The Guitar clubhouse

[russianboy]

I suppose I'll join the club.

My instrument is a Fender Strat (Mexican) with a set of Texas specials and some aesthetic upgrades. My amp is a Peavey Valveking. Great amp for the money. Sparkling cleans, a good crunchy plexi-type distortion. Plus it is very versatile.

I'll swap out some parts in the amp of course. I have EH tubes and Ruby 6L6s, I'll chuck them for some tung-sols and a JJ or SED power section. Stock speakers will be swapped for Vintage 30 copies from warehouse speakers. New reverb tank would be nice too. Something with a twin reverb type tone would be great.

My guitar is great, but personally I'd like more than 21 frets, and the modern C is rather thin for me, a soft V or maybe a 59 roundback warmoth maple neck would fit the bill. But that is all just splitting hairs. A good set up is a good setup.

I haven't been playing particularly long, or received formal education of any sort. But my knowledge of music from the violin really helped me out. I practice like fuck, and all my neighbors say that I'm great. It seems that I am particularly lucky, my next door neighbor is a bassist, who doesn't care how loud I crank 100 watts of tubes. The guy across from me is this old drummer, and I tell you, he is a great guy. Always gave me great advice. Jamming with him and his relatives and friends (some of which were professionals) was great.

I'm only 14, but I play out like nobody's business.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

That's awesome, welcome to the club!

 

[Widjaja]

AABA format as you call it is the general structure of alot of songs especially with todays bands and todays attention spans.

Just listened to Metallica's new album.
I can hear alot of Iron Maiden influence in it.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

+1
"Walk" by Pantera is a perfect example of AABA

 

[Widjaja]

Welcome to the club Russianboy.
TBH I don't notice much difference between the Mexican and the US standard strat versions I have played, except for a crusty house paint brown vintage 58-59 strat which made the Mexican one sound awesome.

Not a big fan of Pantera as I used to be but the riff in this song works so well with what the song is about.
The riff has that certain 'attitude'.

 

[russianboy]

Oh yeah, I find the American's over-rated. I played the standard Mexican one, and tone wise, it just wasn't for me. The Texas Specials really sealed the deal.

The crusty paint sounds like an old nitro finish. I love nitro.

People think they are only for blues, but I disagree. They have a solid hard rock tone that are thick like 'bukers, but have the clear top-end of singles.

 

[PP Mguire]

Play more guitar, youll know the difference later on. Its deff there.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

Oh yeah, I find the American's over-rated

Who doesnt?

 

[zithe]

I kinda suck. I own a Fender Esquire. (Who doesn't?) Got no pictures.

Saving up for a Brian May replica guitar.
Love the tone! Would also like to build my own.

 

[FreedomEclipse]

I kinda suck. I own a Fender Esquire. (Who doesn't?)

I dont & I refuse to even if it was eric claptons own id auction it off & get something else

 

[PP Mguire]

I started with a purple Squire Strat. Did the job. If the body wasnt so crap on it id mod it out.

 

[Widjaja]

Oh yeah, I find the American's over-rated. I played the standard Mexican one, and tone wise, it just wasn't for me. The Texas Specials really sealed the deal.

The crusty paint sounds like an old nitro finish. I love nitro.

People think they are only for blues, but I disagree. They have a solid hard rock tone that are thick like 'bukers, but have the clear top-end of singles.

There are many bands who use Fender strats which are not blues.
Slash started out on a Fender Strat in Gn'R before he started using a Les Paul replica.

Kurt Cobain used a Fender Strat on stage, John Fruscante RHCP and lead guitarist from Pearl Jam.

As for the paint job on the vintage strat, was a errr. . . "custom" job.
This strat was very well used, and covered in chips, dent, and scratches so the owner took to it with a paint brush and some brown enamel house paint.

 

[russianboy]

There are many bands who use Fender strats which are not blues.
Slash started out on a Fender Strat in Gn'R before he started using a Les Paul replica.

Kurt Cobain used a Fender Strat on stage, John Fruscante RHCP and lead guitarist from Pearl Jam.

As for the paint job on the vintage strat, was a errr. . . "custom" job.
This strat was very well used, and covered in chips, dent, and scratches so the owner took to it with a paint brush and some brown enamel house paint.

I know how versatile strats are, I was referring to the Texas Special pickups.

BTW, what's wrong with an Esquire? It's a tele with one pickup. It was the first guitar that went into mass production, followed by the two pickup telecaster.

PP Mguire, I do realize the differance between a Mexican and an American strat. But to me, they are still over-rated. I don't like noiseless pickups, I have no need for locking tuners (stock tuners do the job just fine, mind you with 13 gauge strings.), and aside from the cosmetic differences and the straight-from-the-factory playability, US strats are identical to Mexicans (IMO, at least). There is nothing on a US strat that I can't put on my current strat.

I'm a tweaker, if I wanted perfect everything straight from the factory I would have bought a Gibson Custom Shop.

 

[Widjaja]

I know how versatile strats are, I was referring to the Texas Special pickups.

BTW, what's wrong with an Esquire? It's a tele with one pickup. It was the first guitar that went into mass production, followed by the two pickup telecaster.

PP Mguire, I do realize the differance between a Mexican and an American strat. But to me, they are still over-rated. I don't like noiseless pickups, I have no need for locking tuners (stock tuners do the job just fine, mind you with 13 gauge strings.), and aside from the cosmetic differences and the straight-from-the-factory playability, US strats are identical to Mexicans (IMO, at least). There is nothing on a US strat that I can't put on my current strat.

I'm a tweaker, if I wanted perfect everything straight from the factory I would have bought a Gibson Custom Shop.

Heh. . .didn't have my early morning coffee, my concetration rolled off towards the end of your sentence.

As I said before, I didn't notice much difference between the standard AM and Mex.
The only difference I found was the Mex a slightly grittier clean tone under the same amp settings but nothing like .
The both felt the same.

As for the who hasn't owned an Fender Esquire. . . .I think most people haven't.
Drop the E off the esquire and thats a different story all together.
I can say my first electric was a strat styled Ibanez.
It's the most poorly made guitar yet it actually has a reasonable tone.

Will have to post a pic of it just to show how badly made my first guitar is.
Neck is on an angle, neck is warped, strings are way out of line with the pickup magnets and a machine head casing isn't full moulded.

 

[PP Mguire]

http://www.webcorral.com/Fender_Strat_HotRod_GE-7396_Green_fullfront.jpg

I dont see locks or humbucks in this guitar. The difference, is the body and neck.

Mex strat (mostly) Mahogony body, rosewood neck c shape
American strat Alder body, maple neck v shape

Also, you can get scalloped necks with some. Im going to scallop the last few frets of my RG350.

Big difference? To an experienced player looking for specific things, yes. To an unexperienced player looking for something useable that just sounds and plays good, no.

Heaviest band i know personaly that uses Fender Strat. Nile- Egyptian Death Metal band.

Personaly, i cant use anything that isnt double coiled or is a humbucker. I have a tube amp and i just cant stand buzz. Depending on your setup using a single coil pickup if just turned up will emit a high pictued squeel as well.

 

[Widjaja]

I dont see locks or humbucks in this guitar. The difference, is the body and neck.

Mex strat (mostly) Mahogony body, rosewood neck c shape
American strat Alder body, maple neck v shape

Also, you can get scalloped necks with some. Im going to scallop the last few frets of my RG350.

Big difference? To an experienced player looking for specific things, yes. To an unexperienced player looking for something useable that just sounds and plays good, no.

Heaviest band i know personaly that uses Fender Strat. Nile- Egyptian Death Metal band.

Personaly, i cant use anything that isnt double coiled or is a humbucker. I have a tube amp and i just cant stand buzz. Depending on your setup using a single coil pickup if just turned up will emit a high pictued squeel as well.

Of course you don't see locking nuts and humbuckers on the guitar, it's a typical Fender strat.

A friends latest standard American strat has a rosewood neck.
I think it's last years model.
Maple necks are also know to wear quicker compared to maple necks.

 

[russianboy]

I dont see locks or humbucks in this guitar. The difference, is the body and neck.

Mex strat (mostly) Mahogony body, rosewood neck c shape
American strat Alder body, maple neck v shape

Also, you can get scalloped necks with some. Im going to scallop the last few frets of my RG350.

Big difference? To an experienced player looking for specific things, yes. To an unexperienced player looking for something useable that just sounds and plays good, no.

Heaviest band i know personaly that uses Fender Strat. Nile- Egyptian Death Metal band.

Personaly, i cant use anything that isnt double coiled or is a humbucker. I have a tube amp and i just cant stand buzz. Depending on your setup using a single coil pickup if just turned up will emit a high pictued squeel as well.

woah there, there are only a few limited edition strats made out of Mahogany. My Mexican is alder, like most other strats (Mexican or not). C and V necks aren't based on country, different guitars have different necks. There are modern C Americans, and there are U shaped Mexican strats. I myself like the deeper necks, but the C shape does fine for now. Scalloped is a player thing, majority of people (including me) prefer normal necks.

A high pitched squeal is feedback, it happens with double coils too.

I'm just saying that, while as you stated, out of the box a US strat has all of it's "specific things" installed and all, everything that can be installed on an American strat can be installed on a Mexican. In fact, I prefer to install all my hardware myself, that way I can tailor the guitar to my specific preferences. See where I'm coming from?

and for the record, I'm not un-experienced, by far I'm not un-experienced. I haven't been playing for particularly long, but my playing rivals that of people that have been playing much longer than I, simply because of how seriously I take my music, as well as my approach.

 

[Widjaja]

A high pitched squeal is feedback, it happens with double coils too.

This correct.
My Semi-hollow does this if I stand too close to the amp with the volume and gain turned up
Play a riff then squeeeeee and another riff then squeeee

 

[russianboy]

Feedback isn't necessarily a bad thing, most people find it undesirable. However feedback can be used to one's advantage (Hendrix, anyone?). I just love ending a song and having the note ring out and feedback.

 

[PP Mguire]

Should i make an example of what im talking about? Use stock distortion on a tube amp and trying using the neck or bridge single pickup in a strat. Thing will squeel and its not the good kind of feedback you want.

Also, my example with the neck was how most come outa the factory. And, by the time you get done spending all the money putting your mods into your Mexican strat you could prolly have bought an American strat. A good neck is gonna cost you an arm and a leg. I was gonna mod my Squire to be good but theres no point. With the money it woudl take i could just go and buy a Fender Strat and be done. I just dont like the feel of Fender necks anyways. Why i prefer Ibanez guitars because i like the neck and overall feel of the guitar.

 

[Wile E]

Should i make an example of what im talking about? Use stock distortion on a tube amp and trying using the neck or bridge single pickup in a strat. Thing will squeel and its not the good kind of feedback you want.

I never got that thru my amp with my buddy's Strat. Perhaps you aren't explaining it properly, but single coil does not automatically = squeal, even with high gain. You most likely needed to fine tune the setup for single coils. Humbuckers and singles prefer different settings.

 

[OzzmanFloyd120]

I never got that thru my amp with my buddy's Strat. Perhaps you aren't explaining it properly, but single coil does not automatically = squeal, even with high gain. You most likely needed to fine tune the setup for single coils. Humbuckers and singles prefer different settings.

Correct, the only real advantage between single coils and humbuckers is that you get a fatter sound and noise cancellation with the humbucker.

Actually I'd like to add to that. Humbuckers tend to take better to distortion.

 

[Widjaja]

I'll leave the feedback debate to you and Russianboy, I played on a single coil strat though a JCM900 with a Jackson 4X12 cab and had zero feedback with the gain on high.
I was sensible about the volume levels, which is probably why.

As for neck preference, I tend to go for relatively narrow, round necks rather than the flatter Ibanez, Jackson, Charvel type necks because I have huge palms and short fingers.

 

[PP Mguire]

Ill get a recording of it tomorrow. Right now the babies asleep.

 

[russianboy]

no need, I know what feedback sounds like. Your probably standing to close to an amp.

Single coils aren't exactly made to be played through Mesa Triple Rectifier stacks.

But humbuckers will also feedback. I myself enjoy a healthy hard-rock distortion, and even through my 100 watt (tube) amp, I get no feedback, and when playing buzz isn't all that noticeable.

For more info on the awesome versatility of single coils talk to Ritchie Blackmore.