I Think I’ve Turned Into a “Strat Guy”

[supersoldier71]

I’ve been a Les Paul guy, a SuperStrat guy, a PRS guy, and I have good examples of each, but my current favorite is my MIM Ed O’Brien Strat.

I thought I’d have to work around the fat neck, but I don’t even notice it now. I do notice that some of my other guitars have thin necks though. I’d worried that with the kooky electronics from the Sustainer, it wouldn’t sound like a Strat. Not a problem. It sounds like an HSS Strat, but positions 2-4 are all Strat.

Live, I prefer it, over my PRS Standard 24 mostly because of the Sustainer. I’ve gotten a fair bit of use out of that thing. The PRS has DiMarzios, and to my ears and hands, it kind of works like a 70s SG, but with a working vibrato system.

The Strat though. I’d dig it even without the Sustainer.

This is the fifth Strat I’ve owned, and currently my only Strat. Oddly enough, it’s enough of an oddball, and fat necks aren’t that common (Fender 10/56, for the record), so I’m not really looking for another.

To sum: my keeper Strat is a fat necked, vintage inspired Artist Series Strat with goofy electronics for an artist I don’t dig.

Go figure.


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[peskypesky]

Strats are my faves.
Got a bunch of them.

[nomadh]

Was a strat guy for 25 years. Last 5 almost all gibson. Last night was playing the stock sx ltd clean. Really digging it. Today doing higher gain so back to a gibson lp cm. I've got 4 strats so I'm keeping my options open

[dabbler]

Was a strat guy for 25 years. Last 5 almost all gibson. Last night was playing the stock sx ltd clean. Really digging it. Today doing higher gain so back to a gibson lp cm. I've got 4 strats so I'm keeping my options open

Original LTD, or LTD II?

[golem]

I too found myself coming around to s styles again. They're so easy to find good deals on used and you can easily mod them to have numerous pickup configurations due to the pickguard.

[Milkman]

[mention]supersoldier71[/mention] , There is no evidence that you Even have such a Strat. Pics please!

[JeffBeck]

My opinion changes from day to day, but it's generally one of these:

SG>Strat>everything else
or
Strat>SG>everything else

[Rollin Hand]

Strats are perfect modular guitars. Neck problems? Replace the neck. Don't like the pickguard? Replace it. Need humbuckers? Put them in. They play great sitting down or standing. You don't have to worry about scratching the finish with a pick. They are just so practical yet capable, and you can make it yours. What's not to like?

[dabbler]

It's OK to be polyguitous. I have a little bit of everything but I agree wholeheartedly with @Rollin Hand, strats are comfy, versatile and easy to repair and mod. About the only thing I think Leo missed was not giving them a metal plate for the controls like on a Jazz bass.

I have no Fenders, closest is my Squier, but I do have a few strat-styled guitars.

Which is a testament to their simplicity. If the parts are there, and assembled well, they just work... no matter WHO's name is in the headstock!

[nomadh]

Was a strat guy for 25 years. Last 5 almost all gibson. Last night was playing the stock sx ltd clean. Really digging it. Today doing higher gain so back to a gibson lp cm. I've got 4 strats so I'm keeping my options open

Original LTD, or LTD II?

Maybe the 2. I don't know of one after mine and I wasnt around here much bere I got mine. Dont remember a number on it. Its ash body, radioactive orange with a crazy flamey neck

[dabbler]

Was a strat guy for 25 years. Last 5 almost all gibson. Last night was playing the stock sx ltd clean. Really digging it. Today doing higher gain so back to a gibson lp cm. I've got 4 strats so I'm keeping my options open

Original LTD, or LTD II?

Maybe the 2. I don't know of one after mine and I wasnt around here much bere I got mine. Dont remember a number on it. Its ash body, radioactive orange with a crazy flamey neck

Yeah, sounds like my II. Defining characteristic would be the headstock. The II headstock would be the pointy one. Like the one in my signature pic.

[Cyphre]

I’ve never really liked Strats...
I found it’s looks unappealing.
Then again, at one time I didn’t like Jaguars, Jazzmasters or Mustangs… and now I own all three.
I also find it impossible to ignore that the majority of great guitarists either use a Strat primarily or have a Strat in their regular rotation.
....

[supersoldier71]

Pics or it didn’t happen: it happened!

Almost all my favorite guitarists play, and most are known for, Stratocasters. Most of my favorite tones are humbuckers.

Probably how I ended up with PRS.

My PRS Standard 24 is still my number two—maybe my favorite guitar to play for practice (I’m talkin’ ‘bout practice!), noodling or jamming, because it’s light, satin finish feels good in the hands and sounds great with the new pickups.

But the Strat is also comfortable, the Well-Hung strap makes the weight manageable, and it makes Strat sounds. And it’s got that Sustainer trick.

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[nomadh]

Original LTD, or LTD II?

Maybe the 2. I don't know of one after mine and I wasnt around here much bere I got mine. Dont remember a number on it. Its ash body, radioactive orange with a crazy flamey neck

Yeah, sounds like my II. Defining characteristic would be the headstock. The II headstock would be the pointy one. Like the one in my signature pic.

Thats the one. I think $200 on closeout with a case. I was blown away by the looks and thought I got the pick of the litter. Then others posted thiers and mine was just average. Just crazy the beautiful wood in that series. And Kurt had to do a closeout sale to get rid of them?

[dabbler]

Maybe the 2. I don't know of one after mine and I wasnt around here much bere I got mine. Dont remember a number on it. Its ash body, radioactive orange with a crazy flamey neck

Yeah, sounds like my II. Defining characteristic would be the headstock. The II headstock would be the pointy one. Like the one in my signature pic.

Thats the one. I think $200 on closeout with a case. I was blown away by the looks and thought I got the pick of the litter. Then others posted thiers and mine was just average. Just crazy the beautiful wood in that series. And Kurt had to do a closeout sale to get rid of them?

Oh yeah, it was 199.99 plus tax. I think some folks didn't like the headstock. I bought 2 and swapped the neck out of the second one to make this:

[TVvoodoo]

Strat guy, most of us are ok with. But one guy to never be is...

[DonM]

My guitar teacher swore by them. I have one and really like it. Has a slender neck though, but is extremely playable. And...one of the “three pickup guitars” where the middle pickup doesn’t get in my way.

[supersoldier71]

My guitar teacher swore by them. I have one and really like it. Has a slender neck though, but is extremely playable. And...one of the “three pickup guitars” where the middle pickup doesn’t get in my way.

I lower the middle pickup so the bass side is flush with the guard and never gets in my way. I find this makes positions 2-4 all sound better too.

My last long term Strat was a heavily modded MIM Standard with a Duncan Classic Stack Plus set of pickups. I spent almost all my time on the neck pickup for that one.

These days, I’m mostly neck and middle, but, and this is new for me, all positions get some use. Given the fact that the Sustainer pickup is the neck pickup, I’m kinda surprised I like it for what it is. Of course, that’s the whole point of the guitar, so if it sounded like crap, replacing it isn’t really an option.


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[peskypesky]

I also find it impossible to ignore that the majority of great guitarists either use a Strat primarily or have a Strat in their regular rotation.
....

it's odd that my favorite electric guitarist of all time, Steve Howe, rarely used a Strat.

And then there' Steve Hackett. Never used a Strat.
Robert Fripp. No Strat.
John McLaughlin. No Strat.
Keith Richards. No Strat.


And those are some of my all time faves. Weird.

Then again, there's Hendrix, SRV, Jeff Beck, EVH (SuperStrat), Dick Dale, Dave Gilmore, Terje Rypdal and a bunch of others...

[Partscaster]

[peskypesky]

I have a Strat that looks just like this. Unfortunately, don't have the lady who is holding it.

[glasshand]

I really like the ergonomic feel of Strats, for the most part, but I've never quite grooved on the single-coil sound. That said, my G&L Comanche has the Strat feel and a really wide range of sounds. I have semi-seriously considered making myself a mahogany, 24.75" scale, hardtail, dual-humbucker "Strat" sometimes...

Followup: it occurs to me that maybe I want a Toronado. Poplar, not maple, but other than that the specs match..

[Partscaster]

For now, my favorite strat pickups are single coils with low-medium winds ranging from about 5.5-6.7. Very much preferring a scatterwound coil (I imagine this can vary a lot between winders personal technique) vs neat machine guided windings. It seems to me that scatterwound can help retain more openness into the hotter windings I've tried.

I am liking formvar, better than enamel. Its got a bit of a flavor to it, whereas enamel seems cleaner. Not that I could tell them apart blindfolded, but there seems to be a difference. And liking weaker A5 for all 3 positions, to help keep any shrillness down, and/or A3 with larger diameter pole pieces ( .195" ?) for bridge.

Am finding big clearer separation of strings. Plenty bright, nothing shrill in highs, with good mids and plenty of tight lows. I want as much 3-D string openness as I can find while retaining the mids and lows. With cranked guitar and lower wattage amps (8-15w) not even dimed, I am still able to get edge of breakup sounds with lots of clarity and string attack responsiveness.

[Spike]

Once I eliminated/moved that Ill-placed top volume knob, I actually love playing strats now. I just can’t bond with that top knob right where I anchor my picking hand.

[jhull54]

For now, my favorite strat pickups are single coils with low-medium winds ranging from about 5.5-6.7. Very much preferring a scatterwound coil (I imagine this can vary a lot between winders personal technique) vs neat machine guided windings.

Am finding big clearer separation of strings. Plenty bright, nothing shrill in highs, with good mids and plenty of tight lows. I want as much 3-D string openness as I can find while retaining the mids and lows. With cranked guitar and lower wattage amps (8-15w) not even dimed, I am still able to get edge of breakup sounds with lots of clarity and string attack responsiveness.

This is almost exactly the setup/pickup specs I have in my strat. Pups are wound in the 6-6.5 range, and scatterwound. Love the sound I get from these pickups. Turned a cheap strat into a hell of a great sounding player. My brother loaned me his MIM Fender to play, and while it sounds great as well, I prefer the sound of these pickups.

The other thing I find indispensable now is wiring the bridge pickup to the tone pot, and turning the middle tone into a blender pot. I like having a master tone, and it really gives the guitar more flexibility on the bridge.