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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 3, 2021 15:55:42 GMT -7
Considering a traditionally wired Strat with three single coils, how much position one (bridge only) do you use compared to the other positions? I typically have a humbucker in the bridge for more power when using OD and love positions three, four (for quack) and five for cleans. Ironically, I love the single coil bridge pickup in telecasters clean or dirty. But have never been a fan of the bridge-only single coil in a Strat. Am I missing something?
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Post by Don A on Oct 3, 2021 16:37:45 GMT -7
I use the bridge pickup by itself a lot, especially when playing with a band. It can't compare the the bridge pickup on a Tele, though. I think the Tele's bridge pickup being a fatter coil with a metal base plate is only part of the difference- the Tele's big, clunky, archaic steel bridge plate is a factor. I've installed a Rio Grande Stelly their Tele bridge pickup made to fit a Strat, and while it was hotter than a Strat bridge pickup, it had none of the fatness that I expect from a good Tele bridge pickup
I also prefer the Tele's neck pickup and two pickup combined sounds over a Strat- and I used to be a Strat player who didn't care for Teles- until I found the right amp! Now I consider a Tele to be the best solid body electric guitar ever (for me).
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Post by Seńor Verde on Oct 3, 2021 17:42:09 GMT -7
I'm not a big fan of traditional types of Strat bridge pickups. I'm generally a humbucker guy and Strats just sound weak and squeaky. For a non-hum cancelling Strat bridge pickup, I like a Duncan SSL-5 or SSL-6. I'm currently using a Kinman HX-85 version 1 in my hardtail Warmoth Strat that I like a lot. Still sounds very Stratty to me.
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 3, 2021 19:41:45 GMT -7
I have Suhr Landau pickups in my G&L Legacy. When I had them installed I had the the tone pot wired to the bridge only and keep it rolled off about a 4 notches. I don't use it a lot but when I do it is much more pleasing and easier on the ears and small animals.
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Post by John on Oct 4, 2021 3:52:42 GMT -7
I have a strat, and years ago, I had it modded to have the tone control for the middle pickup altered so it also controls the tone for the bridge pickup. It was an absolute game changer. I will never own a strat that doesn't have this mod. Being able to have a tone control on the bridge pickup of a strat makes it SO useful. If you need that brittle bright piercing high end tone, it's there, but most of the time I have the tone backed off to about 6-7 to roll off that high end.
As I understand it, it's a simple mod and if you're handy with a soldering iron, it will take more time to remove the strings and take the pick guard off...than it does to make the mod. And I'm sure the schematic for the mod is all over the interwebs.
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Post by spencer096 on Oct 4, 2021 4:16:57 GMT -7
Likewise w tone control for bridge pickup.
I use the bridge pickup a lot. EJ strats have a somewhat hotter bridge pup which is nice. I typically use bridge and neck 40/60…rarely use anything in middle.
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Post by adam on Oct 4, 2021 4:50:34 GMT -7
I use the bridge pickup by itself a lot, especially when playing with a band. +1. I've a had a couple aha moments like that. Maybe something where if something is too bright, you can add lows to balance the sound. I think the bassist kind of does that. And yes, it needs the tone control. And... that just might not be your thing in the end anyway.
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Post by heynewguy (Ol’ Bill) on Oct 4, 2021 4:53:36 GMT -7
You might consider a blend control on your Strat. One of the online stores sells a complete setup. What you get is the three traditional knobs. Top knob is volume as always. The middle knob is master tone. Works on all positions and pickups. The back knob is the “Blend”. If you have the blend control on full (10) every thing is normal. If you wanted to add some neck pickup, just roll back the blend control. With the blend control full off, you get both bridge and neck pickups, think Tele in the middle position. It also works in the 4, 3 and 2 positions. It makes a Strat that more versatile. I have three Strats and they are all wired this way. Not too hard to change out. All of the mods I used were prewired. Take out the old and put in the new. Wire in the output Jack and the bridge ground. As always YMMV
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Post by doctorice on Oct 4, 2021 5:14:35 GMT -7
You might consider a blend control on your Strat. One of the online stores sells a complete setup. What you get is the three traditional knobs. Top knob is volume as always. The middle knob is master tone. Works on all positions and pickups. The back knob is the “Blend”. If you have the blend control on full (10) every thing is normal. If you wanted to add some neck pickup, just roll back the blend control. With the blend control full off, you get both bridge and neck pickups, think Tele in the middle position. It also works in the 4, 3 and 2 positions. It makes a Strat that more versatile. I have three Strats and they are all wired this way. Not too hard to change out. All of the mods I used were prewired. Take out the old and put in the new. Wire in the output Jack and the bridge ground. As always YMMV I did this to one of my Strats years ago. I got a fully loaded assembly from Callaham. Installation was exactly as Bill described. (I also changed out the bridge and trem block for Callaham parts.)
Works great.
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Post by Don A on Oct 4, 2021 6:40:09 GMT -7
Duplicate post!
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Post by Don A on Oct 4, 2021 6:41:40 GMT -7
I use the bridge pickup by itself a lot, especially when playing with a band. And yes, it needs the tone control. This is a good point! I move the middle pickup tone control the the bridge pickup on my Strats (I don't bridge the control to the middle and bridge like most people- I like the middle pickup with no tone control). A lot of players don't realize that this takes the edge off of the bridge pickup, even when the tone control is set all the way up.
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Post by j4gitr (John) on Oct 4, 2021 7:25:08 GMT -7
My G&L Legacy is wired volume-treble-bass and I find that makes the bridge pickup more useful. I also like the the versatility it provides the whole guitar.
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Post by Chilly Gibbons (Todd T.) on Oct 4, 2021 13:35:45 GMT -7
You might consider a blend control on your Strat. One of the online stores sells a complete setup. What you get is the three traditional knobs. Top knob is volume as always. The middle knob is master tone. Works on all positions and pickups. The back knob is the “Blend”. If you have the blend control on full (10) every thing is normal. If you wanted to add some neck pickup, just roll back the blend control. With the blend control full off, you get both bridge and neck pickups, think Tele in the middle position. It also works in the 4, 3 and 2 positions. It makes a Strat that more versatile. I have three Strats and they are all wired this way. Not too hard to change out. All of the mods I used were prewired. Take out the old and put in the new. Wire in the output Jack and the bridge ground. As always YMMV I did this to one of my Strats years ago. I got a fully loaded assembly from Callaham. Installation was exactly as Bill described. (I also changed out the bridge and trem block for Callaham parts.)
Works great.
I saw the blend idea on Lindy Fralins site and am considering doing that. Also put Callaham bridge assemblies on two strats last week. Best bridges in production!
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Post by southmusic70 on Oct 4, 2021 17:06:15 GMT -7
I had my luthier build me a hollow body strat with Mike DeTemple pickups, which have (effectively) a seven-way switch. The best thing about the pups is that you are able to have all three delivering the same level, no matter the setting, instead of diving for the volume knob to get things under control. As a practical matter - and atypical to most strat players I know - I play almost always on the neck pup.
Bear in mind that I am a longtime Gibson/Guild player and like a little fatter sound.
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Post by LT on Oct 5, 2021 5:48:28 GMT -7
And yes, it needs the tone control. This is a good point! I move the middle pickup tone control the the bridge pickup on my Strats (I don't bridge the control to the middle and bridge like most people- I like the middle pickup with no tone control). A lot of players don't realize that this takes the edge off of the bridge pickup, even when the tone control is set all the way up. I do the same. Makes the bridge PU very useful.
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kcash
New Member
Posts: 28
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Post by kcash on Oct 5, 2021 12:55:43 GMT -7
I like all of my pickups choices on my Strats, I have a 5-way switch. Years ago, I wired up the bridge pickup to the lower tone control and the middle and front pickups to the middle tone control. Another thing I've done to all my guitars I gig with is, I'm using RS Guitarworks SuperPots on my volume. I'm a lefty and regular pots don't work well when wiring them "lefty".
Try rolling back the tone on the bridge pickup a few, it really helps with the harshness.
My Strats are all single-coil in all 3 positions.
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Post by adam on Oct 5, 2021 16:49:31 GMT -7
I can't let this whimpy Strat bridge pickup thing go without saying something else. The complete lack of lows can really really work in your favor not only in a mix, but also in a cranked amp the is sort of pushing it's way into mud. Even think of the SD-1 guys with the 800 which as mush as anything is removing lows. Even Eric Johnson in his Marshalls, and I know it's not a normal bridge pickup, but it still has that complete rolloff of lows into probably a pretty fat and muddy amp.
I think this is a great example of a wimpy Strat pickup. The amp is just cranked to holy hell, you can hear it implode on itself when he plays more than one string, you can hear the speakers wanting to give, and there's that hissy thing going on that the EMS does too where at some level, it just starts snarling. Mike has explained some of this kind of thing in where the power supply can't really keep up with what's being asked of it, like part of that the amp is going to explode sound. Also noteworthy (I think), his articulation in picking should really send all those low e string chuggers back to school, and also listen for punches... good luck finding them through that basic rhythm track, and those things really poke you in the eye when recording to tape. Hope you guys get a kick out of it. That's one hell of a sound in my eyes.
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Post by Faze on Oct 5, 2021 17:01:21 GMT -7
I am a Strat Player. I have the 5 way switches and play mostly in the neck and bridge and on sometimes in position 4. I am not a fan of humbucker pic ups. I have pure vintage 65s in one Strat and custom shop 69's in my other strat. I also have treble bleeds in both strats. I get really great crunch and warmth in my bridge pick ups stacking different fuzz and overdrives and using my tone knobs on my guitars. I can get pretty much what I want out of my strats. From long sustaining leads to beautiful cleans. I play lead guitar in Church and have to be able to cut through the mix that Hammond B 3 ain't no joke. So maybe thats why I am not a fan of humbuckers. I have to be able to go from clean to scream at the drop of a dime. I have had some really nice les pauls and a few warrior guitars over the years and they are gone now but I still have my two Hendrix strats from 1997!
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Post by "Z" Steve on Oct 5, 2021 19:16:36 GMT -7
I can't let this whimpy Strat bridge pickup thing go without saying something else. The complete lack of lows can really really work in your favor not only in a mix, but also in a cranked amp the is sort of pushing it's way into mud. Even think of the SD-1 guys with the 800 which as mush as anything is removing lows. Even Eric Johnson in his Marshalls, and I know it's not a normal bridge pickup, but it still has that complete rolloff of lows into probably a pretty fat and muddy amp. I think this is a great example of a wimpy Strat pickup. The amp is just cranked to holy hell, you can hear it implode on itself when he plays more than one string, you can hear the speakers wanting to give, and there's that hissy thing going on that the EMS does too where at some level, it just starts snarling. Mike has explained some of this kind of thing in where the power supply can't really keep up with what's being asked of it, like part of that the amp is going to explode sound. Also noteworthy (I think), his articulation in picking should really send all those low e string chuggers back to school, and also listen for punches... good luck finding them through that basic rhythm track, and those things really poke you in the eye when recording to tape. Hope you guys get a kick out of it. That's one hell of a sound in my eyes. I thought Richie was running out of gas at about the 2:29 mark, but NO, just changing up his picking pattern (that arrogant genius). Thanks for posting!
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Post by The Bad Poodle Experience on Oct 6, 2021 12:45:25 GMT -7
I thought Richie was running out of gas at about the 2:29 mark, but NO, just changing up his picking pattern (that arrogant genius). Thanks for posting! the fast arpeggio licks at 4:33 are ridiculously difficult. He's running on Hi test.
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Post by sharkboy on Oct 6, 2021 19:22:43 GMT -7
Even as I am a huge Rickenbacker fan and play them mostly, there are several sounds in a strat that I can’t get with them. That and the whammy bar keep the strats in my world.
I very seldom use the bridge only. I typically only have used it for a punched up sound, but virtually always pick another way of getting what I need.
If the bridge only is selector switch setting 1, I use 4 most, 5 next, then 2 and rarely use 1 or 3. Because I’m not a shredder and am focused a lot on recording, I find that one of the greatest qualities of a strat is that they can me mixed at sane (low) levels and cut through a dense mix. The put-of-phase settings (2 and 4) are great for this.
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Post by gbowman on Oct 7, 2021 8:47:49 GMT -7
Although by default I am a humbucker guy, my Strat sometimes is the only way to go. I have tried pretty much every type of pickup in it and have finally gone full circle (more or less). I have all single coils, albeit hotter than stock. Tone 1 is on just the neck PU. Tone 2 is on just the bridge PU. I almost never use just the bridge alone, instead using 1+2 position, with a bit of highs rolled off the bridge. I tried doing the blend pot thing, which produced a Tele sort of tone, but it wasn't what I was looking for...
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Post by adam on Oct 7, 2021 15:40:13 GMT -7
If the bridge only is selector switch setting 1, I use 4 most, 5 next, then 2 and rarely use 1 or 3. Because I’m not a shredder and am focused a lot on recording, I find that one of the greatest qualities of a strat is that they can me mixed at sane (low) levels and cut through a dense mix. The put-of-phase settings (2 and 4) are great for this. We could go on and on with this one, but some thoughts (as usual). 1. I used to use position 4 almost all the time. I love that sound, and I'd dial the amp to sound best to me with that setting. Basically from there, position 5 was decent and the rest were pretty crappy. Middle or bridge alone too bright, 2 was ok. 2. I do it a little differently now. The middle pickups has to sound good on its own and the amp is basically dialed into that. From there, all positions will basically sound good, at maybe wishing position 4 was a little brighter. I also leave the tone control on the bridge pickup at say 1/2, and that balances well to the rest of the guitar. Next, if I have to do something on position 2 (used the least for me now), I tend to bring the bridge tone control back to 10 if I can. This approach has worked well for me for a long time now, and I'd say it's worth a try. Like make the middle sound good, run through the other positions, and then maybe make little compromises. If the neck sounds to wooly, lower the pickup, or at least the bass side. SRV sounded great using the middle pickup a lot. Something to ponder.
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Post by detuned on Oct 8, 2021 5:57:42 GMT -7
Before you break out the soldering iron or swap pickups, try adjusting pickup heights. A little tweak can go a long way.
Find your favorite pickup/combo and set it so that it sounds right, then work around that. It might not get you "there", but you'll learn a lot about hat works for you. Then you can move on to messing with the wiring or swapping pups.
YMMV, of course.
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