Do you use your Strat like a Strat?

[Zeegler]

Here's a question for those of you with Strats. Is your Strat just another guitar? Is it interchangeable with your Les Pauls, SGs, Etc.?

Or, do you use your Strat for different sounds or music genres?

The reason I ask, is because I never really had much of an interest playing "Strat-type music". Perhaps I should explain that better. I started playing guitar at age 15, and was pretty much only interested in playing heavy music, metal, punk, thrash, crossover, death metal, basically all power chord stuff with humbuckers and plenty of gain. As I got older, I started playing more classic & contemporary rock and whatnot, but always made do with my humbucker equipped guitars. I have acquired a couple of Strats, but both of them are HSS. One of them came that way, and the other one, I converted from SSS. The problem is, I don't think that they really sound that great with the humbuckers, and the whole thing is really a compromise.

So, long story short, I'm thinking my best course of action is to convert one or both my Strats to SSS, so that they're real Strats instead of Strats trying to be something they're not.

Who here owns a Strat, and what pickup configuration is it? How do you use it? What kinds of music are you playing with it?

[thisguy]

I only have one "real" Strat" which is an original Eric Johnson model and it's completely stock. It's my church, contemporary worship guitar. It sounds great slightly overdriven and I had it Pleked so the frets are in great shape. I typically only use the neck pickup and have it dialed in a little fat. It sounds good for both Hendrix R&B licks and Gilmour tones. I only play it at church so that it's always ready to go. Other than that I pretty much only play Charvels (classic rock) and my Ibanez Scofield (jazz).

[macaronisalad]

I'm okay with playing the same shit on it as I would my other guitars, but it also can do other "Strat" things of course, which is cool.

I would recommend something like Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups to bridge the gap and get you some heft, while being a single coil.

[Zeegler]

I'm okay with playing the same shit on it as I would my other guitars, but it also can do other "Strat" things of course, which is cool.

I would recommend something like Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups to bridge the gap and get you some heft, while being a single coil.

What is that, a higher output single coil?

I thought about maybe trying a HB that I could coil split, but I've heard that it's just a halfway compromise.

[macaronisalad]

I'm okay with playing the same shit on it as I would my other guitars, but it also can do other "Strat" things of course, which is cool.

I would recommend something like Duncan Quarter Pounder pickups to bridge the gap and get you some heft, while being a single coil.

What is that, a higher output single coil?

I thought about maybe trying a HB that I could coil split, but I've heard that it's just a halfway compromise.

Yes, it brings the heat. They are what is in the neck position of the Warren Demartini Charvels. I have one in the neck position of my #1 guitar, and am contemplating another Strat build using them in all positions

[Guitarbilly]

Assuming you mean a SSS strat, it's not completely interchangeable for me. I can play about 80% of my music with it but there's some songs where I really need the humbucker.

[RaceU4her]

my black strat with the 78' is one of my favorite guitars. the regular strat i grabbed on a SDOTD for $599 or something, but ive honestly never even really played the thing, i just dont play much stuff that requires strat tones, but at least i have one. i think this thread has inspired me to actually play it lol. fender necks are my favorite, i may grab another single humbucker one to put a emg in

[Mike Oxhuge]

I have a Gilmore tribute I built with a Warmoth neck and his EMG set and it is an amazing versatile guitar. Between the Expander and gain boost it can sound anywhere from single coils to very close to EMG humbuckers depending on where you set those 2 knobs. Best of both worlds.

[ElDirtySanchez]

My Fender is a SSH - texas special singles with a pearly gates in the bridge, I mainly use that guitar when record clean stuff or use fuzz faces. Not doing anything heavy with it, more classic rock/ indie rock stuff.

[nightflameauto]

my black strat with the 78' is one of my favorite guitars. the regular strat i grabbed on a SDOTD for $599 or something, but ive honestly never even really played the thing, i just dont play much stuff that requires strat tones, but at least i have one. i think this thread has inspired me to actually play it lol. fender necks are my favorite, i may grab another single humbucker one to put a emg in

Something about single bucker strats makes me moist.