How do I get this strat tone? Thoughts, please!

[spudco]

Here is a link to a Youtube vid. This is the strat tone I've been searching for and have had no success. To me, it's the perfection of strat tone: so Hendrix, so SRV.
The strats I've had (Am Std, EJ), sound good, but they don't have this mojo.
How do I get it? Buy a custom shop 60's relic?
Play every strat I can find? Or are there certain models that sound like this?

Thanks!!

 

[2Strats]

I think that dude uses a Blues Junior and a TS-9, other than that I don't know.

 

[jcmark611]

Vintage pickups make all the difference in the world. Throw some Fat 50's or '69s in you AmStd Strat and you'll get that sound. As the other poster said a Tube Screamer through a Fender tube amp really helps.

 

[BlindLUCK]

tweed amps (victoria, fender, etc) and a timmy will sound better than that...

 

[jett1963]

A lot of this guys tone is comming from his fingers. Combo Hard and soft attack with the pick, muting etc etc. Learn to copy this before you buy gear.

 

[robelinda2]

Certainly doesnt 'sound' like a CS strat, this tone seems pretty attainable with most strats, Am Std for sure.

 

[gkoelling]

It doesn't sound like anything more than a typical Strat with low output, vintage style pickups.

 

[therhodeo]

It doesn't sound like anything more than a typical Strat with low output, vintage style pickups.

Yep. I was pretty close a few night ago in store with a Mesa Express 5:50 and a Roadhouse strat.

 

[Bro Blue]

A lot of the tone is due to pickups/amp combination. While a lot of his sound is due to technique, it's not how it is born. Technique is more like icing on the cake rather than the batter from which it is made.

Low/vintage output pickups would help, but they are not necessary. I have a 60th anniversary MIM with Tex-Mex pickups that, while being fairly bright, still give Strat tone. I have an ash Deluxe Strat with Fralin Vintage Hots that sound awesome.

Basic formula for traditional Strat Blues tone:

Strat, TS-9, tube amp. Maybe a compressor.

 

[Doc W]

Two things:

1) as others have said, it is a pretty straightforward classic Strat tone, the result of vintage style pickups

2) he is tuned to Eb which is fine for bedroom wanking but not for playing with other humans

 

[Michael Hunter]

2) he is tuned to Eb which is fine for bedroom wanking but not for playing with other humans

Unless those other humans are also tuned down a half-step...

 

[therhodeo]

2) he is tuned to Eb which is fine for bedroom wanking but not for playing with other humans

Please tell me what notes aren't available when you're tuned to Eb that are in E.

 

[small axe]

try an early 70's strat thru a marshall and the pedals mentioned above....volume at 11

 

[buddastrat]

Here is a link to a Youtube vid. This is the strat tone I've been searching for and have had no success. To me, it's the perfection of strat tone: so Hendrix, so SRV.
The strats I've had (Am Std, EJ), sound good, but they don't have this mojo.
How do I get it? Buy a custom shop 60's relic?
Play every strat I can find? Or are there certain models that sound like this?

Thanks!!

Well to me AM Std.s have a little bit different sound than that, pickups bridge etc.. all change things a bit, they don't quite get the classic Fender tones. EJ's are spanky, polite and lots of chime. What you want, as others said is a good alder/rosewood with some vintage output style pickups. A million choices out there and you'll get that. You don't need to buy a CS, but those are nice. Heck you can find a nice MIM like a road worn or an old vintage player that can do that.

 

[GCDEF]

How would you not get that sound out of a Strat? That's what 99% of them sound like into clean amps.

 

[Joe Perry]

Agreeing with others, low output vintage style p/u's. Also his "Hendrixy" tecnique while playing by himself "over exaggerates" (for lack of a better term) that tone.

I'm shocked the EJ didn't get you most of the way there with it's vintage hardware and alder body. Maybe you like RW board strats? I'd suggest a '62 AVRI or Hot Rod version if you like bigger necks. Then you could tweak with p/u's if need but the 57/62's aren't that bad.

 

[Doc W]

Unless those other humans are also tuned down a half-step...

Tuning down a half-step is an affectation for people who think they want to be Jimi Hendrix or SRV. Forcing everyone else to tune to you as opposed to tuning to the rest of the world is idiotic.

 

[Kappy]

2) he is tuned to Eb which is fine for bedroom wanking but not for playing with other humans

Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. all played with robots then?

 

[Bro Blue]

Tuning down a half-step is an affectation for people who think they want to be Jimi Hendrix or SRV. Forcing everyone else to tune to you as opposed to tuning to the rest of the world is idiotic.

Well, tuning to Eb or D standard is also helpful when you have a singer that does not have a high vocal range. Besides, does there have to be a reason? It's music.

 

[Doc W]

Hendrix, Eddie Van Halen, Stevie Ray Vaughan, etc. all played with robots then?

If you want to play tuned to Eb when the rest of the world doesn't, you go right away. Wank on.