"Singing" Lead Tone For Single Coils?

[Wesman61]

I have guitars with both single coil and humbucker bridge pups but I like single coils better. It's just that it's hard to get a decent singing, sustaining lead tone w/o too much compression robbing all the dynamics. If I boost a drive pedal for leads it just chokes it to death. So I've come to the conclusion that I need a separate OD for leads when I use My Strat. I tried The Zendrive but it didn't work well with single coils. I prefer to use the bridge pup for lead. Any ideas?

 

[Trebor Renkluaf]

AC15 on 11...:AOK

 

[dave s]

the best bridge single coil I've worked with is the Fralin SP43. It sings with the best of 'em and isn't picky about pedals, either.

dave

 

[giggedy]

KOT>Tim.

 

[Wesman61]

the best bridge single coil I've worked with is the Fralin SP43. It sings with the best of 'em and isn't picky about pedals, either.

dave

Sorry. What I mean is which OD pedals would give a single coil a singing lead tone. It needs to be thick and full sounding. Not overly compressed either.

 

[chaz bernstein]

I used a friend's Keeley Compressor once. Even though it's marketed as a country chicken pickin' effect, it actually did a great job of giving me smooth, bluesy, violin-like sustain - NOTHING like the sound samples Keeley has on his website.

I have a friend who uses an Orange Squeezer, also to good (though different, more squashed-sounding) effect.

 

[funkycam]

Question:
style(s) played?
amount of dirt you like?
clean amp, dirty amp etc etc

 

[steveb]

Sorry. What I mean is which OD pedals would give a single coil a singing lead tone. It needs to be thick and full sounding. Not overly compressed either.

I like the sound of Xotic AC Boost for a thicker Strat sound. I don't feel it is overly compressed, but I just got it yesterday.

As a sidenote: I rewired the middle tone knob to affect the bridge pickup, & this helps to reduce the thinness & sound less like a single coil pickup.

I've gotten decent results with a modded DS1 & also a homemade booteek fuzz feeding a FD2. The gain & tone on the FD2 was around 9 o'clock, & the settings on the fuzz weren't really high (except for the volume)

You can hear the fuzz & FD2 at 1:36. But, it may be a little too squishy for you? http://www.sbkustoms.com/music/Counting Days.mp3

Steve

 

[Last Nerve]

Mosferatu.

 

[re-animator]

ask eric johnson.



also, i would definitely consider a big muff or a tonebender, if you haven't already.

 

[mewithoutlouie]

Have you tried a compressor?

 

[3 Mile Stone]

I have often read here that the Analog Man Sun Face fuzz is a good way to take a Strat on out there to sustainville. Thinking about trying it myself. Then just roll the volume down and they clean up really well ... so I have read.

 

[jrkoosh]

you know, I struggled with this for a long time. In the end, a "c-hair" of delay and a compressor was what I was looking for. For OD I used the amp, or a Barber LTD.

 

[blue apple]

My OCD (v3) in LP mode is the only pedal (I've tried) that will give my strat a fat singing tone without sounding compressed. It's also very sensitive to your picking dynamics...

 

[hacker]

ProCO RAT.

 

[Guinness Lad]

I like the Mojodrive by Lovekraft. I usually use this pedal with my Bassman LTD, otherwise I use my Guytron at which point I don't need the mojodrive.

 

[JeffreyC]

I can't believe no one has mentioned the Eternity yet....so I'll say get an Eternity!

 

[Wesman61]

Lots of good ideas. As far as fuzzes I really have never gotten into them but I should give them another try. I got in on Bob Sweet's fuzz tourbox and was really impressed by 3 of them. Also I plan to get a compressor soon.

Funkycam, Classic Rock and SRV type blues, clean amp and I don't like to get carried away with the gain knob. OD's labeled as Medium gain are what I'm usually happy with.

SteveB, I haven't tried the AC or BB because they seem too aggressive on those vids.

Last Nerve, I'd love to but outta My price range.

re-animator, I guess that would be a Jetter GSB. Also a BM is on My list for down the road. Maybe I should move it up the list.

Blue Apple, Haven't tried v.3 I'll keep that in mind. Love My Brothers v.1

Hacker, I have a Peavey Hotfoot (Rat Clone) that I'll drag out.

Harryjmic, I have a MD but I find that the up setting doesn't have quite enough gain with a single coil and the TS setting is a little too compressed for My taste. Maybe that's how OD works but I'm looking for a miracle.

JeffreyC, I know that's the answer but I sold My last two (both were V4 '05 specs)

 

[teleblaster]

You need to hook up with a fuzz. The best ive had with single coil pickups would be a DAM mk11. The one iam totaly into these days is the lovepedal woodrow. it seems the woody is some sort of controled fuzz but with a tighter bottom than the MK11. I did try a few of them before finding the one i have now. I found that adjusting my pickups to the woodrow helped alot as far as cleanup with the volume knob.

 

[D.G.]

the best bridge single coil I've worked with is the Fralin SP43. It sings with the best of 'em and isn't picky about pedals, either.

dave

+1 !!!!