Let’s Talk About Fender Strats [Sounds, Bridge Setup, Pickups & More] – That Pedal Show
Mick loves Strats more than life itself. So let’s get him talking about tones, setup, bridges and much more besides!
Life too short for long YouTube videos? Please see the ‘Interesting bits and go-to sections’ information below.
Welcome to the show! Goodness this is a long one. I LOVE Fender Strats and I can talk about them quite literally for days. In this video Dan makes the mistake of asking me about them and the absolutely inevitable occurs – a really long and in-depth video. Ha!
Do be aware though that this is all just personal experience and opinion. After 30+ years of playing them – and playing pretty much all of them in terms of spec – I’m not massively interested in powerful pickups, two-point bridges, flat fingerboards, noiseless… in fact pretty much nothing, spec wise, after about 1968. I like the traditional designs so that’s my reference point.
Please enjoy the episode!
Want a Strat?
Here are the Five Strats I’d Buy to suit all budgets… (all come in maple neck variants too)
• Squier Classic Vibe ’60s Stratocaster
UK: https://bit.ly/359worZ
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/b3kWLM
• Fender Vintera Road Word ’60s Stratocaster
UK: https://bit.ly/3gpblqK
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/WDOxbe
• Fender American Original ’60s Stratocaster
UK: https://bit.ly/2RKce4J
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/zaz6WG
• Fender Custom Shop 1959 Time Machine Heavy Relic Stratocaster
UK: https://bit.ly/3gjIvaY
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/ZdVP2z
• Fender Custom Shop Michael Landau Signature 1963 Stratocaster
UK: https://bit.ly/3viQH0B
USA: https://imp.i114863.net/oeNjAW
Pedals & stuff in this episode…
Signal order for the board:
Tweedy, Argo, OD9, D&M Drive, split…
Harmonious Monk, then Vent, both to Two-Rock only
Delay and reverb stereo to both amps
(All the drive pedals hit both amps)
TheGigRig G3 Atom takes care of all signal routing, splits wet/dry/parallel and stereo
Tweedy and Argo are outside of G3, before loop 1. TS808 is loop 1, D&M Drive is loop 2, Monk in 3, Vent in 4, delay in 5, reverb in 6. Switch numbers are +1. Confusing huh?!
• Schmidt Array SA525 pedalboard
https://www.schmidtarray.com/sa525
• Boss TU-3S Tuner
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2TN8y1i
Australia: https://bit.ly/3uOTfUf
USA: https://bit.ly/3rcyZO7
• Dan Drive Tweedy 5E8-A
Find Dan on Facebook and Instagram
• Mythos Argo
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2UT0EVw
Australia: https://bit.ly/3qt3Y4s
USA: https://bit.ly/3rNY81N
• Maxon OD9 Analgman Mod with Bad Bob Boost
https://www.buyanalogman.com/Maxon_OD_9_808_Mods_p/am-maxon-od-9-mods.htm
• Keeley D&M Drive
UK & Europe: http://bit.ly/2oTblU1
Australia: http://bit.ly/2pUDUAE
USA: https://bit.ly/3E2Eqmw
• JAM Pedals Harmonious Monk
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3pEkgHC
Australia:https://bit.ly/3rJBJAb
USA: https://bit.ly/3p4En2Z
• Neo Instruments Mini Vent II
UK & Europe: Try the Micro Vent too, http://bit.ly/3es67v0
Australia: http://bit.ly/38l8KYS
• Free The Tone Future Factory FF-1Y RF Phase Modulated Delay
UK & Europe: https://bit.ly/3oFVZ4j
• Chase Bliss Audio CXM1978
Australia: https://bit.ly/37R8McD
• TheGigRig G3 Atom
https://www.thegigrig.com/g3-atom
* Why do we have preferred retailer links? Find out here: http://www.thatpedalshow.com/partners
Interesting bits and go-to sections…
0:00 Intro playing
2:21 What are we doing today?
4:45 Strats in Mick’s world: rosewood
5:50 Are all the guitar heroes Strat players?
8:35 Strats Sound Weedy, Don’t They?
9:15 Today’s amps
10:10 Adding mids with an OD pedal
12:35 Tube Screamer sounds
14:25: …and more with D&M Drive
16:00 Positions 2 & 4
18:15 Tone control on the bridge pickup
25:45 What about volume?
28:30 Dan, Dynamics & John Mayer Strat
35:15 Single coil and JB humbucker compared
39:15 Humbucker and P90 compared
42:20 Bridges & tremolos
45:20 Bridge problems
49:15 String bending vs floating bridge
52:40 More springs, trem on body
54:27 The springs have reverb
57:04 Mick’s fave bridge setup
1:00:40 Saddles?
1:05:20 RWRP?
1:15:00 Neck pickup fun
1:26:50 You can’t bend on a vintage radius
Guitars in this episode:
• Fender American Vintage ’62 Stratocaster – Mick’s vid at: https://youtu.be/5sQUvWHXz74
• Fender American Vintage ’59 Stratocaster – no specific video yet
• Fender John Mayer Signature Stratocaster – no specific video yet
• Fender EOB Stratocaster – Dan’s video at https://youtu.be/FEVMt85GWUc
• Karl Longbottom S-Style – find Karl on Instagram
Amps in this episode
• Two-Rock Custom Reverb Signature 100/50 with 212 cab / TR1265B speakers
Marshall 1987x and Zilla Custom 212 cab with Celestion Alnico Ruby speakers
• We hope you enjoy this episode. Please subscribe to our channel.
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Please visit our preferred retailers!
UK & Europe: Andertons Music http://bit.ly/2cRvIvt
Australia: Pedal Empire http://bit.ly/2mWmJQf
USA: That Pedal Shop https://bit.ly/3nUVJQF
#Lets #Talk #Fender #Strats #Sounds #Bridge #Setup #Pickups #Pedal #Show
Originally posted by UCnUXq8mGmoHt0e6ItuTs10w at https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-ndkUzSGKNA
Scrolling through comments and looking for shout outs for the most articulate, innovative and respected Strat player of all time; Jeff Beck.
Listening to mick talk about some of the greats tuning down to Eb, brings to mind two thoughts. One, that must commit other members of the band to play in Flat keys (IE a B3 player or Fender Rhodes have a little more of a chore to go through). Two, what about that tuned down player who may have an invitation to play on a night final jam session with a group that is made up with players from several bands who were on a night's Bill? Does he quickly go to concert pitch or stay on his coarse, headstrong, disallowing any visuals for those unfamiliar with what he might contribute to the jam?
Kinda sorta an elitist attitude, kinda sorta wouldn't you agree.
That being said, if you're among the best in the world, keep up or get out of the way, is true as well.
Been a big fan of your shows for years fellas. As Always Good Job.
Rory!
Life is too busy. I really wish I had watched this 20 years ago?
How do I approach a FENDER-Strat? I am sure that it has to be modified to sound REALLY good.
I think one important reason so many people play a Strat is that they’re much more robust than Les Pauls. You can easily replace the neck if it breaks, which is crucial when you're touring and gigging in places where beer mugs are flying around. 😉
I can toss my Strat in the trunk, throw the amp and my drummer's kit on top of it, and it’s fine. Beer cans explode and spill over the Strat? Who cares—rock 'n' roll.
My Les Paul, on the other hand… I put it in a case, wrap it in some pillows, add another layer of bubble wrap, buckle it up, and drive slowly to avoid bumpy roads. 😉
SOME TREMS HAD A SPRING THAT WENT IN TREM ARM HOLE THEN SCREW IM ARM
I'm sorry but i have to add Jimmy Page defiantly had a Lake Placid blue rosewood board strat
Pick up hight
The king tone switch is also brilliant for the bridge in the Strat
I prefer the single coil on the bridge of a strat. It cuts through the mix a lot easier, and once you've gotten past the learning curve, it can be utilized in so many different ways.
Writing this in 2024, it's 7 decades since the arrived in shops, probably to stunned dealers and customers alike. I just brought home an AV II 61. It follows closely to the original design save for a tone control for the bridge yet it still feels modern. I have owned other vintage style Strats and I believe they benifit from having the middle tone control moved to the bridge. Overall a better balance and allows for a more effective middle pickup sound and allows for a more flexible bridge tone.
Could tell you a story about dropping , but I nobody
The guys "discover" QUACK…. really?
Easily as many famous Gibson players as Strat players probably a lot more.
Jeff Beck! David Gilmour! Mark Knopfler!
I know I commented a year ago, but this is still the best channel into jam ever! It gets me in the feels every time, lol! Thanks again for the inspiration Mick. ????
What attracted me to the Strat was its singing quality, even just borrowing one from my cousin and trying it out. It has a very vocal quality, I feel, it's hard to describe but you get a lot of it in this video, so thanks very much for that.
Absolute dire strats ,boom boom
Absolute dire straits
Jeff Beck
i have a sonic strat. l love the neck pick-up with a tube screamer. i can play that all day
Nile Rogers
John Squire on the first album
Dick Dale
Beautiful Stratocaster!
I and many people I know hate playing Strats, they sound great and I love it. The placement of the volume knob for me is right in the way. I prefer archtops, far more comfortable to play, The Strat does sound great though. I have 3 Telecasters, had Strat's but sold them, Had a Burns for a while also sounded great, but again volume knob in the way. I suppose they are great if they are what you start on.
So good…would love to hear more of Dan's EOB with those tasteful licks.
may I add that all my guitars are in Eb since quite a few years now..cause I mainly play strats and feel that the half step down is the sweet spot tuning for strats. Also 11's, but I'm flirting on the idea of stepping down for 10's for a more extra slinky feel a la Hendrix.. I think he had something going on there (I know he used a custom guitar strings gauge set), but for those big vibratos primarily and to an extent bending without working to hard and contradict the tendency of hitting the strings too hard. Albert king definitely used the slinky feel of his tunning and the shorter scale. The tone would change a bit probably.
I love your in-depth Strat journey with Blue. Upon your influence, I installed a Callaham Bridge on my 60's Vintera II and it has been a game changer. I also have a Lincoln Brewster Signature and will put the Callaham Block on it. Any tips for getting the Nitro neck to feel less sticky. Is 0000 steel wool the best option?
Awesome episode. Thank you for this. I learned a lot! My 2 cents about vintage strats is that it’s a pain to adjust its truss rods. It’s kind of a deal breaker for me.
too.many.pedals
Nice work guy's..????????
Lotsa pedals and gear…. a wee shallow in the I can justify the purchase or sound but still sounds Blah (fingers lackin maybe idk but vintage is stressed as better when it not…….,.
My first "real" guitar was an 83 strat. Paid $350 for it new. I was 14 years old. Im 55 now and playing my brand new American pro ll strat. It's the 4th American strat i have owned besides the 2 or 3 or more, foreign made strats i have owned. The thing is that the strat is the most popular and easiest to find guitar style in existence. In 84, when I got my first one. It was very accessible and affordable as an American made professional level guitar. The few Gibson guitars on the wall were easily twice the price or more. So, for me, the strat was accessible and affordable besides being desirable and iconic. Even in 1984, it was well established as an iconic design.
What do you guys think of the Robert Cray signature strat with the hardtail bridge?