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Post subject: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:06 pm
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Hi all, I'm new to the forum!

I've been playing acoustic guitar for a little while now and am looking to buy my first electric.

The types of bands I like are:
Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Van Halen, Def Leppard.

Can music like this be played on a stratocaster and sound good?

If so, which stratocaster would be better SSS or HSS?

Can you recommend a good amp as well?

As I'm still quite new to guitar I don't want to blow a huge amount of money, which is why if I do go for a Strat then I will go for the MIM.

Thanks!


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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:36 pm
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Yes , Strat IS the guitar .


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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:44 pm
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Which one would be better? HSS or SSS?


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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 4:51 pm
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It would depend on the kind of sound you want. Hard rock can be and has been played on singles or buckers. The choice is yours. It is fairly common practice that the harder the rock the more likely it is that buckers will be used. It's not a hard and fast rule but it is a valid general observation.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:06 pm
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For your situation I think the HSS would be the better way to go. Single coils for the sweet spots Humbucker for the dirty bits. :twisted:


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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 5:20 pm
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For that kind of music an HSS strat would make the most sense since all those players used primarily humbucker equipped guitars (or cut them in such as EVH and Cobain). As far as amp they used Marshalls for the most part however EVH had used Peavey 5150s, and I am sure the endorsement did not hurt.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 7:59 pm
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SNick wrote:
For your situation I think the HSS would be the better way to go. Single coils for the sweet spots Humbucker for the dirty bits. :twisted:


+1! :evil:


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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 9:20 pm
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In my experience it has been very frustrating when attempting to emulate famous guitarist. I can learn to play the notes but more often than not I sound nothing like the original.

It can be done. I've heard guitarist emulate others very well. There are even a few that can emulate several famous guitarist. I've just never had that capability.

I always suggest used gear. The shopping is a bit more difficult, especially if you don't live in an urban area, but the savings is usually worth it. There is a lot of barely used gear out there.

If I were wanting to get started on a low budget I would buy a used MIM strat or tele and a used Mustang I or II. You can always upgrade later if you like where it's going. With a little bit of patience you can find the guitar and amp for less that $400.

Hope this helps.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:00 pm
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mhowell wrote:
In my experience it has been very frustrating when attempting to emulate famous guitarist. I can learn to play the notes but more often than not I sound nothing like the original.

It can be done. I've heard guitarist emulate others very well. There are even a few that can emulate several famous guitarist. I've just never had that capability.

I always suggest used gear. The shopping is a bit more difficult, especially if you don't live in an urban area, but the savings is usually worth it. There is a lot of barely used gear out there.

If I were wanting to get started on a low budget I would buy a used MIM strat or tele and a used Mustang I or II. You can always upgrade later if you like where it's going. With a little bit of patience you can find the guitar and amp for less that $400.

Hope this helps.


The problem is..when trying to "emulate" other players you can not purchase that. But I don't get the impression that the OP is trying to emulate any specific player but just asking which Strat pickup configuration and amp will be best suited for the style of music that he likes.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 10:08 pm
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Once again, it proves the old addage:

"It's NOT the Wand... It's the Magician... ! "

Duplicating their guitar is somewhat straightforward.

And learning to play the notes is fairly easy... with enough practice anyone can.

Learning to inject the subtleties in timing, attack, sustain... that's where the Magician takes over ! :wink:

And... why they call him the Magician !! :lol: :lol:

cheers!

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'11 FSR Am. Vtg. Ltd. Ed. CAR '57 Stratocaster (SN# LE02639)
'14 American Deluxe Ash Stratocaster
'12 Telebration Empress Telecaster
'99 Deluxe Nashville Telecaster
'12 FSR Telecaster HH
'10 Heritage H-535
'99 Martin DC-1E
'13 Lanikai Tenor Ukulele


Last edited by Lightnin MN on Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:57 am, edited 1 time in total.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:16 pm
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Reckless83 wrote:
The types of bands I like are:
Guns N' Roses, Led Zeppelin, Nirvana, Soundgarden, Alice In Chains, Van Halen, Def Leppard.

Can music like this be played on a stratocaster and sound good?


ABSOLUTELY NOT!

Ritchie Blackmore, Robin Trower, Randy California, Jimi Hendrix, Ron Wood, Ritchie Sambora, Jimmy Thackery, and Rory Gallagher are nothing more than poseurs.

:lol: :lol: :lol:

Arjay

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Wed Jul 16, 2014 11:21 pm
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Lightnin MN wrote:
Once again, it proves the old addage:

"It's NOT the Wand... It's the Magician... ! "

Duplicating their guitar is somewhat straightforward.

And learning to play the notes is fairly easy... with enough practice anyone can.

Learning to inject the subtleties in timing, attack, sustain... that's where the Magician takes over ! :wink:

And... why they call him the Magician !! :lol: :lol:

cheers!


So true and could not agree more. It is amazing how many times I try to explain to people that "tone" begins at the hands. I once had a heated debate with a really good guitar player. Actually he was one of the founding members of Miami sound machine and is really bitter because Gloria fired most of the founding members because they did not have the "stage look" she wanted once they got huge.

But here nor there I used to argue with him saying you can't really teach anyone the "blues" in the sense of emulating the greats. He felt I was wrong. So I asked him how many of his students sound like BB King regardless of what guitar they play or how long they had lessons. He had no answer.

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:19 am
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Reckless83 wrote:
Can you recommend a good amp as well?


The Fender Mustang amps are great if your looking for sweet sounds and versatility in an affordable package.
I'd recommend the smaller versions if you're still unsure if going electric is for you. Otherwise the Mustang III would be an excellent choice, suitable for noodling away at home, practicing with a band or even gigging at smaller venues.

Have fun playing!

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 12:49 am
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The solo in "Whole Lotta Love"was played on a Telecaster, as was the solo in "Stairway To Heaven".
In truth any type of guitar can be used for playing rock, it all depends on what you want to do.

Ultimately it comes down to experience and your hands - your tone is literally in your hands.
Having decent gear helps, but it ain't gonna make you sound great - this stuff does not come with talent enhancers, and a poor player sucks no matter how good his or her equipment is.

As someone has already said, it's not the wand, it's the magician!

A Stratocaster is as good a place to start as anywhere.
Of the MiM guitars I really like the Classic Player - they play and sound great, and I'm rather taken with the Sonic Blue finish (it's very Beatley).

On the amp front I'd suggest getting one that sounds great clean and go from there - the Blues Junior is very capable in this area.
It doesn't do tear the wall down distortion, but you can always use a distortion pedal if you need that kind of sound.

Above all enjoy what you're doing.
And practice. Practice a lot.
If you can find a local guitar tutor, and learn stuff beyond just what such a body did in such a song - copying someone else is good up to a point, but you'll be better off having a knowledge of musical theory outside of where you currently want to be.

Oh, and if I haven't made myself absolutely clear, practice some more!
And enjoy what you're doing 8)

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Post subject: Re: Can Strat be used for hard rock?
Posted: Thu Jul 17, 2014 2:44 am
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I'd go along with most everyone here in advocating a strat as a good starting point. It's far and away the most versatile guitar at approaching a variety of sounds. There are some songs from that general era that I use my Les Paul on because it has a very unique full and rounded sound, but I think you could approach them with a Strat without much problem. The HSS or HSH configurations will come closer to the classic heavy rock sounds you're looking for.

As a person starting out on guitar I'd go along with the previously mentioned Mustang series in terms of amps. HiWatts and Marshalls were among the more predominate amps of that era and the Mustang provides great simulations of those amps for a VERY reasonable price. The downside is that modeling amps cam be a bit more complex to master and you'd have to spend some time with it to understand the settings and how to use them to get the sound you want. But, like the Strat, it's your most versatile option to get the various tones you're looking for. The good news is that the Fender Fuse library has a ton of presets that have been uploaded and are available to you to download to help get you started. Most likely you can just do a search for Van Halen, or Led Zep, etc. and you'll probably have quite a list to choose from.

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