Hi Guys,

Do i really need a humbucker in my strat if im gonna play metal, or can it be done with S/S/S config.....i know im probably answering my own question but would like your thoughts.

With the different kinds of stomp boxes out there, I can't really see why you would need them. I would rather (and do) have the SSS configuration for when I want that classic Strat sound. Just my humble little opinion of course. Your mileage may vary...

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September 18th, 1970
There were none better before him.
There have been none better since.

You'll never be able to get quite the same sound with single coils, but with enough distortion and other pedals it'll come close. It's really all a matter of personal preference though.

dude take a look at billy corgans strat, it's just a mather of getting creative humbucker or actives

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'when the power of love overcomes the love of power the world will know peace' - James Marshall Hendrix

You can. Enough gain will get any guitar there. But is it optimal?...probably not. The reason, lots of noise to deal with. First, high gain amps have a lot of inherent noise, and then the single coils have that 60 cycle hum.

Then the tone issue comes up. The bright strat sound with a lot of distortion can sound harsh. My strat does not have the low end chunk like my HB guitars, but they are also active PU's.

My strat going through the high gain channel of my ADA mp2 to my mesa 50/50 to my marshall 1960 AV sounded digital, even though its all analog all tube signal path. I was able to EQ the thing and gate the noise to get it sounding ok, but it still just did not have the high gain majic of my HB guitars.

Personally, I am not inspired to play metal on my SSS strat, but I love to do the clean stuff with it. I did not buy it to play metal. If I truely wanted it to be a great metal guitar, it would have a HB in the bridge.

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

IT would really depend on what amp you are using, I have humbuckers and single coils on my guitars and I can get a nice metal sound with single coils by cranking the pre amp tube in my marshall avt20 no problems I actually sometimes like that sound better than humbuckers it just depends on my mood hehe

I play metal with my SSS config. It is not quite as crunchy as with humbucker, but it does good. I use a Crate GFX 65 watt amp, Boss GE 7 eq, and Boss Metal Zone MT-2. The same equipment with my HH guitar and the difference is just a little crunchier.

To answer your question, yes you can play metal with single coils. Leads may sound better with them in fact. If you are trying for that crunch sound, humbuckers would be better.

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RK

2007 Fender Highway 1
2012 American Deluxe
2015 MIM Dave Murray HHH
2010 Fender Blacktop
1987 Fender Avalon Acoustic
2012 Marshall DSL 15 watt head