cheap strat MBR test

[Scorpios]

I just bought a fake strat, it's been ages since I had a single coil pickup guitar and really liking this. It makes me remember why they put a volume knob on a guitar.


Recorded this on a MBR using 4 tracks, some adjusted MBR compressor master setting for mix to mp3, audacity to trim and fade the end. I left the beginning at the start and it's 100bpm I believe if anyone wants to throw ideas over this, feel free.

 



 

[Geir]

You sure know how to make that fake strat sing !!!

Great tone .. great playing !!

[Bluesberry]

Thats pure strat tone, lovely.  Compression is good, it just sounds so good.  That is exactly why strat lovers love strats.  I can hear a ORH vocal coming over this one.  Tuned to the moon Part 2 perhaps.

[Scorpios]

Thanks, I have been wanting to get a cheap strat for a while after noticing some of my students guitars being no-name brands but still having that distinct sound. I was at a department store the other day and saw this boxed "Spectrum" guitar with a little 9volt amp, strap, strings, picks, learn to play guitar dvd (that was missing so it was reduced 25%)..  so I figured 75$, why not, if it is totally unplayable, it can make a nice wall decoration if I can't modify it to my likings.

Seems to play ok though, a bit of fret buzz on the E6, but the strings on it are terrible and feel like ultra lights, so going up to lights or a standard gauge might fix that, if not I will just get more hands on training with truss rod adjustments and action.

 It doesn't stay in tune really well, but still workable, I think putting some graphite on the string nut, and replacing the tremelo springs with better quality springs is worth a shot.

I am actually going to give my first try at scalloping the neck on this, I had an ibanez a while back with a scalloped neck and found it easy to get used to. I also found a ebay store that sells strat pickgaurd upgrades, with the pickups, tone and volume pots, pup switch already installed and wired, just screw it on and connect to the input jack and ground starting in the 30-40$ range. I can't remember the brand name of the  pickups, some small company, but I read some good reviews on them and anything is probably a step up from the stock electronics on this thing.

Ah and another cool thing, the "spectrum" logo on the headstock, scraped clean off just using my thumbnail, so it doesn't scream "cheap wal-mart special" quite as loud.

But yeah would be cool to hear some ORH vox to this, was just checking out a track here I hadn't heard in ages he added some vox to a few years ago.

[launched]

I love your devious sounding music - Great sounds with your cheap strat!!

Mark

[Rata-tat-tat]

Hey Scorpio's... Wow... Is there any instrument you don't play??? Just curious... not only can you play guitar and drums... but you play them both so well. Yes... I too love this dark sound you normally come up with. Obscurity at it's best. Let us know how the tune up comes out. I'm also considering picking up a Fake Strat... need to upgrade my $5.00 US Sysonics guitar. Maybe 64 can let me in on some training. Dunno if this old dawg can be taught any new tricks though.

V/R
Tod