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Post subject: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 9:21 pm
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Hello, this is my first post here.

I've been an acoustic player most of my life and about 5 years ago I bought a MIM Stratocater, which is my first electric guitar. I have been trying to make friends with it since then but I just can't warm to it. I have nothing to compare it to, so maybe I just don't like electric guitars in general or maybe I just don't like Fenders?

Is there a particular approach to playing electric guitars? A mindset? A lighter/heaver touch?

I'm a classical guitarist of intermediate skill and that is my first love (nylon string luthier built instruments).

When I play acoustic steel strings I like '70's progressive country stuff like Jerry Jeff Walker, Kris Kristofferson, etc...sometimes called "outlaw country". So I'm a chord strummer and simple soloist. Perhaps a Telecaster would have been better for me? If so, why? Can't a tele and a strat interchange with each other?

Could it be my amps? I have 3 amps and I hate the way it sounds through all of them. A Peavey 158 Rage, A Kustom Sienna 16 (acoustic) and an Ashton AE60. I also have a Digitec RP50 effects pedal that doesn't help anything either.

I'm contemplating selling the guitar as I hardly ever use it. But it seems such a popular and versatile instrument that I must be missing something.

Thanks

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 9:45 pm
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You answered your own question. If you hate the way it sounds through all your amps and the pedal, you need something else to play it through. Take it down to the music store and try some stuff. Make sure it is set up good for you. Also, you can upgrade the pickups. Good luck. Have fun. :D


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Thu May 09, 2013 11:25 pm
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sometimes you just dont get on with guitars. a couple of months ago i brought an epiphone les paul to satisfy my twin humbucker itch, last week i decided i didnt like it, dont get on with it, so im building a strat with twin humbuckers.

its just the way it is sometimes.


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 12:27 am
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Thanks for the replies.

I might take that advice about experimenting with different amps to see if I can find an interest in this guitar.

Is it true that Telecasters are better for strumming/rhythm and Stratocasters better for lead/solo work?

I know I sound like a newb, but I'm new to electric guitars. Thank you all for your patience.

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 12:47 am
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I really doubt a different amp will make a difference. If those amps work for you with other guitars, then why shouldn't the Strat? The fact it doesn't says enough.

I started with a Tele, and I think I much prefer it. I bought the Strat thinking it was more 'musical', but now I'm more used to it, I think it's just got a smoother sound. I though it started to sound a bit vanilla and forums said I should get new pups, a new neck, new hardware. Almost everything excpet get a different guitar.

It's simplistic to suggest Teles are ideal for Strumming/Strat for leads. If you like them, they do both.


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 2:43 am
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Strat tele les Paul. You can do anything on one you can do on another. Electric guitars are a much the muchness affair. I think it's more probable that you simply don't like electric guitars.
You're coming at it from a different instrument more or less, the playing requirements are so different.

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 4:12 pm
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listen to Rory Gallagher live, thats all im going to say.


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Fri May 10, 2013 5:30 pm
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shinkicker wrote:
listen to Rory Gallagher live, thats all im going to say.

Have you checked OPs taste in music?

The chance Rory will get the Strat over the line, is pretty slim.

It seems he bought the Strat based on the idea it was popular and versatile, and therefore he 'needed' one, rather than its actual compatibility with what he likes to play and listen to.


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:48 am
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If you like "Outlaw " country,maybe a Tele would've been more up your alley.Listen to guys like Danny Gatton,Roy Buchanan,Marty Stuart and Kenny Vaughn to get a good idea of how great a countryfied Tele can sound and the first2 I mentioned are bona fide "outlaws" of country to the core.

Rather than trade in or sell your Strat,maybe such as has been previously suggested, you should try out a few different amps.The amps that you mentioned may be well enough for acoustic playing and the Peavey Rage certainly isn't suited for the tones that you are seeking.I believe that if you tried out Fender Blues Jr.-with a Celestion for even better tone(IMHO)-would have more of the tonal footprint that you crave.The Fender Deluxe Reverb,Princeton and even some of the Mustang models may be quite suitable for you.

Lately I've been using my Strats through a Vox AC-15-C1 and since I have been playing almost totally clean the past year or so,the Vox serves me well but I also know that if I ever want a good bit of overdriven raunch I can dial it up too.The new Vox Valvetronix line of modelling amps could also get you the tone that you want as each one has at least 33 amp models plus a large number of classic effects that emulate The VT 40,VT 80 and up are great amps from the Valvetronix series.These amps are hybrids but have a 12AX7 tube in their power amp as opposed to the preamp in almost all other hybrids.Putting the tube in the power amp allows the sound to be processed through a tube circuit last which really allows for an incredibly representation of a tube amp tone.You could also check out the original Valvetronix amps such as the AD-30-VTX,AD-60-VTX and the AD-120-VTX and VTH.These amps are no longer made but you can pick them up pretty cheap used.If you buy a used AD series Vox you are buying a great modelling amp with top notch reliability.

That's my few suggestions and along with all the others you have a great selection of first rate amps to try out and I'm pretty well sure that one-or even more-of these amps will suit your needs.Let us know h what you settle on and please post pix.Happy Hunting!!!Cheers.

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 1:02 am
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Mate, Get on a good tube amp maybe with a humbukker to really get the sonics......Think Sustain.... A MIM Strat can sound really thin until you've got a well dialed in and driven well, heavy or light rock n roll sound....

Being A classical guitarist your going to find a whole new world on a electric dont give up before you start....

Welcome... :|

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 4:13 am
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Thanks so much for all your input. I'm convinced that it is worth experimenting with some amps before I give up on it. Hell, its been in its case under my bed for 6 years, so it's not like I've given it a fair go.

I'll check out that Vox and Fender amp, its worth a try. Also, if the bug bites me, can anyone suggest upgraded pickups? Is there any real need to upgrade the stock ones?

You are all being very helpful with your suggestions. I know how to do a decent tremolo, but I don't know how to use the "synchronized tremolo"! :)

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 7:03 am
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Widows Son wrote:
Also, if the bug bites me, can anyone suggest upgraded pickups? Is there any real need to upgrade the stock ones?

If the bug bites, I would only just start to think about pickup upgrades. You might find that you like the stock ones well enough. Definitely check out some amps more suitable for your style first. That should make the biggest difference. While you're doing all of that checking why not check out a Tele as well? :wink:


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 12:15 pm
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I found the pickups in my MIM Strat to be kind of flat and lifeless. There are a lot of choices in Strat pickups. A lot here like DiMarzio Area pups, 58, 61, etc. Fender has a bunch, Fat 50s, 69s, etc. Listen to them on utube. Listen to the standard MIM to see what they get out of it. There are a lot of threads on here about this subject that you can check out. Don't forget to look at Marshall amps. They are not just for crunch. Good luck. :D


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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sat May 11, 2013 8:51 pm
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Hi Widow's Son, I personally don't subscribe to what people say about MIM Strats sounding "thin" or either bit inferior to the U.S. made Strat pickups.I have 2 MIM Strats and an MIM Tele and all 3 of them are absolutely dripping with tone.Back in the mid 90s the QA of MIM Fenders was somewhat inconsistant and the occasional dog left the factory but then again my nephew had a circa '96 MIM Strat and whenever he gigged people would routinely ask him if he had Lollars etc. put in it as it sounded so heavy.

My 2000 lefty MIM Strat-that I have flipped for Hendrix covers-sounds incredible through my JCM 800,2204 stack and nails the tone that Jimi got on his first 2 albums and my MIM Jimmie Vaughn Strat with it's Tex-Mex pickups sounds extremely like an "L" series Strat. My MIM Tele has every bit of the spank and ice-pick treble bite that any other Tele has.

I have been playing Strats almost exclusively for 40 years now and currently own 5, even though they are all Strats,no 2 sound alike even though each one is unmistakably a Strat in its tone.No matter where each Strat was made,whenever you switch from one Strat to another a tweak of the EQ controls is just about a given as not only the pickups but the type of wood,wood weight and density plus hardware,strings,winds on the pups,and other dynamics have an overall effect on the tone so it can't be unequivocally all down to the pickups.Many people will condemn a guitar for sounding poor when in fact the amp could very well be the culprit and there are also amps that may very well compliment the tone of a Les Paul or SG,yet a Strat or Tele etc. may not sound good through it no matter how much you adjust the EQ.It's also a good idea when trying out amps,to take the guitar that you'll be using most with it because as I just stated one guitar may sound incredible while another model may sound not nearly as good.

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Post subject: Re: Help me like my Strat
Posted: Sun May 12, 2013 1:14 am
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All of you are very generous and patient with my queries, bless you.

From reading all the responses, I'm forming the opinion that the amplifier is key, perhaps more important than the guitar. (I'm bracing myself getting blasted now! :oops: )

Those of you that understand acoustic guitars will know that the kind of wood, the way the top is "tuned" by the luthier, the bracing....all that makes up the soundbox which produces the sound. Solid body electric guitars don't seem to be as substantially influenced by those things.

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