Howdy all. I'm sure there has been a topic on this in the past but I thought I'd dig it up. I'm currently using a US Standard Strat because I think it sounds soooo smoooooth. I've thought I've trying out some Texas Specials or some of the Lace Sensor pickups (because I like Claptons tone when he uses those). My purpose of this post is to see what all you guys are using. What mods have you made...how have they changed your tone...and are you happy or disappointed because of it. Your thoughts are much appreciated...trying to come up with ideas for mods.
Your Thoughts On Pickups Please
# 1
I got a USA made strat second hand and the previous owner had swapped the bridge single coil for a Seymor Duncan cool rail. I really like this arrangment for rocking out however the strat twang has gone !
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my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 2
I love the pickups in the American Strats, well any strat for that matter. I hate the sound of those ibanez guitars, and their pickups, i don't know why, its just personal preference i guess.
DiMarzio has made some good pickups, as well as Seymour Duncan.
I think if you tweak your settings enough on at least a decent pickup/humbucker, you'll get some good tone, alot of it is just preference.
[Edited by Bardsley on 07-30-2002 at 08:29 AM]
DiMarzio has made some good pickups, as well as Seymour Duncan.
I think if you tweak your settings enough on at least a decent pickup/humbucker, you'll get some good tone, alot of it is just preference.
[Edited by Bardsley on 07-30-2002 at 08:29 AM]
# 3
The single best tone mod for a Strat is to toss that silly-ass trem bar and replace the whole thing with a big, solid chunk of brass pressed into the cavity under the bridge, where the trem block was. You get major sustain, and the improvement in the sound is amazing!
# 4
you must be talking of the Hardtail. When i get my American Strat in September i will be getting a hardtail one.
# 5
Hey LOTS, Im going to have to replace a volume pot on one of my strats and whilst it is out of action Im thinking about doing your modification. Is it as simple as unscrewing the existing trem thing from the body, removing all of the springs and screwing in a replacement hard tail bridge ? If it is, I'd love to know about any tips, advice, model # etc
Cool beans
S
Cool beans
S
My instructors page and www.studiotrax.net for all things recording.
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
my toons Brought to you by Dr BadGAS
# 6
Originally posted by Lordathestrings
The single best tone mod for a Strat is to toss that silly-ass trem bar and replace the whole thing with a big, solid chunk of brass pressed into the cavity under the bridge, where the trem block was. You get major sustain, and the improvement in the sound is amazing!
I'd like to try this too....I know Clapton does this and I'm a big fan of his tone. Any suggestions on where to get these parts and instructions? I would appreciate help.
# 7
You don't need to swap your bridge, just tighten the springs all the way so that the bridge is right up against the body, then get a chunk of brass (or even wood, which is a helluva lot easier to work with, but probably doesn't give the sustain) and file it to fit in the cavity between the trem block and the back of the routing. If it's filed to fit it won't slip, and the back plate will hold it in. Of course, much as it would improve sustain, I like the ability to do the odd surf style vibrato. If I wanted a hardtail guitar I would've bought one. In fact, I do, and I will. But I want a trem strat too, and I love mine just how it is.
"Dozens of people spontaneously combust each year, it's just not that widely reported".
# 8
I bought a Re-issue '62 Jap-Strat back in the late 80's and soon decided that I didn't like, or even use, the trem.
I was taking evening courses on a milling machine, so my project was to make a brass block that exactly filled the trem-block cavity. The bottom surface was flush with the 'floor' of the spring cavity, and the top was flush with the face of the guitar. I don't think anyone who didn't have access to a mill would want to pay a machinist to custom-make such a piece, and I've never seen one in any store. That's a pity, really, because the result was noticeably better than a hardtail, which simply has the bridge screwed onto the face of the guitar. That massive chunk of brass made major improvements in sustain and tone.
I found out a few years ago that the Yamaha SBG 2000 & 3000 LP-types both have brass blocks under their bridges, which is one reason they are much sought-after instruments.
I was taking evening courses on a milling machine, so my project was to make a brass block that exactly filled the trem-block cavity. The bottom surface was flush with the 'floor' of the spring cavity, and the top was flush with the face of the guitar. I don't think anyone who didn't have access to a mill would want to pay a machinist to custom-make such a piece, and I've never seen one in any store. That's a pity, really, because the result was noticeably better than a hardtail, which simply has the bridge screwed onto the face of the guitar. That massive chunk of brass made major improvements in sustain and tone.
I found out a few years ago that the Yamaha SBG 2000 & 3000 LP-types both have brass blocks under their bridges, which is one reason they are much sought-after instruments.
# 9
yeah...but the hardtail is still a good deal. you only pay like 30 bucks more for the hardtail.
call up Fender USA over in Corona, Cal, and tell them that you want to buy a Hardtail bridge, im sure they could send it to you for a price.
call up Fender USA over in Corona, Cal, and tell them that you want to buy a Hardtail bridge, im sure they could send it to you for a price.
# 10
Thoughts on pick-up? I'm for them, and I think they are better than put-downs.
btw, what Bardsley said is exactly what Clapton does, the Fender E.C. Strat even comes that way from the factory
[Edited by pstring on 07-31-2002 at 08:58 AM]
btw, what Bardsley said is exactly what Clapton does, the Fender E.C. Strat even comes that way from the factory
[Edited by pstring on 07-31-2002 at 08:58 AM]
# 11
Twenty some odd years ago I had a Strat custom made with DiMarzio fs1 pickups installed in it. They are wired with three position toggle switches to select the phasing of the pickups. This along with the nonstandard tone pots give an almost endless varity of tones. It takes me from smooth melow tones to fat rich tone to ultra twangy tones. Now I just got to try that brass block trick.
# 12
Yeah, I'm real interested in the brass block thing.
# 13
