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- I like the easstethics of a strat, but I've always wondered why
they angled the bridge pup like that, and not the other way round. I
suspect it would make the overal output the pridge pup better, a tad
mellower on the treble side, more punch on the bass-side.
- as for the tonestack of two-tone-knob fender amps, they do have a
three stage tone control, it's just that the mid knob is a fixed
resistor instead of a pot. I don't know enough about electronics to
say at what 'number' it is fixed, but my estimate is at a rather high
setting. anyway, if you have a non-collectible amp you don't mind
fooling around with, you could try a different resiter value there,
or even build in a pot to have a true mid. if you only use one
channel, you could rewire to one of the other channel's pots, as a
completly reversible mod, just for the experiment. I plan to to try
it, but i probably won't get to it till after my retirement (which
will be another 33 years or so ;-) )
WR
--- In , "ipongrac" <ipongrac@g...>
wrote:
> --- In , "supertwangreverb"
> <supertwangreverb@y...> wrote:
> > How is the pickup height? Even if the bridge pickup is too high,
> or
> > the neck pickup is too low, I know that the Strat's bridge pickup
> > really does cut through.
>
> Good point. It's good to adjust the bridge pickup a bit lower than
> the other two pickups.
>
> > I have limited access to Stratocasters and the one that I do, I
> > don't really like, so maybe Ivan will speak up,
> > he is after all "the Stratocossack."
>
> You called? Actually, I've given up that nickname, though clearly,
> I'll still answer to it... Anyway, let me try to help. Basically,
> I think both of the amps that this gentleman owns are 'treble-like-
> ice-pick-in-the-ear' amps. Neither of them really sounds fat in
the
> way that vintage amps sound fat (or of course, my dear Dual
> Professional!). Part of it is in the speakers, I think (ceramic,
> non-alnico magnets in speakers tend to make the treble more
> piercing). Part of it in the circuitry. Not that they're bad
amps,
> but just not as good for surf as one would hope. Also, what kind
of
> pickups are on that Strat? The pickups better have alnico magnets,
> or it'll be trouble.
>
> My tonal recipe for a good sounding surf Strat is, a Strat with a
> rosewood fingerboard (mellows out the highs), alnico V pickups, and
> a vintage bridge (newer 2-point bridges sound thinner); strung with
> heavy (fatter the strings, fatter the tone) nickel (stainless steel
> strings are too bright) strings - I prefer Rotosound Purples 12-52;
> reverb unit with tone set around 5-6; handwired Fender amp (whether
> vintage or newer) with good warm tubes - I suggest JJ tubes - with
> alnico speakers - either 12" or 15". I keep my Dual Pro set in the
> following way: Volume 5-9 (depending on how aggressive I'm
feeling);
> Bass: 8, Treble: 4-5, Mid: 4. The rest is up to your playing
> style. I'd say that even with the best gear the Strat's bridge
> pickup has a tendency to be very piercing, but if you have all the
> above stuff, you can use that power on the occasions when it suits
> it. It's clear that the Stratocaster masters like Dick Dale or the
> Atlantics are constantly switching pickups, and playing some songs
> on the bridge, others songs on the middle, neck, or some
> combination. If you were to play the whole gig with a Strat on the
> bridge pickup (I've done it a few times before!), I'd say the
people
> would find it a somewhat unpleasant experience. Currently I'm
> constantly switching between the bridge and middle pickup, only
> using the neck pickup on occasion.
>
> BTW, you can certainly get good tones with the equipment that you
> have, but probably not using the bridge pickup. Or I should be
more
> precise, you won't get the powerful Dick-Dale-like bridge pickup
> attack with that gear. But you can probably get some cool Aqua-
> Velvets-like Strat-on-bridge-pickup tones - as long as you pick
with
> more finnesse and go for the melody rather than power.
>
> Hope that helps.
> Ivan
>
> PS I don't think any surf guitar players used the Bassman back in
> the day - not that I'm aware of. Please correct me if I'm wrong.
> But the amps of choice were really only the Showman and the
> Bandmaster - the Bassman was actually used by the bass players! If
> they weren't using a Showman themselves... And Bill was right that
> very few surf bands used combo amps, as well. I wonder why that is?
>
>
> > --- In , "atbrcr"
> <Sandmansrfgtar@a...>
> > wrote:
> > > Hi everyone. Need some help from ye surf music experts. I
> realize
> > this
> > > stuff is probaby top secret. But could you give me some advice
> as
> > to
> > > amp tone settings, and pickup seletions you people use to
> > > aquire "the"sound. My setup is a strat through a re issue
reverb
> > unit
> > > through a re issue twin reverb or a hot rod deville 4x10. One
of
> > the
> > > things I've noticed is when playing the bridge pickup, the tone
> is
> > way
> > > to thin without really turning down the treble, but then if I
do
> > so it
> > > limits pickup selection If I need to change in the middle of a
> > song.
> > > I've experimented with taking the reverb unit out of the chain
> and
> > it
> > > still doesn't make alot of difference. By the way I did change
> out
> > the
> > > 12ax7 in the reverb unit to a 12at7. No noticeable difference.
> And
> > one
> > > final note, did a lot of trad surf bands use bassman amps
> besides
> > the
> > > coveted dual showmans and twin reverbs. I have seen some
> pictures
> > of
> > > trad bands with guitarists plugged into a bassman. Thanks ahead
> of
> > time
> > > for all of your help!
