Who would you say defines the Strat sound?

[kp8]

The Strat was always exceptionally well voiced for funk and also for disco.

So I'll add: Nile Rodgers

[thunderbyrd]

so Wicked GTR played on that record? well, i'll agree that's one of the great strat tones, i never knew it was a strat.

and yes, Nile Rodgers tone ranks high.

[valiant]

Well it is interesting that the two earliest players mentioned Buddy Holly and Hank B Marvin were from the 1950 rock and roll era and many famous Stratocaster players grew up in that "Hank to Hendrix" era.
On top of being a great singer and songwriter Buddy Holly had a great guitar style and technique which was very new wave in its day.....a rythm style that was all down strokes and which could drive a song verse and chorus while also playing as a lead instrument only the melody or hook would be beat out and measured in chords....it was hip and a key moment for rythm players in terms of a musical percussion of patterns and shapes....the riff had bounced like a ball in a call and response of jazz and blues but Buddy Holly just gave that ball a linear long arm throw and ran after it with a heart full of love.....it was certainly the long scale clarity and the new age solid body warm stratocaster tone that made it all possible.
The second example after the riff is the use of the tremelo arm for articulation and nuance beyond the earlier limits of a Bigsby unit almost towards bends and inflection given by a jazz horn player....the double stops and the idea and request for an AC30 from Vox amplification apart it is the use of the "Whammy Bar" by Hank B Marvin as
a technique and essential part of the sound that influenced so many.
The sound of the Burns Marvin with the scroll headstock and the Burns Tri-Sonic pick ups and the wonderous "Rezo-Tube" Tremelo system that has each string go through a seperate glass tube is orchestral and perhaps even beyond the Stratocaster in sonic range but there is just something woody and warm about the Stratocaster tone that was first heard from these two early pioneers.....there is just something about the Stratocaster that the short scale Gibson and even the beloved Telecaster can never match.
So the nominees are;
Buddy Holy (Rythm)
Hank.B.Marvin (Lead)

[dalandan]

Jimi and SRV. Sometimes Clapton too.

end of story.

[stagefright]

When I think of pure Strat sounds Knopfler always comes to mind and looks like from most of the replys here he's the king.

Ever hear some of the Strat stuff John Platania has done with Van Morrison over the years? One of the best Strat tones ever,check out It's Too Late To Stop Now the double live Van recording from 1973 or so and all the studio stuff with Platania.

Richard Thompson just kills the competition though.....enough good Strat performances for many lifetimes. In my mind,the greatest guitarist of our generation.

[E5RSY]

Originally Posted by guitarzan13

Our own WickedGTR !! James Wilsey!! I love his sound on Chris Isaak's "Wicked Game"!!

Most definitely. He actually should be near the top of any list for a truly identifiable Stratocaster sound. I should be kicked for forgetting about him.

Scott

[ErnestT]

I think Ed King got some nice tone playing for that Skynard feller. Didn't he play a Strat on a quirky song they did called Sweet Home somthin' or other?

[cousinpaul]

I may have missed something, but what about Dick Dale? "Misirlou" was definitely a high point in Strat history.

[Roli]

Originally Posted by dalandan

Jimi and SRV. Sometimes Clapton too.

end of story.

That was a sad story.

[andrewr]

Leo and the guys that were working for him maybe?

(Players-wise it was early Rory Gallagher that did it for me, I already had a strat copy because of Ritchie Blackmore, but when I heard "Used to be", that was it...)

[cuzzinmark]

Originally Posted by ErnestT

I think Ed King got some nice tone playing for that Skynard feller. Didn't he play a Strat on a quirky song they did called Sweet Home somthin' or other?

Man, +1 on that! I once read something that described "Ed King and his metallic strat chops" and thought that was the perfect phrase. He got such a unique sound out of his strat. Workin' For MCA is one of my faves-the tone! Plus, it's almost atonal at the start. I also thought Steve Gaines, his successor, had a different, but great strat tone. That live version of Simple Man is sooo tasty. Too bad we didn't get to hear more from him. There are some great exaples of his playing in previous bands out there. One In The Sun is chock full of great stuff. Two of my favorite players ever!

[Stratotwanger]

One person mentioned it earlier. Anybody who plays a Strat has a Strat sound. To throw artist's names just clutters up the field. They all have different sounds and are using the same guitar. It is all in the hands of who has it. Go to any (God Forbid...) Guitar Center and listen to some 12 year old playing a Strat and chances are that it's not going to sound like anybody that you all have called out. It's simply what you do with it. Plus, every Strat can sound differently off of the assembly line.
But, I guess that the original question was....WHO defines the strat sound? The answer is "YOU". All of the names are just people who played one.

[boomboomba]

Jimi playing on a Gibson Strat http://www2.gibson.com/Products/Elec...i-Hendrix.aspx

Sorry just threw up a bit.

[Stringbender.dk]

I would say Mark knopfler, Eric clapton, Stevie ray vaughan and buddy guy. I could write a lot of players. but this is the "stars" that I think got the real authentic strat tone, without colouring it to much with effects.

[newtwanger]

Now don't shoot me....it's just an opinion.

I'm thinking that many of the players mentioned totally don't have a "Strat sound" as much as they have a "effects chain sound" that happens to have a Strat at the player end of it.
Gilmour's number 1, black strat and his red strat (with EMGs) must be worlds apart soundwise if you plug them straight into a Bassman, yet most people can't tell when he's using which Strat on what.
Edge is the same. I can get exactly his tone using my Tele and the pedals he uses.
Others like Marvin are mostly echo-y reverb-y.

I'm a big fan of ALL these guys and have nearly worn out my Strat Anniversary Show DVD, where Gary Moore, Albert Lee, Marvin and Gilmour are all amazing, but I'm feeling the Strat sound more when listening to Knopfler, Clapton and Buddy Guy.

Malmsteen forever!!

[ErnestT]

cuzzinmark said:
I also thought Steve Gaines, his successor, had a different, but great strat tone.

Oh Man, how could I forget Steve Gaines? Thanks for reminding me cuzzinmark.

In fact, the whold Florida Guitar Army did some Strat cooking. Anyone remember Hughie Thomasson and the Outlaws? He ripped it up on Green Grass and High Tides and their cover of Ghost Riders In The Sky. When I was young and into that music, that was the reason I owned a Strat, to cop those tones and (try to ) play that music.

Lots of folks have gotten really great tones from Strats. Who would I say defines the Strat sound? If its Southern Fried Strat sound, these are the guys I think of. The Strat has a certain "voice" quality that really adds the spice to some of those songs, and they don't sound quite right to me played on anything else.

[stevieboy]

I would be among those who don't think anyone defines it. Players use the different possibilities, they don't define them. You might say various players tend to exemplify various possibilities that are available from a strat, Robert Cray would be a good example of that, as far as great use of the in between positions. Or, Anson Funderburgh and JLV for use of the middle pickup.


Ronnie Earl--unless I missed it, no one has mentioned him yet. He's all over the strat, lots of different applications. Just one--picking near the bridge for that aggressive sound he gets on some of his stuff.

Do you even want to play a guitar that one person could define the sound of?

[Bhallguitar]

Marc Ford and Audley Freed from the Black Crowes

[Maxwell Street]

Ron Wood through his Vibro Kings live.....

[claudel]

In addition to the usual suspects, Robbie Blunt gets an amazing Strat tone going in this one...

[Viceroy]

Originally Posted by ErnestT

I think Ed King got some nice tone playing for that Skynard feller. Didn't he play a Strat on a quirky song they did called Sweet Home somthin' or other?

Thank you for mentioning Ed King!! Yes, I love his tone on that tune! It's that perfect (to me) Strat sound. When I think of the Strat, I think of that tone.

I'll add my assent to Rory Gallagher and Hendrix and being worthy of the definition.

[hou35male]

MAN, you can't forget Hughie and the Outlaws!!!!!
Doesn't get anymore strat tone than that!!!!!!!

[Rusty Fender]

At a time like this - long after the topic has gotten stale and I'm going to offer up my $.02 my wife would advise leave well enough along ... But! I can't help but think the sounds of Rory and Robin Trower for example are a lot about amps which helps in big way to the distinctiveness of their sounds. NO?

[flyingbanana]

Well...to answer that question, we'd have to first define what a strat sound is?

That'll never happen, because everyone has a different idea of what a strat sound should....sound like. I for one love Cray's sound because he is so clear and articulate. I also like Mayer's and Clapton, though I think Clapton's sound is generally kind of dark or muddy sounding to my ears, although he's a fantastic player.

[Single-coil]

Strattiness? SRV at the El Mocambo. Scott Henderson gets some very Stratty tones as well.

[atroy]

[chezdeluxe]

Ike Turner,Pee Wee Crayton,Otis Rush,Magic Sam,Buddy Guy and thats only the 1950s Blues guys.

[K.E.B.]

You. Me. We all do. I like to think that way.

[David Barnett]

John Pousette-Dart

[edgemarc]

Don't forget Sonny Landreth and of course Jeff beck.

[Warren Pederson]

Robert Cray. There. I said it. Remember I'm only the messanger.

[cuzzinmark]

Originally Posted by ErnestT

Oh Man, how could I forget Steve Gaines? Thanks for reminding me cuzzinmark.

In fact, the whold Florida Guitar Army did some Strat cooking. Anyone remember Hughie Thomasson and the Outlaws? He ripped it up on Green Grass and High Tides and their cover of Ghost Riders In The Sky. When I was young and into that music, that was the reason I owned a Strat, to cop those tones and (try to ) play that music.

Lots of folks have gotten really great tones from Strats. Who would I say defines the Strat sound? If its Southern Fried Strat sound, these are the guys I think of. The Strat has a certain "voice" quality that really adds the spice to some of those songs, and they don't sound quite right to me played on anything else.

Wow-I knew I was forgetting somebody huge. His playing was just soooo amazing-ferocious, with elements of country-incredible faux steel bends-, rock and blues all rolled up into one. That first album never, and I mean NEVER, leaves my car. Such a clean tone, too-does anyone know what amp he used on the first Outlaws album? I'm guessing Music Man because it's just sparkling clean and so tough at the same time. I also wondered if that strat had a Tele pickup in the bridge, because it's just so thick and full, not thin & shrill. Any info on his early rig would be greatly appreciated! Hughie, RIP! Nice call ErnestT-sorry I missed this when you posted it:-)

[DaveG]

Go ahead and shoot me, but I wouldn't put the more recent (like since the 70s...!) Clapton on this list.
Like so many others, I think he's been trying to make his Strat sound like a Gibson since then. He must like the way the Fender neck feels, but his "signature" sound of today with the noiseless pickups to me sounds like a lame Les Paul/SG.
When the Cream reunion happened, you can't tell me you all didn't hope that he'd get out a Gibson and a Marshall. *That* is the sound of that band, not the Strat and Fender amp.
Let the flames fly...

[Tonemaster]

Originally Posted by brewwagon

jeff healey



bw

HUH??!? While I like Healey, his Strat tone is the furthest from a traditional Strat tone you can get.

T.

[Wally]

Originally Posted by DaveG

Go ahead and shoot me, but I wouldn't put the more recent (like since the 70s...!) Clapton on this list.
Like so many others, I think he's been trying to make his Strat sound like a Gibson since then. He must like the way the Fender neck feels, but his "signature" sound of today with the noiseless pickups to me sounds like a lame Les Paul/SG.
When the Cream reunion happened, you can't tell me you all didn't hope that he'd get out a Gibson and a Marshall. *That* is the sound of that band, not the Strat and Fender amp.
Let the flames fly...

goin' off topic with you just to note that those Marshalls were so close to the Fenders that he plays now that it is a small difference, imho. I do agree with you that he should have picked up the Gibsons for the Cream stuff; but I happen to prefer the hotter sound of his Strat through the tweed-type circuits...upon which those Marshalls of yesteryear were based, right?

Back to the topic, +1 again on Suttykins post #2.
That said, just to stir it up, let's go back to one of the first great STrat players and truly one of the great guitarists of all time...Eldon Shamblin.
His metallic gold 1954 STrat has to be one of the most famous strats in the world, and his work with the Bob Wills band is still the standard for that style of music. AS Rolling STone claimed in 1985....'World's Greatest Guitar Player'..... I will go so far as to say his work on the Golden STrat certainly is in the top ranks. Definitely a pure Strat sound.

[davidge1]

Originally Posted by cousinpaul

I may have missed something, but what about Dick Dale? "Misirlou" was definitely a high point in Strat history.

No, you didn't miss anything. This thread actually got to the middle of page 2 before someone mentioned Dick Dale. I can't believe it either. In my opinion, Dick Dale, more than ANYONE, defined the Strat tone in rock and roll. He was probably the most important person in making the Strat popular in the 60s.

[fadingcaptain]

Originally Posted by Suttykins

It varies alot I think.. that's one of the reasons strats have become so popular.. they're not so much a sound that you can use but a tool for crafting your own sound

for example.. when I think of "the strat sound" it can be anything from hank marvin to david gilmour, stevie ray to robert cray, rory gallagher to buddy holly, etc.

+1. Strat players come in all shapes and sizes; Hendrix to Knopfler, to the guys from Iron Maiden! With that said, I lean toward Hendrix, cause he did the massive ROCK sound with his strats, and then did the beautiful clean tones as well.

[fadingcaptain]

Originally Posted by atroy

Damn! Love The Mermen. Thanks for posting!

[David Barnett]

Ry Cooder

[still_fiddlin]

Well, it's a bit of "chicken & egg" if you ask me. I like BB's reply. Let's face it , the instrument probably helped define some of these players' sounds (and I'd argue there's probably not many other electric guitars that could have done it for them at that moment), but, would they have picked up a Strat in the first place if they hadn't heard JH or EC or I don't know who using one first?

There's a couple of sounds that I consider "archetypes" of the Strat, and Hendrix and SRV are the one end of the spectrum, with Robert Cray, a host of blues players, and even some folks like Knopfler, Gilmour et al at the other end.

It's truly an amazing instrument - no disrespect to our host here...