Question about Stratocasters

epp_b · October 7th, 2007, 1:44 AM

I've started looking for an electric guitar and I have a question. I tried a couple of Stratocasters and I love the edgy, rip-snorting soloing/lead sound in the bridge pickup position, but when I had the toggle on the neck pickup ("rythym" setting), it was really muddy. However, I was playing on an amp that was unfamiliar (it was a Marshal) and the distortion was all the way up.

I borrowed a Gibson Les Paul from a friend a little while ago, and I don't recall having as muddy a sound playing a Gibson Les Paul on a different amp (Fender) with the same settings (rythym selected, disto all the way up).

Was the amp, a combination of the two, or is that kind of the way Strats are?

EDIT: The two Strats' pickups were configured a bit differently:

[neck]single / single / humbucker[/bridge]
[neck]single / single / single[/bridge]

Necx0 · October 7th, 2007, 3:13 AM

Single coils don't like lots of distortion at all. No doubt that the humbucker equipped strat sounded nice and fat with lots of distortion.

I wouldn't buy a Strat to play high gain stuff, at least not one with single coils. Les Paul will be better suited to that, mind you I wouldn't buy a les paul either.

Fender amps in general sound better to me, I am not a huge marshall fan.....although they give quite a nice rhythm sound.

epp_b · October 7th, 2007, 3:21 AM

Quote:

Single coils don't like lots of distortion at all.

On lead/solo, they sounded great.

I think I liked the sound of the Fender amp I used as well, it's cleaner. I'll see if I can try a Strat with a Fender amp and turn down the distortion.

Or find a strat with humbucker on the neck.

Jacobfox · October 7th, 2007, 8:07 AM

If you already play a les paul, you probably don't need a fat strat. What I would do (and what I did do) is either buy a fender with a hotrail or buy a strat and pay $100 for a hotrail. That will give you the solid singlecoil sound and it will bulk up the neck pickups.

Adunaphel · October 7th, 2007, 4:28 PM

IMHO, Marshall's distortion sucks dirty camel balls. Furthermore, get a guitar/ amp combo that gives you the sound you want. Every combo sounds different. I myself really like the sound of a Gibson Les Paul through an Engl Ritchie Blackmore Signature top with an Engl cabinet (all 3 are MAJOR $$$$ though images/smilies/cry.gif

).

Jacobfox · October 7th, 2007, 5:54 PM

yeah...just a little bit.

Final Daihatsu · October 8th, 2007, 9:56 PM

Well, that's because Stratocasters are usually.... crap. My advice, if you like the Les Paul, get an Epiphone. It's the exact same guitar with another sticker. And if you don't want the Gibson, find a good Yamaha. I have an RGX620 and I'm happy to report it rocks images/smilies/biggrin.gif

epp_b · October 9th, 2007, 3:54 AM

Quote:

Well, that's because Stratocasters are usually.... crap.

Please explain.

Jacobfox · October 9th, 2007, 4:09 AM

I'm pretty sure that statement is crap. If he already has a les paul, why would he want another one without getting a single coil guitar first. That would give him more versatility as far as sound goes.

epp_b · October 9th, 2007, 4:22 AM

No, no, no, I do not have an electric guitar. I borrowed an Gibson/Les Paul (as I recall, it is an Epiphone) from a friend for about a month, but I do not have much experience with Fender guitars, which is why I'm here asking questions images/smilies/smile.gif

Necx0 · October 9th, 2007, 9:58 AM

I would really branch out beyond the Fender/Les Paul mentality. For a first electric guitar I can't recommend the Yamaha Pacifica highly enough. Cheap as chips yet very versatile and sounds great for what it is. Ok it isn't going to knock the socks off a PRS yet is more than capable of most musical situations......and I'm not just saying that because I own one!!

jensked · October 9th, 2007, 10:32 AM

Well on high gain settings, a humbucker will sound a lote more tight and defined whereas the single coil won't have that focused sound.

But it all depends etc etc. I have a Strat, but when we play the heavier stuff (my famous guitar solo behind my head), I switch to a Les Paul. But on the other hand, I have a 50s Strat so it does have a very low output.

Depends on your taste. I'm a strat lover, but I don't play high gain music.

epp_b · October 10th, 2007, 4:07 PM

Quote:

Depends on your taste.

I do like high gain/distortion guitar. I like a lot of Hendrix music, but I also like harder stuff like Rush (their earlier, harder rock), AC/DC, etc. I know that neither guitar will be unable to play one or the other style, one will just be better than the other for a particular style (and I can't afford both images/smilies/tongue.gif

). I guess that's why I can't decide.

EDIT: Hmm...maybe a fouble-fat strat would make for a nice balance?

patrick10 · October 15th, 2007, 8:25 AM

i have a Tele and an Epiphone Les Paul. i play through a 1967 Traynor tube amp and the shitty marshal 4x12. in my Tele, i have a Seymour Duncan hot rails humbucker in the bridge and that combo rocks for heavily distorted, but for a slight overdriven or clean tone, my Les Paul kicks my Teles ass. theres nothing like the vintage crunch you get from a Les Paul/tube combo. if i could go back, i probably would have bought a Gibson or a better acoustic instead of both.

Jacobfox · October 15th, 2007, 9:00 AM

a double fat strat would be pointless...then it's not really a strat anymore. it's like a fenson or something...
either get a lp or a strat. figure out whether you like the chunky lp sound or the single coil sound and go with it...i'll have a review on my new strat day after tomorrow.

jensked · October 15th, 2007, 9:22 AM

A strat wish SSH could satisfy your sences...

The neck and neck/middle positions would be killer funky strat sound and the bridge humbucker would do a nice fat sound.

You wouldn't have the classic bridge strat pickup nor the real Gibson sound.

Unfortunately chosing is losing...

Final Daihatsu · October 15th, 2007, 9:37 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by epp_b

Please explain.

I dislike Fender Guitars in general. For instance, you can never get a good slap on a Fender bass. The strat is a milion year old guitar, and if you do a powerchord on it you get the feeling it's about to blow off, and all the dials come off faster than a screen of an ipod getting scratched. images/smilies/dry.gif

I really hate fender? well not really. I have a Fender FM65R Amp and it's great. I just hate fender guitars images/smilies/lol.gif

jensked · October 15th, 2007, 10:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Final Daihatsu

all the dials come off faster than a screen of an ipod getting scratched. images/smilies/dry.gif

?? Recently I had to use two screwdrivers to get the volume knob off.

Final Daihatsu · October 15th, 2007, 2:19 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by jensked

?? Recently I had to use two screwdrivers to get the volume knob off.

So you're a very lucky guy to have a good quality strat. images/smilies/lol.gif

jensked · October 15th, 2007, 2:31 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Final Daihatsu

So you're a very lucky guy to have a good quality strat. images/smilies/lol.gif

Maybe you are talking about Squiers? It's the second strat i have and the one before this one had even chunkier knobs. images/smilies/wink.gif

October 7th, 2007, 1:44 AM	#1
epp_b Unexperienced lover. Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 5:48 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 7,425 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 144	Question about Stratocasters I've started looking for an electric guitar and I have a question. I tried a couple of Stratocasters and I love the edgy, rip-snorting soloing/lead sound in the bridge pickup position, but when I had the toggle on the neck pickup ("rythym" setting), it was really muddy. However, I was playing on an amp that was unfamiliar (it was a Marshal) and the distortion was all the way up. I borrowed a Gibson Les Paul from a friend a little while ago, and I don't recall having as muddy a sound playing a Gibson Les Paul on a different amp (Fender) with the same settings (rythym selected, disto all the way up). Was the amp, a combination of the two, or is that kind of the way Strats are? EDIT: The two Strats' pickups were configured a bit differently: [neck]single / single / humbucker[/bridge] [neck]single / single / single[/bridge] Last edited by epp_b; October 7th, 2007 at 2:06 AM.

October 7th, 2007, 8:07 AM	#4
Jacobfox Joined: May 24th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sacramento, CA/Chicago, IL Age: 20 Posts: 3,174 Car: Audi S6, Armada, F430, BMW M3 Rep Power: 79	If you already play a les paul, you probably don't need a fat strat. What I would do (and what I did do) is either buy a fender with a hotrail or buy a strat and pay $100 for a hotrail. That will give you the solid singlecoil sound and it will bulk up the neck pickups. __________________ 2007 Ferrari F430 (Rosso Rubino Micalizzato, Cuoio Interior, Carbon Upper Dash & wheel, Stradale Rims) Jake- Priest of the Prancing Horse, Archbishop of the four rings. Blaro, No Boss and Jacobfox- RickRolling since 1989.

October 7th, 2007, 4:28 PM	#5
Adunaphel Global Moderator Joined: Jan 18th, 2006 Last Online: 1:00 AM Location: [ˈneːdərlɑnt] Age: 29 Posts: 4,632 Car: 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190E (W201) Rep Power: 153	IMHO, Marshall's distortion sucks dirty camel balls. Furthermore, get a guitar/ amp combo that gives you the sound you want. Every combo sounds different. I myself really like the sound of a Gibson Les Paul through an Engl Ritchie Blackmore Signature top with an Engl cabinet (all 3 are MAJOR $$$$ though ).

October 7th, 2007, 5:54 PM	#6
Jacobfox Joined: May 24th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sacramento, CA/Chicago, IL Age: 20 Posts: 3,174 Car: Audi S6, Armada, F430, BMW M3 Rep Power: 79	yeah...just a little bit. __________________ 2007 Ferrari F430 (Rosso Rubino Micalizzato, Cuoio Interior, Carbon Upper Dash & wheel, Stradale Rims) Jake- Priest of the Prancing Horse, Archbishop of the four rings. Blaro, No Boss and Jacobfox- RickRolling since 1989.

October 9th, 2007, 4:09 AM	#9
Jacobfox Joined: May 24th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sacramento, CA/Chicago, IL Age: 20 Posts: 3,174 Car: Audi S6, Armada, F430, BMW M3 Rep Power: 79	I'm pretty sure that statement is crap. If he already has a les paul, why would he want another one without getting a single coil guitar first. That would give him more versatility as far as sound goes. __________________ 2007 Ferrari F430 (Rosso Rubino Micalizzato, Cuoio Interior, Carbon Upper Dash & wheel, Stradale Rims) Jake- Priest of the Prancing Horse, Archbishop of the four rings. Blaro, No Boss and Jacobfox- RickRolling since 1989.

October 7th, 2007, 3:13 AM	#2
Necx0 Joined: Jun 21st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Hobart, Tasmania Age: 23 Posts: 2,103 Car: R31 Skyline, Charade rally car Rep Power: 29	Single coils don't like lots of distortion at all. No doubt that the humbucker equipped strat sounded nice and fat with lots of distortion. I wouldn't buy a Strat to play high gain stuff, at least not one with single coils. Les Paul will be better suited to that, mind you I wouldn't buy a les paul either. Fender amps in general sound better to me, I am not a huge marshall fan.....although they give quite a nice rhythm sound.

October 8th, 2007, 9:56 PM	#7
Final Daihatsu Joined: Mar 4th, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Israel Age: 17 Posts: 1,485 Car: Giant Iguana / Parents' 2006 Mazda6 Rep Power: 48	Well, that's because Stratocasters are usually.... crap. My advice, if you like the Les Paul, get an Epiphone. It's the exact same guitar with another sticker. And if you don't want the Gibson, find a good Yamaha. I have an RGX620 and I'm happy to report it rocks

October 9th, 2007, 4:22 AM	#10
epp_b Unexperienced lover. Joined: Jun 23rd, 2006 Last Online: 5:48 AM Location: Canadaland :) Posts: 7,425 Car: 1995 Nissan 240SX Rep Power: 144	No, no, no, I do not have an electric guitar. I borrowed an Gibson/Les Paul (as I recall, it is an Epiphone) from a friend for about a month, but I do not have much experience with Fender guitars, which is why I'm here asking questions

October 9th, 2007, 9:58 AM	#11
Necx0 Joined: Jun 21st, 2007 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Hobart, Tasmania Age: 23 Posts: 2,103 Car: R31 Skyline, Charade rally car Rep Power: 29	I would really branch out beyond the Fender/Les Paul mentality. For a first electric guitar I can't recommend the Yamaha Pacifica highly enough. Cheap as chips yet very versatile and sounds great for what it is. Ok it isn't going to knock the socks off a PRS yet is more than capable of most musical situations......and I'm not just saying that because I own one!!

October 9th, 2007, 10:32 AM	#12
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 26 Posts: 4,056 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 49	Well on high gain settings, a humbucker will sound a lote more tight and defined whereas the single coil won't have that focused sound. But it all depends etc etc. I have a Strat, but when we play the heavier stuff (my famous guitar solo behind my head), I switch to a Les Paul. But on the other hand, I have a 50s Strat so it does have a very low output. Depends on your taste. I'm a strat lover, but I don't play high gain music.

October 15th, 2007, 8:25 AM	#14
patrick10 Joined: Dec 1st, 2004 Last Online: Yesterday Location: ohio, usa Posts: 1,250 Car: 240, audi 5000, soon to be 240#2 Rep Power: 22	i have a Tele and an Epiphone Les Paul. i play through a 1967 Traynor tube amp and the shitty marshal 4x12. in my Tele, i have a Seymour Duncan hot rails humbucker in the bridge and that combo rocks for heavily distorted, but for a slight overdriven or clean tone, my Les Paul kicks my Teles ass. theres nothing like the vintage crunch you get from a Les Paul/tube combo. if i could go back, i probably would have bought a Gibson or a better acoustic instead of both. __________________

October 15th, 2007, 9:00 AM	#15
Jacobfox Joined: May 24th, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Sacramento, CA/Chicago, IL Age: 20 Posts: 3,174 Car: Audi S6, Armada, F430, BMW M3 Rep Power: 79	a double fat strat would be pointless...then it's not really a strat anymore. it's like a fenson or something... either get a lp or a strat. figure out whether you like the chunky lp sound or the single coil sound and go with it...i'll have a review on my new strat day after tomorrow. __________________ 2007 Ferrari F430 (Rosso Rubino Micalizzato, Cuoio Interior, Carbon Upper Dash & wheel, Stradale Rims) Jake- Priest of the Prancing Horse, Archbishop of the four rings. Blaro, No Boss and Jacobfox- RickRolling since 1989.

October 15th, 2007, 9:22 AM	#16
jensked Joined: Mar 31st, 2005 Last Online: Yesterday Location: Flanders, Belgium Age: 26 Posts: 4,056 Car: RIP Opel Astra -> 2006 Toyota Corolla Wagon Rep Power: 49	A strat wish SSH could satisfy your sences... The neck and neck/middle positions would be killer funky strat sound and the bridge humbucker would do a nice fat sound. You wouldn't have the classic bridge strat pickup nor the real Gibson sound. Unfortunately chosing is losing...

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