It is currently Mon Mar 16, 2020 10:57 am

All times are UTC - 7 hours



Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next
Author Message
Post subject: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 7:09 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:34 am
Posts: 208
So, fellow Fendermen:

I will play a gig to which I can only bring one guitar (several reasons, mostly logistical).

It happens that I play rythm and my band plays 70% clean bases, so my main guitar is a SSS Fender Strat.

I own a SG too, but I really dislike it, feels uncomfortable and sounds rather dull compared to my Strat. I only use it when I really need loudness and heavy distortion, then the humbuckers come in handy.

Well, question is: I obviously will take the Fender to the gig, but I can't seem to be able to make it sound real heavy. Even with a distortion pedal, it does get distorted, but the mellow clean sound is "still there underneath".

I use a Danelectro Daddy-O for overdrive and a custom shop Fire distortion for the heavier stuff.

Does anybody else play heavy rock with SSS strats? Opinions/tips are most welcome!

_________________
Sérgio

thefenderforum.com


Top
Profile
Fender Play Winter Sale 2020
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:09 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:07 pm
Posts: 163
Location: Chicago
My first thought was that I messed around with my Egnater Rebel and I got my bridge pickup to sound thicker, my second thought was to put in a Single-Coil-Sized Humbucker in the bridge.
This is what google gave me:

http://menga.net/getting-a-metal-sound- ... e-easy-way

Good luck


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 9:46 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Sev Grey wrote:
My first thought was that I messed around with my Egnater Rebel and I got my bridge pickup to sound thicker, my second thought was to put in a Single-Coil-Sized Humbucker in the bridge.
This is what google gave me:

http://menga.net/getting-a-metal-sound- ... e-easy-way

Good luck


+1


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 11:07 am
Offline
Roadie
Roadie
User avatar

Joined: Mon Dec 22, 2014 10:34 am
Posts: 208
Nice link, I especially liked the idea of using the compressor for a more chunky tone. I happen to have a BOSS CS-3 in my chain, I'll deal with it! Thanks!

About a humbucker on the bridge: not in this life. I love 'em custom shop fat '50s, I wouldn't dream of modding my Am. Std. Strat, I like my guitars stock and this particular one is perfect as it is, just fine!

Better wait for GAS to stroke me again and I buy a HSS :lol: 8)

_________________
Sérgio

thefenderforum.com


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Tue Jan 06, 2015 11:50 am
Offline
Amateur
Amateur
User avatar

Joined: Sat Feb 16, 2013 1:07 pm
Posts: 163
Location: Chicago
I have to try the Fat 50's because everybody is raving about them.

Let us know how it went.

Cheers


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 8:41 am
Offline
Professional Musician
Professional Musician

Joined: Sat Aug 23, 2008 2:01 pm
Posts: 1598
de Melo wrote:
So, fellow Fendermen:

I will play a gig to which I can only bring one guitar (several reasons, mostly logistical).

It happens that I play rythm and my band plays 70% clean bases, so my main guitar is a SSS Fender Strat.

I own a SG too, but I really dislike it, feels uncomfortable and sounds rather dull compared to my Strat. I only use it when I really need loudness and heavy distortion, then the humbuckers come in handy.

Well, question is: I obviously will take the Fender to the gig, but I can't seem to be able to make it sound real heavy. Even with a distortion pedal, it does get distorted, but the mellow clean sound is "still there underneath".

I use a Danelectro Daddy-O for overdrive and a custom shop Fire distortion for the heavier stuff.

Does anybody else play heavy rock with SSS strats? Opinions/tips are most welcome!


Well my first thought would also be a better pickup, particularly at the bridge position. Personally I prefer Duncans myself...very nice Gilmore sound...but for an even heavier sound, DiMazio's may be in order. Don't forget that with most of those...hb's in a single coil package...you can usually do coil tapping, so you can have the classic single coil sound and when you need heavier, just flip a switch and you have humbuckers.

Also regarding pickups, you may wish to simply try adjusting the height as well. It's amazing how many people over-look this little trick but remember - the closer the pickups are to the strings, the higher your output (and thus distortion) tends to be. Too close and the magnetic pull starts to deaden your sustain, but I've seen A LOT of Strats where people will have the pickups screwed all the way back to the pickguard. It's one of those fun, easy little things you can play with.

That said, since I saw the response "no way", which granted over-looks one of the beautiful things about a Strat (i.e. the ease with which one can change the sound just by changing pickups), my second thought there would be your pedals. While I will say I'm not familiar with this CS "Fire distortion", I do know those Dano's are fairly low end pedals...the sound just never really impressed me. Mostly just entry level, economy pedals for younger/newer players on a budget. Either way, in my mind pedals (distortion or otherwise) tend to be a lot like pickups, guitars and amps in that they tend to be a rather personal taste thing. In the past year or so after my old Ross died, I actually went thru several pedals looking for the sound I was after - everything from DOD, Digitech and Boss to a few (rather pricey) boutique pedals...distortions, overdrives, you name it...and I finally just broke down and had my old (dare I say "vintage") Ross repaired because THAT was the sound I wanted. Don't get me wrong...some of those pedals did sound decent. The old TS-808's are nice, but just NOT the sound I was after. For my Strats (both Duncan equipped and stock), my Lab L5 and my style of playing, I just haven't found a better match. Not suggesting that you need to spend $200 - $300 on a boutique pedal or anything, but you may need to try a few before you really find "the sound". To paraphrase the great Jimi Hendrix, "Before you can use distortion pedals, you have to learn to dance on them" :-).

Also since you didn't mention your amp, remember that your amp has just as much, if not more influence over your sound as the guitar does. Think of it this way - a $200 Squier can sound pretty decent thru a GOOD amp, but even a $4000 Custom Shop Strat is ALWAYS gonna sound like crap thru a cheesy little practice amp. While my L5 is my preferred amp for gigs because of it's versatility, depending on the venue or even the style of music I may be playing on a given night, it's not unheard of for me to bring 2 or even 3 amps to a gig (and typically 2 to 3 guitars) just so I can get the right sound dialed in for a given show or venue. From time to time, I've even just gone thru the gain channel on either my Bugera V22 or my Fender Princeton and have gotten some great sound without any distortion pedal at all.

Also remember that a great deal of how your instrument sounds, regardless of guitar, pedals or amps, also VERY much comes down to YOU...your playing style, your fingers, etc.. A good example here would be Stevie Ray Vaughn. I've seen A LOT of guys try to do his stuff over the years and the one thing that many of them seem to miss is his "heavy-handedness"...the ol' #1 didn't get beat like that by delicate playing! LOL!!! That man had hands and fingers like freakin' jackhammers to say the least. You can have the exact same equipment and even match the playing virtually note for note, but without that heavy handed technique, it just doesn't sound the same.

In short, YES, you can get a "heavy" sound out of a regular SSS Strat. Folks like Hendrix and Richie Blackmore proved that way back in the 60's and 70's. That said, more goes into it than just the guitar itself. WAY more 8) .


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 9:35 am
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Thu Dec 31, 2009 10:34 pm
Posts: 10760
Location: Athens, Greece
Another option to get a good humbucking overdrive/distortion from an SSS guitar is the Elite circuit found on certain Artist series guitars (Eric Clapton, Buddy Guy, Richie Sambora) or the EMG EXG/SPC tone controls which came stock on David Gilmour's famous candy apple red '57 reissue.

With the TBX and MDX circuits in their maximum you can make your single coil pickups to sound like regular full-sized humbuckers. It's like having an overdrive/distortion pedal built into your guitar!

The only disadvantage with active electronics is the need for a battery to drive the preamp.


Last edited by chromeface on Fri Jan 09, 2015 3:27 am, edited 1 time in total.

Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 12:41 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 10, 2014 1:43 am
Posts: 69
How much have you experimented with the EQ of your amp? With that in mind, what amp do you use?

_________________
Current toys
'13 Gibson Les Paul Studio in Alpine White |94 Stratocaster - MIM Sambora in CAR | 60th Anniversary Classic Player Stratocaster | Vox AD30VT | Blackstar Series 1 45 2x12 Combo

Effects
Jim Dunlop Crybaby | TC Electronics Hall of Fame


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Thu Jan 08, 2015 2:46 pm
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Dec 09, 2013 10:28 pm
Posts: 73
de Melo wrote:
So, fellow Fendermen:

I will play a gig to which I can only bring one guitar (several reasons, mostly logistical).

It happens that I play rythm and my band plays 70% clean bases, so my main guitar is a SSS Fender Strat.

I own a SG too, but I really dislike it, feels uncomfortable and sounds rather dull compared to my Strat. I only use it when I really need loudness and heavy distortion, then the humbuckers come in handy.

Well, question is: I obviously will take the Fender to the gig, but I can't seem to be able to make it sound real heavy. Even with a distortion pedal, it does get distorted, but the mellow clean sound is "still there underneath".

I use a Danelectro Daddy-O for overdrive and a custom shop Fire distortion for the heavier stuff.

Does anybody else play heavy rock with SSS strats? Opinions/tips are most welcome!




Look into the Lovepedal Hi-Volt. It sounds thick,you can go form a lower gain to a Bogner or Mesa.

I used it with a Victoria 5112 as well as my Victoria Regal It turned my amp into a monster. The controls feel like they are on your actual amp. The pedal works well with a stratocaster. Very versatile pedal.

Hi I have no affiliation,but here is more info.

More info on the Hi Volt

http://tonereport.com/reviews/lovepedal-hivolt-custom

http://www.chicagomusicexchange.com/pro ... t-custom-1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LMs76tQLouA

Near the end He plays some examples I think your looking for.

Pm if you would like more information

_________________
Image


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 2:14 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Wed Aug 17, 2011 7:09 am
Posts: 81
Hi,

A cheaper and easier way to do it, rather than changing pickups for one gig, would be to use an eq pedal.

You can use it to give your pickups a bit of a volume boost as well reducing the treble and if desired scooping the mids, an MXR 6 band eq would do the job and isn't overly expensive.

It also lets you set you amp as you normally would for the strat and then gives you your heavier sound on a pedal rather than an amp.

The comp is a good idea, you could also try stacking distortion and overdrive pedals and tweaking the tone knobs to get where you need to be.

You could try adding a Boss DS1 for low cost classic high gain sounds or try adding a clean boost to boost your pickups and drive the amp harder.

You may need to add a noise gate to cut down on buzz and feedback.

Remember lots of people have got high gain sounds from single coil strats such as Richie Blackmore, Yngwie and Iron Maiden.

It is just about getting the eq right to tame the strattiness of your guitar.

I can get decent higher gain sound from my strat with custom shop 69 pups, using a cranked marshall and a DS1 or other vintage style distortion pedal.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Fri Jan 09, 2015 9:45 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician

Joined: Fri Apr 15, 2011 4:49 am
Posts: 661
Location: Cambridge UK
If you fancy changing your amp to get the sound you want, try the Mesa Rectoverb 25 combo. I've been very impressed by the dirty tones. Just a standard US Strat into the amp - no pedals!


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Sat Jan 10, 2015 11:20 am
Offline
Hobbyist
Hobbyist

Joined: Mon Jan 05, 2015 9:47 am
Posts: 13
Hey man,

So I own quite a few Strats in every type of variation known to man as far as pickups. I have SSS Standards, all the way to Deluxes and Custom Shops with high output and/or active pickups.

I want to clear up something: Strats with SSS are notoriously thin sounding because of their pickups. You see plenty of people knocking the thin sound of Strats, yet they're playing a super thin Ibanez for Metal. Bottom line is: if you stick a vintage single coil in an un-chambered Les Paul, it will sound thin. The best thing I ever did with my Strats is put an HSH configuration in there, then have Tone 1 knob control the tone on the neck humbucker and have a pull up switch for coil split, and have Tone 2 knob control the bridge humbucker with coil splitting as well. This gives you the option to have all three in the same guitar (SSS, HSS, or HSH). Personally I think it's phenomenal if you can only take one guitar.

The reason I'm saying to do that is because if you want to have more versatility with your Strat, you're unfortunately going to need to replace all the pickups if you want some "chunk" because you cannot have a high output humbucker in the neck and keep weak single coils in the bridge and middle or the volume difference will be overwhelming. You can absolutely get a heavy sound out of most Strats (probably least likely with Ash wood) but you have to mod them. Sadly to say, there is no amount of EQing, noise suppression, or any number of pedals that can substitute for the pickups. I personally like DiMarzio's and have D-Activator sets in some of them, but to each his own.

Strats are like blank canvases to me, great start to a wonderful painting but you have to add the colors on your own.


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 9:17 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Mon Jan 28, 2013 7:36 pm
Posts: 638
You need to borrow my Warmoth Partscaster:

DiMarzio Fast Track 1 - neck
DiMarzio "The Chopper" - middle
DiMarzio Mo' Joe - bridge
and 500k pots

If you really prefer SSS you could easily choose a S-bucker for the bridge too!

Image

_________________
Tiger J

my gear:

Jackson USA Phil Collen PC-1
Warmoth Custom-Build Stratocaster (The Andersong)
Fender American Special Stratocaster
Squier J. Mascis Jazzmaster
Fender Mustang GT40
Eleven HeadRush w/ two Alto TS212 FRFRs


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 10:40 am
Offline
Aspiring Musician
Aspiring Musician
User avatar

Joined: Sun Oct 21, 2007 1:44 pm
Posts: 521
Location: Memphis, TN
Strats with a lot of gain have that sharp attack and sound thin because of the low output. Choosing the right distortion pedal can absolutely give you the tones you want with single coils. Earthquaker Devices Palisades is a good pedal where you can thickness with the "Bandwidth" control. A friend of mine had the Angry Charlie pedal by JHS I think. I couldn't believe the tone he was getting with a low output vintage single coil in the bridge. Huge sounding high gain. There's lots of others too.

_________________
2010 American Deluxe Strat Sunset Metallic - Lindy Fralin Blues Specials in the neck and middle, Dimarzio AT-1 humbucker in the bridge.
PRS Custom 22 with solid rosewood neck
Mesa/Boogie Electra Dyne 1x12 combo
DRRI


Top
Profile
Post subject: Re: SSS Strat for heavier distortion?
Posted: Sun Jan 11, 2015 5:43 pm
Offline
Rock Icon
Rock Icon
User avatar

Joined: Tue Jun 29, 2010 1:20 pm
Posts: 9640
Location: Indiana
Have you tried raising the pickups' height closer to the strings?

I know that there is that sweet spot, but if you want more output, it might be worth the compromise of raising the pups.

_________________
---> "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.


Top
Profile
Display posts from previous:  Sort by  
Post new topic Reply to topic  [ 30 posts ]  Go to page 1, 2  Next
Go to page 1, 2  Next

All times are UTC - 7 hours

Fender Play Winter Sale 2020

Who is online

Users browsing this forum: Google [Bot] and 2 guests


You cannot post new topics in this forum
You cannot reply to topics in this forum
You cannot edit your posts in this forum
You cannot delete your posts in this forum

Search for:
Jump to: