Hi folks, I'm a recently converted metal-head. I just absolutely fell in love with strats ever since I hear SRV. Thing is my Mexico Strat sounds weird, it sounds too bassy on the neck pickup and doesn't have any twang/quack while the bridge pickups sounds too tinny and doesn't have any bass or mid range AT ALL! Could it be the pickusp or does it stem from another source?

Sounds samples ( I know they're not the best examples but they're all I got )

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4w6J2-XaOCc

http://profile.ultimate-guitar.com/syn_g8s/music/all/play816461

Hi Edrixx

I guess the first question to ask, is has it always sounded like this, or has the sound changed recently? If it has changed, did you do anything to cause it - adjustments, knocks etc..

It could be that you have lived with the guitar for a while and are now starting to notice it's limitations.

With all due respects to Mexi Strats, the pickups aren't the best. Almost certainly they're full length ceramic magnets rather than individual alnico pole pieces. Mind you, ceramic singlegle coils might suit a metal sound.. however..

Start by putting new strings on the Strat and then start making some adjustments to the pickup heights whilst the guitar is plugged in to a clean channel amp (an amp that you trust and know is capable of making the sounds you're looking for). Try and find the basic tones you're hoping to achieve. If you think you've got it, then start adding distortion/overdrive to see if the sound still stands up. Oh, and check that your guitar's tone and volume controls are working properly too - these obviously have a huge effect on the basic sound of your guitar..

If you can't find the sounds you're looking for, then it's time to think about a replacement instrument or maybe some new more sophisticated pickups.

Good luck mate..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

could be the cap, or a dead pot... i had a tele that had the same problem, was a dead cap

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blues - its a religion...

Sounds like maybe you need to adjust your pickup height. I'm no expert though. I agree with what adey said too!!!. Are your strings in good shape? Rusty strings can cause strange tones. Good luck with it.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

It has always sounded like this but I can't really do anything since I don't have the money to buy pickups or new caps/pots (I'm only 16). I just bore with it, I guess. The strings are knew and I got it set up and still sounds the same. Even the cheap fender copies I've found sound more fender than my strat.

I agree with the others, try adjusting your pickup height. Lower the bass side of the pickup that has too much bass, and/or raise the treble side of the pickup. Too low and the pickups sound weak, too high and you will lose sustain. It's OK if the pickups are higher on one side, that way you can fine tune your sound. It's as easy as turning a Phillips screwdriver, one screw on each side of each pickup, and costs nothing to try.

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---> "The amp should be SWITCHED OFF AND UNPLUGGED before you do this!" <---

Por favor, disculpe mi español, no se llega a la práctica con mucha frecuencia.

If you've had it set up by a pro luthier and they didn't find anything wrong then It could be just the way that guitar sounds. A MIM Strat tuned down a half step, with the amp adjusted proper should put out some tones at least halfway close if not very close to SRV's sound if that's what your trying to achieve. My advice would be keep on playing and practicing. So that when you can get some higher end gear you will know how to get them tones and notes out of it. Keep on playing man. Good Luck with it.

And definately mess around with your pickup height.

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"Damn Right I Got the Blues"

OK, I'll try doing that and might upload a sample over the weekend to give you guys a better idea.

Perhaps some amp adjustment are in order. Try going extreme with the amp adjustments.

Neck\Neck+Mid\Mid\Mid+Bridge

http://www.supload.com/listen?s=mIFzaR

Thanks for the samples Edrixx, nice clear recordings.

I don't hear a thing wrong there - that sounds like absolutely classic clean Fender Strat to me.

No offence intended, but is this a problem with your expectations rather than your guitar? Are you expecting to create a metal sound? If so, a vintage sounding Fender Strat is not the guitar to be doing it on.

On the basis of what I'm hearing on your file, that could easily be boosted up to something SRV like with appropriate amplification. Perhaps the amp is what you need to be looking at.

Carry on exploring mate..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

No dude , I'm going for the spanky strat sound like a John Mayer/SRV/Jimi Hendrix tone. Maybe it is due to amplification, or the type of pickups I have which I think is ceramic?

Im sure they are ceramic magnets, and don't doubt that alnicos would sound 'spankier' and 'twangier'. But I'm mindfull of your financial sitaution..

You could work with the ceramics even if they're not perfect - many people do. Try out some different amps - maybe even some Vox or Line 6 modelling rigs - if you get a chance. Take YOUR guitar to a store, present like a potential customer, and try as many as you can.

Out of interest, what amplification are you using at the moment? Perhaps we should have asked this at the start..

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Fender Highway & Classic 60s Strats, Fender Toronado, Telecaster, Gretsch Projet, Charvel 3, PRS SE Soapbar II & Custom 24, Burns Batwing and many others!

Right now I have a Roland Cube 15X and a Marshall MG30 at school, I know they suck but they're all I got. I have amplitube and Guitar Rig on my computer though, if that counts.

Hi Edrixx,I'd say that most likely the amp is where "problem"is the guitar has the classic Strat sound.I have 2 MIM Strats and they sound much the same as yours.I have no problem getting the SRV/Hendrix spank but then again I use a Marshall tube amp to get it.The Strat isn't really compatable with metal.Maybe you should try experimenting with using the EQ controls on your amp and guitar more that may open up some new tones that you never thought you had.You even could look into getting a good overdrive/sustain pedal like a Marshall Guv'nor or Bluesbreaker to sweeten up your tone.Good luck with it.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.