Grateful Dead Music Forum

Hey Guys, I picked up a 2000 American Strat in nice condition for dirt cheap. I collect vintage Japan guitars and never was a big fender guitar fan. Does anyone use one stock and get some sort of Jerry tone without changing the pick-ups? I don't want to hack it up just in case I decide to sell it. Thanks Paul

I'd be shocked if you couldn't cop some Aligator type tones with it!

The American Standard is a damn fine guitar right out of the box. Should offer plenty of the right kind of tone if you pick it right and have the right amp rig setup.


B

Start with the center pickup and a bright fender twin type sound with the bass rolled off and the treble jacked up and do what seems to work with mids. It was counter intuitive for me at first but seems to have gotten me close.

jeager wrote:Start with the center pickup and a bright fender twin type sound with the bass rolled off and the treble jacked up and do what seems to work with mids. It was counter intuitive for me at first but seems to have gotten me close.

Do you have the TBX tone control on yours and if you do where to you usually set it? Thanks.

I do have TBX on one guitar, I usually start with it in the middle and play around a little from there depending on the amp, room, band. I like the TBX...
Middle pickup and fender twin type sound gets you started down the path, then if you have GAS like me (gear acquisition syndrome) you start finding other parts of the equation. I just built a new strat from parts and included some of the elements of the late 70s and early 80s Garcia guitars. It works well...but its not very "forgiving" guitar sound...so responsive dynamically.

I think most of the guys here would agree that you can do well with a stock fender strat and the right kind of amplification and approach...

PaulJ-
congratulations on your find. I recently added a FCS strat to my collection, I bought it with the idea of doing some restoration on it and flipping it, but alas I'm smitten with this axe, and now can't bear to part with it or it's sweet twangy mojo. I realize that your original post was contingent on not changing out the pup's, however the Texas Specials that come in the SRV custom are super hot yet still very in the 'stock' ballpark, they sound fantastic and I bet would be right in the '72 wheel house.

That said I totally agree that just putting it in the middle position and twanging out through a nice clear fender amp will get you pretty much there, as well.

best of luck.

Thanks Capt., I definetly love the alligator sound from 72. I am gonna checkout some you tube demos on these pick-ups you suggested. I also heard good things about 57/62 CS pick-ups. ,Paul

You can always buy another pickguard and use that for different pickups, if you want. They are not expensive. It would let you change back to the stock one with the original pickups if you ever sold it.