Cool song and a great helping in hearing what the TS sound like. What type amp where you using on this track? I think amps are just as important to overall sound as either guitar or pick up. To my blown out ears Samurai's clip sounds cleaner and more articulate. I wonder if the difference is the guitar and setup, or the recording mix? So many variables, no wonder just one guitar won't do.

That was done with my older Fender HR Deville before I ever tried playing surf. I was driving it with a tube screamer. For rock based music the TS makes a good single coil edgy pup.

I own 3 strats which is not enough. I could use one or two more. Everyone needs more strats!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

Last edited: Nov 18, 2014 16:50:42

stratdancer wrote:

I took a bunch of strats off the wall lately and the fat 50 really stood out. Unfortunately they don't sell them as a single bridge. Rich, warm tone with a fat bottom. Very clean as compared to the TS.

I will summon Vader & we will use the Force and locate one.

I can't wait till you guys get enough together for a CD; it's been pretty neat to watch. OK, now back to the Texas Special programming.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

The TS is a middy pickup, a little hot but not enough to notice IMHO. It's not "classic Strat" IMHO, it's that aggressive angry with lots of personality SRV based sound. It also sounds a little Dick Dale though. The "ultimate" badass hot and mean Strat pickup I've ever heard is a Fralin SP43. If I were a 'rockstar' and could get away with an amp turned up to 7, All I would need is a set of those and a cord! If SRV were alive, I'm sure they are what he'd be using because plugged into a Super Reverb, they just scream "I'm the baddest guitarslinger that ever lived".

Truth be told, almost ANY strat sized/shaped pickup can sound good... the trick is height. The #1 tone tool in all of guitardom is the pickup height screw.

Badger wrote:

I will summon Vader & we will use the Force and locate one.

I can't wait till you guys get enough together for a CD; it's been pretty neat to watch. OK, now back to the Texas Special programming.

Thanks for the kind words Wes. I actually have another song cued up to finish recording. It's a slow one with a beautiful melody. We played it Sat and the crowd loved it as it came at a point when everyone needed a little break. I previewed it in my surfy bear fetverb review where I explained the kit and the build. Can't wait to finish the song and the CD!

The Kahuna Kings

https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Kahuna-Kings/459752090818447

https://thekahunakings.bandcamp.com/releases

stratdancer wrote:

Badger wrote:

I think you & Hammond101 both had mentioned to me (in case I didn't like the bridge on my 57/62 set) that the FAT50 was a great substitute in that position. If I ever get around to tweaking that it'll be the one I go to; I share your assessment of its character. (2nd tone pot on mine is wired to the bridge pup & I do sometimes roll it off just a tiny bit.) What a journey this is sometimes.

I took a bunch of strats off the wall lately and the fat 50 really stood out. Unfortunately they don't sell them as a single bridge. Rich, warm tone with a fat bottom. Very clean as compared to the TS.

You are owed at least a follow-up post. I got a single bridge FAT 50 into the house & put it on today (after moving a boatload of snow so the Admiral could get back in the driveway when she returned). Here's my impression:

1. I really love the 57/62's and they stayed in their neck & middle positions; I particularly love the middle pickup. I think they're one of the most honest "Strat" pickups around and not costly at all. But being electrically equal, the bridge is a tiny bit thin for me and I just wanted a little bit of oomph from it - not much, just a tiny something more.

2. The FAT50 really filled the bill. It is exactly that tiny extra bit of "something" that I was looking for. It's not a big gain pickup, it's not "hot" or anything like that, which can get muddy as Dodge City after a heavy rain.

It's kinda like I had this really wonderfully lean piece of deer or elk on the stove (the 57/62) and still wanted something else without it being slathered in fat. The FAT50 is that little strip of wrapped bacon that makes the whole thing work. Really articulate (as was the 57/62) and it can ride down where the other one was so, in terms of pickup height, the strings & guitar remain very happy.

If someone had the opportunity to load up a pickguard they could do alot worse than 57/62's neck & middle and a FAT50 to help the bridge just a touch. Nothing dominates; just that little something.

Happy feet.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

Last edited: Nov 24, 2014 20:32:42

stratdancer wrote:

How did you happen to have a F50 bridge laying around?

The pup was available from Sam Ash; they had a few classed as "open boxes" & discounted briefly so I snagged one. It had never been mounted; took hell's own expedition to get through the screw holes, but that's a good thing.

I'll be your enabler in the GA thread.

Now I should do the opposite & unload some stuff. I've got a set of hot DiMarzio PAFs, a set of SD Alnico-II Pro's in a mint-green strat pickguard w/super-switch, and this solo 57/62 - maybe take 'em over to the favorite dopehouse & unload some things. I need to get the filter caps on my Champ done.

Thanks again (and to Hammond if he reads this) RE the F50's.

Wes
SoCal ex-pat with a snow shovel

DISCLAIMER: The above is opinion/suggestion only & should not be used for mission planning/navigation, tweaking of instruments, beverage selection, or wardrobe choices.

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Samurai wrote:

SixStringSurfer wrote:

I've got Texas Specials on my American Special Strat, and couldn't be happier with the surf sound. I have found the perfect amp on GarageBand, it really has a surfy vibe to it. To each their own I guess, but I am very happy with my Strat sound!

What amp do you use on GarageBand? Mac or iOS?

iPad, the amp is under clean combo, all the way to the left. It's kind of a tan/brown/gold color, right next to a traditional silver/black colored Fender amp.

I love this amp, turn the reverb up to 10, and the "depth" up to around 4 or 5 with the speed at 6 or 7, and you've got yourself a great surf sound, my friend.

Thanks for info - tried it but still love the surfy amps from Jamup better
However this one with your tunings surely the best one in Garageband!

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Hi Samurai, could you tell me a little more about Jamup, please? I am willing to try it if you say it has a good surf sound.

Sure - what are you interested in? Generally its a row of amps and effects (the best I've seen on iOS, and tried many if them) plus some nice features as sampler, jam section where you may upload some tracks and jam along with speed and pitch adjustable, recorder and some other usefell stuff. On a black friday I bought a fresh pack of vintage and classic amps and effects and pretty happy playing with them)

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

SixStringSurfer wrote:

Sweet, thanks man.

I just like their emulations of amps better than Garageband ones plus there are much more amps and effects and they keep adding new ones. And they've got reverb tank, it's not real but better than nothing))))

Waikiki Makaki surf-rock band from Ukraine

https://linktr.ee/waikikimakaki

Lost Diver

https://lostdiver.bandcamp.com
https://soundcloud.com/vitaly-yakushin

Last edited: Dec 09, 2014 03:32:26