Grateful Dead Music Forum

I've found a bunch of good stuff on here about the details about Jerry's guitars, but I have a few basic questions I don't know how to find answers to.

I'd like to put together a partscaster that can come close to doing the Jerry thing but can also cover a bunch of other bases, particularly Jimmy Herring style tones.

I'm thinking of a hardtail strat with HSH pickup config where I can split the HB's. And I'm thinking I'll put SD 59's in the neck and bridge and a SDS-1 in the middle. I also figured I'd put a buffer in there, as long as there's one I can switch on and off (preferably simultaneously with the coil tap) but I won't worry about the effects loop.

Do y'all see any problems with that build and do you think it will get me close to the Jerry stuff on the middle position and the 2 (split) position? I know I'm probably giving something up with not having the loop, but I don't play in a GD tribute band or anything, I just like them. I need the gtr to be able to cover a lot of bases as I gig in several different bands and play a lot of different styles.

Any tips or ideas, maybe there's something I'm not thinking about that's a better option?

Thanks!

Having the split coil Super 2 in the middle is pretty important to the Jerry sound. The same pickup sounds quite different in the bridge.

Jerry didn't have a HB in the middle on his alligator strat did he?

I was thinking a single coil in the middle would be the right idea -- I'm definitely not trying to copy his tone exactly, just get in the same ballpark.

weshunter wrote:Jerry didn't have a HB in the middle on his alligator strat did he?

Correct- always the three single coils.

Everything you need to know is here: http://www.wald-electronics.com/

I guess you need to specify WHICH Jerry guitar are you going for...

All the years rolled into one? Pretty tough. My favorites are '71 Gibson sound and early/mid '80's Tiger ('82-84)