Yellow Ledbetter tone :: Tele / JB + ?
- Thread starter Frogman
- Start date
Masta' C
Well-known member
Wait...is your JB wired for coil splitting? If not, it should be! The JB is one of the best pickups out there for quality single-coil-like split tones in the bridge and that's what you want for good Yellow Ledbetter tones (McCready uses the bridge pickup exclusively on that song, by the way!).
As for the neck pickup, I've long been a fan of the Area series for noiseless stuff, but there are a lot of good options out there now, including Mojotone's noiseless pickups and Fender's latest generation of Noiseless models, which are generally regarded as some of the best in the game at the moment.
The biggest issue you're likely to have with any of the more "Stratty" neck pickups is a lack of output compared to the JB. If you can find a first-gen Z-coil pickup with the exposed poles, they have the vintage sound, but bigger signal than most of the competition.
When you get into single-coil-sized humbuckers, it's a little more challenging to keep a proper "Strat" tone, but Andy Timmons does well with a Cruiser Bridge in the neck spot paired with a JB or AT-1 in the bridge, which have similar output. You could also wire the neck humbucker in parallel, sort of like the Duckbucker is meant to be wired.
As for the neck pickup, I've long been a fan of the Area series for noiseless stuff, but there are a lot of good options out there now, including Mojotone's noiseless pickups and Fender's latest generation of Noiseless models, which are generally regarded as some of the best in the game at the moment.
The biggest issue you're likely to have with any of the more "Stratty" neck pickups is a lack of output compared to the JB. If you can find a first-gen Z-coil pickup with the exposed poles, they have the vintage sound, but bigger signal than most of the competition.
When you get into single-coil-sized humbuckers, it's a little more challenging to keep a proper "Strat" tone, but Andy Timmons does well with a Cruiser Bridge in the neck spot paired with a JB or AT-1 in the bridge, which have similar output. You could also wire the neck humbucker in parallel, sort of like the Duckbucker is meant to be wired.
Last edited:
Frogman
New member
No I have not. How convincing are the SC and P90 tones?
More I think about it, the less important I think hum-cancelling is (I currently have P90s in 3 guitars and don’t have any issues with excess hum).
Looking at:
SSL-6 Custom
SSL-3 Hot
SSL-4 Quarter Pound
1. How would these three compare, neck position, in terms of output, brightness and ability to clean up with volume knob? They are all similar DC resistance.
2. What are the most and least “stratty” sounding?
3. Would the quarter pound be less output and brighter than, say, an 7k-9k P90 or a Mean 90?
I can get pretty damn convincing strat tones with my Mean 90 and Wilkinson soap bars, but I want MORE strat character, less P90.
I know the QP would match well with my JB-UOA5, as that’s essentially Warren DeMartini’s go-to combo. I’m sure the other 2 would as well.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
More I think about it, the less important I think hum-cancelling is (I currently have P90s in 3 guitars and don’t have any issues with excess hum).
Looking at:
SSL-6 Custom
SSL-3 Hot
SSL-4 Quarter Pound
1. How would these three compare, neck position, in terms of output, brightness and ability to clean up with volume knob? They are all similar DC resistance.
2. What are the most and least “stratty” sounding?
3. Would the quarter pound be less output and brighter than, say, an 7k-9k P90 or a Mean 90?
I can get pretty damn convincing strat tones with my Mean 90 and Wilkinson soap bars, but I want MORE strat character, less P90.
I know the QP would match well with my JB-UOA5, as that’s essentially Warren DeMartini’s go-to combo. I’m sure the other 2 would as well.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
None of the things you mentioned are gonna do a Strat bridge any better than splitting the JB that’s in there now. Start with that and see how it goes.
That song sounds like an old Strat into an old Fender amp, tubescreamer for the lead parts. The amp and pedal are a big, big part of it.
That song sounds like an old Strat into an old Fender amp, tubescreamer for the lead parts. The amp and pedal are a big, big part of it.
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
... like “Yellow Ledbetter”?
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
The benefit to using a spin a split is that you can dial as much strat as you want. With the stag mag for example, it's fat and middy and as you roll the spin a split back it becomes progressively more single coil like and hollow until you reach fully split. But you can find the right balance for you.
Frogman
New member
Yes I am aware it was recorded with bridge pup, But let’s be honest, it sounds much more like a neck pup, to my ears at least.
I should have been more clear in my OP.
Let me start over.
I play live all the time. That song has my fav type of strat tone. That’s what I would like if I could have it.
All I can do is get close.
When that song comes up in the playlist, I want it to sound as best as it can. If I am real close to that, that means it’s gonna sound great when the RHCP, Dire Straights, INXS, Hendrix and Clapton songs are up in the set.
And then we have Bark at the Moon, Round and Round and alike, well — I got that covered already.
My rig is pretty versatile (AMT B2, 60w PA, various fuzzes & other pedals > 2x12 w/ WGS’s).
My P90’s work extremely well, but for this guitar I want to try something more akin.
Which SC can get me close to those tones that’s also great for bitchin’ leads?
EC Strat
New member
Totally agree - it’s a 2 or a 4 position Probably position 2 to me as well. Definitely not the bridge
Gtrjunior
New member
I just remembered we are talking about a tele here...so that limits our options.
My bad...
EC Strat
New member
LOLOL good point !
just did a google and many are saying it’s 4th position Either way really just have to run a strat into a clean Marshall with one of the quack positions. Hard to nail that tone on a tele
JB_From_Hell
Jomo's Nimions
Was being a smartass. One of my favorite Strat songs ever is “Sultans of Swing”, but I hate playing with the 2, middle-bridge position on a Strat. Sounds awesome when Mark Knopfler does it, feels disgusting when I do it. Go figure.
I say go with the “pretty close” tone you’re using now, and don’t overthink totally copping the original tone too much. My first job was setting up and tearing down for a really busy cover band in high school. They packed every place they played, and made something like two grand a weekend. The guitarist used an old Ibanez Artist on the neck pickup for the entire gig, plus a multi effect unit with a clean, funky patch, and another similar patch with no modulation or delay into a Mesa DC3. He’d switch between a clean and crunch tone on the amp, and those two effects banks.
A few years in, he got a PRS Custom 24, and ditched the rack unit for a tubescreamer, a Wah, analog delay and a chorus. I’m pretty sure he used just one of the split settings and the neck pickup on the PRS, and still sounded killer for everything from 70’s funk to modern pop & alternative, 90’s stuff like No Doubt, the Chili Peppers, or the Cranberries.
Last edited:
Gtrjunior
New member
When I was typing my earlier response I went back and forth in my head about which position that sounded like. Only reason I said 2 was because there is still quite a bit of high end there. In any case it was my best semi-educated guess. Lol
