that strat sound---made in Mexico?
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Posted on Oct 17, 2007 05:44 pm
mike willey
mwaynew
Member Since: Dec 04, 2004
I bought a cheaper strat hoping to gain vintage sound with added pickups. Found out, after the fact, that cheaper meant 'made in Mexico'. Can I still gain stellar strat characteristics with the purchase of the right pickups? If so please suggest a set or two. The strat in question is the 400.00+ model. Thanks!
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TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 17, 2007 05:47 pm The MIM Fenders are fine instruments. They actually have pretty good classic Strat sound right out of the box. They're just a little noisy by nature, but nothing a bit of shielding can't fix.
What kind of music do you play? Lots of distortion? Mostly clean? A little crunch? Different pickups for different jobs.
But honestly just listen to the instrument and see if you think anything needs to be changed before jumping into another purchase.
Oct 17, 2007 08:49 pm Thanks for the reply. I'm in need of that unmistakeable 'bluesy, hollow twang'. I'm currently in the middle of covering some John Mayer blues. Distortion friendly, but generally clean w/very little crunch. I've tried amp and cabinet simulations, and effects, of course. My brother says to get some 'good' pickups. Thanks again for your input. Most appreciated.
Oct 17, 2007 09:24 pm I'm with Tad here...the MIM Fenders are faithful representations of their American counterparts. See what you can do with it before you worry about changing anything.
I feel that the MIM pickups are "good".
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 17, 2007 10:01 pm I will third the fact you might want to simply try re doing the shielding and such first.
Failing that then yes there are pick up sets that will get a little better sound. IF I am not mistaken Mayer uses a set up very similar to Clapton as far as the pick up's go. DiMarzio at one time had a pretty good set for the strat that were pretty hot, but easily would go clean without a lot of noise.
You might also look at the SRV set up as well. Very hot but also cleans up nicely.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 17, 2007 11:08 pm Bill Lawerence pickups seem to be popular for Strats as well. I recently found out that there are acutally 2 Bill Lawerence pickup makers, and there's apparently some sort of feud going on between them. I can't remember which Bill is the supposed "better' pickup.
Oct 18, 2007 01:37 am i believe my strat is a korean or japstrat. the squiers, you know. whichever one i have (no pickguards) they're great. really solid compared to the other squiers i've seen around. i swear by these guitars
i threw some new pickups on and the thing sounds very good to me. yeah, you can make yours sound good. just go get some pickups. there's a whole huge thread about this on HRC somewhere where everyone was helping me. lots of people mentioned specific pickups, including twangy and bluesy ones. here is it:
www.homerecordingconnecti...=9652&frm=2
Oct 18, 2007 07:39 am The only issues I have seen in the cheaper guitar (strat or otherwise) such as mexican guitars is that the stock pickups you can see the poles start to corrode and crap whereas better ones don't...That's the obvious visible cheapness showing.
Oct 18, 2007 08:58 am set your pickup setting to the neck and the middle single coil (second 'click' from the left) for that 'bluesy hollow twang'....the 'hollowness' is due to the phasing issues from the pickups 'hearing' the strings from two different places...
mexican strats are fine for this....my bud has one, and it's got it. infact the mexican ones are quite nice compared to the Chinese ones.
Oct 18, 2007 09:06 am No disrespect meant towards our nieghbors to the south, it's just that with eyes closed, you wouldn't know you were playing anything near a Strat. That's how serious my need is. I love the look and feel - definitely Strat (Standard Satin). I've read reviews on some of the more available pickups. I'm reading about some huge improvements. Anything I should know about installation?
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Oct 18, 2007 10:22 am The chap from Los Lonely Boys uses MIM Strats. Also, the guitar player from my friend's band won't play anything else for some reason. They are pretty good guitars. The ones I've played were much nicer than the Highway 1 versions. You're never going to get amazing pickups on any of these lower end guitars.
Take a look at Seymour Duncan's website, they have a configurator where you plug in the details of the guitar (fingerboard, body etc.) and style of music and it will recommend pickups to try (and you can hear a sample). Very well made PUs and they sound incredible.
Fender also make a set of '59 style PUs that sound great.
Oct 18, 2007 10:24 am what kind of amp are you using?
and if the answer is a digital modeler then i'd say that's where you're problem is....if not can ya give me an example of the sound you're looking for?
shepherdsampatron saint of quality footwearMember
Since: May 30, 2002
Oct 18, 2007 10:26 am Just to add my 2ยข, I've had my Mexican Strat a little over 10 years and I play it more often than any of my other more expensive guitars.
I have no complaints about mine whatsoever.
Oct 18, 2007 10:34 am i'm not sure i can hear a difference between the mexican and the american modern stock versions....i've never tried or have been able to a/b them....but from what i can tell (i'm familiar with 2 mexicans, and 4 or 5 american strats, and they ALL have "that strat sound" sometimes i wonder why they even bother to put a bridge pickup on any of 'em! hehe....
Oct 18, 2007 06:09 pm Ok whosyourdaddy- I confess- it's digital modelling.
Noize2uCzar of MidiAdministrator
Since: Apr 04, 2002
Oct 18, 2007 09:13 pm Ok Mike, if that is the case then pick the best patch for that guitar and then tweak a little until you find that it is not the patch that is doing it.
I am a PODxt and UX-2 user so I am all to familiar with the way they react with different pick ups. I have the same sounding patch for different guitars, but their settings are completely different. That is because of the pick ups in the guitars.
So give that shot before you trot out and spend money you might not have to.
Not that I'm against new pick ups mind you.
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 19, 2007 10:49 am Hell, if you're after vintage sound, then buy a good tube amp and ditch the modeller! That's going to do way more towards getting you a good vintage sound than new pickups.
TallChapAnswer:On a good day, lipstick.Member
Since: Jun 24, 2004
Oct 19, 2007 12:20 pm Tad's right. I bought a little 5w Epiphone tube amp. Nothing between the Strat and amp but a cord. Sounds so vintage.
Just can't make the same sounds with a modeler.
Oct 19, 2007 02:00 pm Thanks for the input guys. Options are good. Last night I plugged directly into my Fostex 16 trk and I heard a strat. Imagine that. Think I'll give a tube amp a go. Thanks again! MW
TadpuiI am not a crook's headMember
Since: Mar 14, 2003
Oct 19, 2007 03:03 pm Hey, and it just so happens that I have a whole boatload of highly opinionated things to share about tube amps as well, so let us know if you want any advice about shopping for your first one :-D
Oct 19, 2007 08:15 pm The Epiphone Valve Jr.? The Fender Champion 600? Small tubes in the 120.00 to 200.00 range? Yeah, give me some opinions!
