Great technique
Which Strat & Why?
- Thread starter Mr Grumpy
- Start date
Great technique
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
I always regard Mark Knopfler as the True Gentleman of Rock Guitar.
Here's my approach. Every aspect of a guitar has a tangible benefit. Maybe you can create your own feature list?
I play faster with less effort on a 12" radius. I have proven this time and again by switching between guitars.
My bends are easier, more fluid and my vibrato is more intense on 24.75" scale.
The 24.75" scale has a different tonal quality. On this scale, when playing a chord that involves using all six strings, each individual string can be heard as six voices in harmony.
On a 25.5" scale, the overall tone has a harsher, less smooth quality, like breaking glass - and this quality remains regardless of the pickup used because it is in the tension of the string at a given pitch.
On the 25.5" scale, when playing a chord that involves using all six strings, each individual string can be heard as six voices in unison - not harmony.
I also noticed that after a 4 or 5 hour live performance, my hand didn't hurt the next day when playing a 24.75" scale. For some reason, the 25.5" scale wears me out after a few hours.
Put on .008's and the fatigue is gone, but what little fullness you get from a 25.5" scale is gone too.
If you ever get the chance, play a Schecter C1 Custom. Strat style, Solid mahogany, 24.75" scale length.
I play faster with less effort on a 12" radius. I have proven this time and again by switching between guitars.
My bends are easier, more fluid and my vibrato is more intense on 24.75" scale.
The 24.75" scale has a different tonal quality. On this scale, when playing a chord that involves using all six strings, each individual string can be heard as six voices in harmony.
On a 25.5" scale, the overall tone has a harsher, less smooth quality, like breaking glass - and this quality remains regardless of the pickup used because it is in the tension of the string at a given pitch.
On the 25.5" scale, when playing a chord that involves using all six strings, each individual string can be heard as six voices in unison - not harmony.
I also noticed that after a 4 or 5 hour live performance, my hand didn't hurt the next day when playing a 24.75" scale. For some reason, the 25.5" scale wears me out after a few hours.
Put on .008's and the fatigue is gone, but what little fullness you get from a 25.5" scale is gone too.
If you ever get the chance, play a Schecter C1 Custom. Strat style, Solid mahogany, 24.75" scale length.
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
Ok, strats are possibly the most versatile - classic - guitars ever made, you can have one in a wide palette of styles, colors, with all kinds of pickups (even Gibson PAFs), necks, whatever man, you gotta roll with it.
I love a good strat. It is an icon and a workhorse. A Rock God and a delicate music box you can use to pluck a lullaby for a baby to sleep to.
So which strat? The one that feels best and gives you the sound you want.
My main questions are: do you want/need a humbucker on the bridge? Which neck feels good?
After you have figured those two issues out, it's easy to fall in love with the one you'll take home. Price varies a lot.
Mexican classic series are quite good, you can play them professionally, whereas American strats will give you a tad more comfort and overall improvements, which aren't really a need. To each his own. I play an American strat as my main guitar (and the love of my life so show a little respect!
) I'd pick it over my Gibson SG 61RI anytime, though it is a SSS strat so the Gibson sounds definitely louder and hotter.
If I were you, I'd go American Standard/Professional. Probably the best strats/teles for the money, without the cost of the bling in a CS.
I love a good strat. It is an icon and a workhorse. A Rock God and a delicate music box you can use to pluck a lullaby for a baby to sleep to.
So which strat? The one that feels best and gives you the sound you want.
My main questions are: do you want/need a humbucker on the bridge? Which neck feels good?
After you have figured those two issues out, it's easy to fall in love with the one you'll take home. Price varies a lot.
Mexican classic series are quite good, you can play them professionally, whereas American strats will give you a tad more comfort and overall improvements, which aren't really a need. To each his own. I play an American strat as my main guitar (and the love of my life so show a little respect!
) I'd pick it over my Gibson SG 61RI anytime, though it is a SSS strat so the Gibson sounds definitely louder and hotter.If I were you, I'd go American Standard/Professional. Probably the best strats/teles for the money, without the cost of the bling in a CS.
Sergio...sometimes I feel like you and I are the only Strat lovers here!
I know I'm exaggerating, but sometimes it seems like that's the case.
I mean, a lot of folks will say they like Strats...except for some feature or characteristic.
I like 'em just the way they are!
I know I'm exaggerating, but sometimes it seems like that's the case.
I mean, a lot of folks will say they like Strats...except for some feature or characteristic.
I like 'em just the way they are!
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I honestly think if a 100% stock sounding Stratocaster would have been my only choice, I would have never pursued the guitar.
Now, if I were a Country player, then there is no better tool.
RVA
Ambassador
Sérgio
Ambassador of CaliZilian Affairs
I have the most modified Strat...
I am confident that one day I'll see you satisfied with a guitar, Robert
I am confident that one day I'll see you satisfied with a guitar, Robert
LOL! maybe!!!
I actually think so too, now that I have finally figured out exactly what things I like...
ivan H
Ambassador of Tubes & Grooves
While its well known that Leo was partial to country music, & a strat (or even more so, a Tele) is a good choice of instrument for the genre, it is also choice for so many other genres, blues & rock included. I know you like Rory's music Robert, & that is a 100% stock strat sound. I guess no-one told him he was playing a "country" guitar, or Jimmy Page (Tele) when he was recording the early Zep records. And I guess no-one told Charlie Daniels he was playing a jazz guitar. If you did a quick google search I think it'd be surprising how many "country" guitarists play Gibson's etc. Really, its about the the guitarist, not the guitar. Put a strat in the hands of a hard rocking guitarist & they'll rock it, as so many have & still do. Cheers
I turned down to good paying jobs in C&W bands because I was told I had to play a Tele...No Joke!
I see your point, but I could never get a tone I liked from a Strat in it's stock form...but the twanginess of C&W just seems to be a good fit for single coils...
ivan H
Ambassador of Tubes & Grooves
I can well understand you turning that well paying gig down, I don't think I could cop being told what instrument to play either. Personally, I prefer the humbucker/24.75" scale sound myself, but a strat is a usefull tool to have & whenever you need the sound, nothing does it better. Cheers
Maybe I am just "better" on the shorter scale....???
OP
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
Good idea. I like: light weight, 12"+ neck, vintage or locking tuners, graphtech or bone nut, maple or rosewood is fine, satin feel neck, don't mind scale length or number of frets, don't mind sss or hss. I like beautiful; I hate gold on Gibsons, but really like gold hardware on strats!
Good advice, and they do all feel different - playing them is the way to go, but having fun with you fellas and your experiences is also very interesting.
Yeah, but they are sooo different, just look at how many different strats Fender makes: Stratocaster® | Electric Guitars | Fender® Guitars
WOW!!!
OP
Mr Grumpy
Ambassador of Comings and Goings
Interesting stuff from all of you, please continue as finding out about strats is very interesting - they are certainly great and versatile guitars.
Now, I rarely agree with Esg on price v quality stuff, but regarding strats I do.
Buy an SG and you pretty much get what you pay for: an Epi is nice, but a Tokai is more expensive and better, a Gibson Faded is a couple of hundred dollars more and better, then the Gibson standard adds locking tuners, maybe push/pull, a nice finish, more time spent on the neck and frets (if you're lucky) a hardcase, etc. Personally, I believe that a faded is the perfect value point, but the price v value/quality equation is quite linear (obviously there will be some exceptions).
Not so with strats. Now, this is just my experience, you may know better/differently. In the Fender range (& I have tried many strats over the last 10 days...) a bullet or affinity is lower quality than I would like to spend $$$ on. The Classic Vibes and Vintage Modifieds are very good, but at $400-600 they are not great value, imho (they were a few years ago when the CV 50s tele was $350 - amazing value; now it's $700 in Korea!!!). The Mexian standards are btter still, but I would NOT be spending $800-1000 on one, no way. The Mexican deluxes are really nice: well made, feel good and have quality parts (very similar parts to say a 2012 American standard or deluxe) - this is the minimum quality level I'd want, but you're talking $800-$1500 - that's a lot of money. The American standard is nice, but I don't like some of the features: namely the neck (9.5) radius is just not for me, and the tuners should no way be on a guitar costing $1500, imho... The American Deluxe and Elites are great - compound necks, great tuners, top quality everything, but we're talking $2500 here!!!
So, today, I played two guitars which to me were the equal of the best Mexican deluxe I played, better (featurewise and similar quality) to an American standard, but just a tad below an Amderican deluxe:
Felt like a 14"neck to me, vintage tuners, lovely filling C with satin neck, looks great, bone nut, same component quality as a US standard (i.e. Korean or Japanese made hardware - Ping for US standard, these looked to me unmarked Gotoh). Price $350.
This guitar was superior in every way to a Classic Vibe and Mexican standard. It was equal to the best Mexican deluxe guitars (which are great, but expensive in comparison).
Better value still and equally well made with brilliant locking tuners (same as on my Fugly, and they are superior to the Steinbergs on my Gibson), compound radius neck (same as on my fugly which is the nicest neck I've ever played) with satin feel, graphtec nut, brilliant 2-point Wilkinson trem system, and more:
$249. Played and felt better than any Fender Mexican I tried. I thought it was better than a US standard (other interweb reviewers have said the same thing...), but not as nice as a Fender Elite/Fender Deluxe (which are truly lovely guitars) - it's 10% the cost of the Fender Deluxe. I would have bought one home with me, but I had already bought another guitar and the wife would kill me if I bring two home in the same day.
I repeat, this is just my experience and opinion.
NGD thread to come.
Now, I rarely agree with Esg on price v quality stuff, but regarding strats I do.
Buy an SG and you pretty much get what you pay for: an Epi is nice, but a Tokai is more expensive and better, a Gibson Faded is a couple of hundred dollars more and better, then the Gibson standard adds locking tuners, maybe push/pull, a nice finish, more time spent on the neck and frets (if you're lucky) a hardcase, etc. Personally, I believe that a faded is the perfect value point, but the price v value/quality equation is quite linear (obviously there will be some exceptions).
Not so with strats. Now, this is just my experience, you may know better/differently. In the Fender range (& I have tried many strats over the last 10 days...) a bullet or affinity is lower quality than I would like to spend $$$ on. The Classic Vibes and Vintage Modifieds are very good, but at $400-600 they are not great value, imho (they were a few years ago when the CV 50s tele was $350 - amazing value; now it's $700 in Korea!!!). The Mexian standards are btter still, but I would NOT be spending $800-1000 on one, no way. The Mexican deluxes are really nice: well made, feel good and have quality parts (very similar parts to say a 2012 American standard or deluxe) - this is the minimum quality level I'd want, but you're talking $800-$1500 - that's a lot of money. The American standard is nice, but I don't like some of the features: namely the neck (9.5) radius is just not for me, and the tuners should no way be on a guitar costing $1500, imho... The American Deluxe and Elites are great - compound necks, great tuners, top quality everything, but we're talking $2500 here!!!
So, today, I played two guitars which to me were the equal of the best Mexican deluxe I played, better (featurewise and similar quality) to an American standard, but just a tad below an Amderican deluxe:
Felt like a 14"neck to me, vintage tuners, lovely filling C with satin neck, looks great, bone nut, same component quality as a US standard (i.e. Korean or Japanese made hardware - Ping for US standard, these looked to me unmarked Gotoh). Price $350.
This guitar was superior in every way to a Classic Vibe and Mexican standard. It was equal to the best Mexican deluxe guitars (which are great, but expensive in comparison).
Better value still and equally well made with brilliant locking tuners (same as on my Fugly, and they are superior to the Steinbergs on my Gibson), compound radius neck (same as on my fugly which is the nicest neck I've ever played) with satin feel, graphtec nut, brilliant 2-point Wilkinson trem system, and more:
$249. Played and felt better than any Fender Mexican I tried. I thought it was better than a US standard (other interweb reviewers have said the same thing...), but not as nice as a Fender Elite/Fender Deluxe (which are truly lovely guitars) - it's 10% the cost of the Fender Deluxe. I would have bought one home with me, but I had already bought another guitar and the wife would kill me if I bring two home in the same day.
I repeat, this is just my experience and opinion.
NGD thread to come.
syscokid
Ambassador of War & Peace
Ha ha... I'll challenge you on that. I have a 2001 American Deluxe. A fine guitar in stock form. I guess it was too Fendery-Straty for me. The only original parts is the body and it's jack and neck plates.I have the most modified Strat...