Strat

I'm thinking about getting a fender strat (american), but I'm not sure about committing to single-coil.

please, talk me into it. :)

I own two Fender Strats with single coils and one with hmbuckers... My newest one is a 2011 American Standard Special Run Thin Skin and honestly, you're not going to tell the difference between a humbucker and the more modern single coils in Fenders Stratocasters...

Now, if you're looking at a vintage reissue type guitar... that's a different story. I also have a strat with Custom Shop '69 pickups in it and the tone is not nearly as high output and can get very brittle... but then again, that's what single coils are known for.

In short - Look for a strat with newer Alnico V pickups and you should be just fine...

Still, there's no replacement for the sound of an overdriven tube amp pushed by single coils... Just can't get that with a Les Paul.

I might disagree a bit with aschleman (sorry...) but I think single coils are what you make of them. I had always been a humbucker guy and felt that singles were too thin for me. Then again, I really focused on metal for years.

Now I am old(er) and finding that my playing wants have expanded.

So, I have a standard Strat for a few years now. What I've found is that you shouldn't try to shoehorn a Strat in to what you want from a humbucker. However, if you embrace the hollow twank of a single, work your tones on the less distorted side; that cool, clean sound comes through and make a great textured sound.

Originally Posted by: JeffS65I might disagree a bit with aschleman (sorry...) but I think single coils are what you make of them. I had always been a humbucker guy and felt that singles were too thin for me. Then again, I really focused on metal for years.

Now I am old(er) and finding that my playing wants have expanded.

So, I have a standard Strat for a few years now. What I've found is that you shouldn't try to shoehorn a Strat in to what you want from a humbucker. However, if you embrace the hollow twank of a single, work your tones on the less distorted side; that cool, clean sound comes through and make a great textured sound.

I can't disagree with that.

A modern strat with alnico V pickups played in switch positions 2 and 4 is basically a humbucker.... that's what I was referring to. I do agree that if what you really want is a humbucker sound, then you're going to need humbuckers to get the sound you want...

I prefer a more versatile instrument - therefore have always used Strats.

Originally Posted by: Kevin PineauI'm thinking about getting a fender strat (american), but I'm not sure about committing to single-coil.

please, talk me into it. :)

We have the same guitar in mind :D, when do you plan to buy the strat?

Regards

The beauty of buying a guitar like the Fender American Strat is that, not only is it a wonderful guitar that you'll enjoy playing for years (I own one, so I know), but that you also have an excuse to buy a guitar with humbuckers.

I mean, really, why go through life with only one guitar. You wouldn't try to go through life with one pair of shoes, would you? No pair of shoes, no matter how good, will work for the office, the beach and for a hike in the mountains.

Same with guitars. The Strat is a wonderful guitar for a particular sound. But there's no need to limit yourself to single coils.

Let me add something for the sake of variety and choice here. I own & play an American HSS Strat with the older S-1 switching. As it stands, I've owned it since '05. Bought it new, my first guitar in over 25 years. I will never sell it unless I am in some gigantic financial hardship. It's a damned tone monster in every sense of the word. All stock except for some Schaller straplocks I installed the moment I got it home.

There are two Texas Special pickups for single coils, and a 'bucker on the bridge. Set up like that, it's real tough to get an old Strat tone. And there's the basic idea behind my tone. It's not vintage. It sounds the way I want it to be. It sounds great once I get off my butt and practice for a while.

I would suggest something I had to go through. Try out as many guitars as possible before you buy one. I went through about 150 before I found my Strat. Find one that fits your hands like a glove, especially on the neck. You can't try 'em out over the internet... time to scope out a bunch of local music stores. look at the inventory and see if anything appeals to you.

Just buy it. You'll never regret it. Learn to bend it to your will, appreciate it for what it does best (just about everything) and you will be richly rewarded. Trust me.

I've played Strats for over 40 years and can say without hesitation, these are the most versatile guitars out there. Turn the volume up and these instruments SING!!!!!! I have played humbucker, single coil, single coil Strats and prefer all single coils. Strats with humbuckers in the bridge usually have a 250 k volume pot but a humbucker pickup likes to see a 500 k volume pot (like Gibson). The lower resistance effects not only the tone but the output volume so its a tradeoff. Bear in mind not all Strats reduce noise in positions 2 and 4 (middle, bridge, and neck, middle). Those with a middle pickup that is reverse wound-reverse phase (RWRP) is very noticeable in noise reduction when these positions are used. The mexican Robert Cray strat is an example. By the way these positions are the quack sound that Strats are so famous for. A common complaint with people who move over from humbuckers to Srats is noise. But this can be greatly reduced without affecting the tone of the guitar. Grounding the pickup cavity with conductive paint from Stewart MacDonald (they provide an instruction sheet with purchase) can go a long way towards lowering noise. Also ensuring the pick gaurd is shielded helps.