you would add a fuzz though and a higher output bridge pickup (SRV is mainly about the neck and middle pups IMHO) you could get both in the same guitar.
bryvincent
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
don't worry too much on equipment. its mostly on the fingers. spend time studying SRV's style , techniques and nuances of his playing and you can get close to his tone on most equipment. i once watched a guy in a bar got really close to SRV's tone with just a stock Squier Strat and a Marshall MG50FX connected directly to the board via the amp's line out.
don't worry too much on equipment. its mostly on the fingers. spend time studying SRV's style , techniques and nuances of his playing and you can get close to his tone on most equipment. i once watched a guy in a bar got really close to SRV's tone with just a stock Squier Strat and a Marshall MG50FX connected directly to the board via the amp's line out.
Ayrton
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Exactly, Stevie had backed down to 11's the last years of his life.
Exactly, Stevie had backed down to 11's the last years of his life.
jhale667
New member
Re: which pickups for SRV tone???
Probably got tired of having to have his tech crazy-glue his callouses back on mid-show...ever hear about that one?
mg: That's one I almost hoped was an urban legend, but I met Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon once and they confirmed it...ow.....
Probably got tired of having to have his tech crazy-glue his callouses back on mid-show...ever hear about that one?
mg: That's one I almost hoped was an urban legend, but I met Chris Layton and Tommy Shannon once and they confirmed it...ow.....
