Nice playing and timing. This song was just daunting but I just bought a nice Strat and it seems to just fall into place. Ha! I ad lib through the solo for now. Again, nice palying.
I see you use Callaham Bridge and Tremblock. What do you think about them?I ask because ihave an american Standard Strat from the year 2009, so is it worth to change the Temblock and saddles for callaham? And in which direction is then the sound better?
more Sustain? or less or more highs, mids, Bass???
@NightnDayDrEamer Hi NightnDayDrEamer! Thanks for listening. I like the Callaham quite a lot. I think it made the guitar "brighter" and improved sustain. However, at the same time, i also installed a very thick one piece rosewood neck, which made the tone a lot more warmer and duller (less snappy). So, because i replaced too many things at once, i unfortunately can't tell what the exact effect of the callaham was. It's a positive change for sure, and many people like it.
@NightnDayDrEamer However, the callaham does cost a significant amount. So if you are willing to drop $120 on a piece of cold rolled steel, go for it. Some people have reservations about dropping that kind of cache on upgrades. But if you have a favorite number 1 guitar, then by all means max it out.
@FranticRock Hi, thx for your answer, hmm i see its not possible to say now how the callaham changed the sound,because you also changed the neck which can be a significant change in tone,especially if you change from one fretboardwood type to another. I cant say that i really need more brightness with my strat, more Sustain ok ,why not ;-P. Maybe i will do an experiment and change the stock Bridge Pickup for an Alnico 2 or a SSL 5..............How long did it take for you to learn this cover?
@NightnDayDrEamer Hey. It probably took about a week. But i kept playing it over and over every day for a while. I don't think SRV uses the bridge pickup in this tune, but i could be wrong. Don't get me wrong about the callaham - everyone i talked to so far says great things about it. And it WAS an improvement for this guitar also.
@NightnDayDrEamer i own a lot of guitars now (around 15). Half of them are cheap, the other half are nice. I can say that from my experience, it's better to invest extra in a guitar that's really superbly made. Such as a Suhr, PRS or just one that "speaks" to you, rather than buying a cheap guitar and trying to upgrade it later. Some top end guitar makers actually pick the wood very carefully and pay close attention to detail matching things together. This really matters.
@FranticRock Hi,im also learning this song now from start to end, since 3 days, but now after 2/3 learned, i need a short break from it, because if you play all these separate parts over and over and over.......... again, it can get hard to keep the motivation up,,,,, but i will go back, and make it to the end. Its always interesting how many small Details this song have. I mainly have problems with the rhythm changes and the faster solo runs, i think i need to speed these up very slowly.
@FranticRock, over some days/weeks........ I hope someday i can play it in a "smooth round way"..
About the bridge pickup, i didnt wanted to change it especially for SRV stuff, but i also like to play a lot of David Gilmour solos, and he uses a bit a fater one in Bridge position. Im still thinking about the callaham Block and saddles, maybe i try them out sooner or later, but im still not sure if the Temolo of my 2009 Am Std Strat really needs to be replaced, i mean its a USA Made Guitar.......
@ardiandhani Texas specials are decent pickups, but they are "overwound". Stevies pickups were not overwound. They were not that hot at all. If you are trying to replicate Stevie's tone, i would go for the Antiquity Surfers by Seymour Duncan. They have Alnico 5 magnets (Just like Stevies). My pickups have Alnico 2 magnets (they are less glassy, but "fuller" and "more rounded")
This is absolutely gorgeous tone and playing and anyone who says otherwise is either jealous or loves to bash anything and everything they can. This has that magic, all you have to do is sit back and close your eyes and stop thinking a little bit. It's there ;)
Dude, Great tone and Great playing as well. I dont care what anyone on here says, you have great feel, and a really sweet sounding axe with great sustain and tone. I think unfortunately that alot of people are hearing that overproduced studio type guitar tone in their heads and dont really know the difference between real LIVE great sound anymore. If someone recording this track, mixed and mastered it, then and only then would everyone be happy. In my opinion, you already did the mixing job. :)
@allanjenny Thank you. Yeah - to me it doesn't matter how it's done, as long as it sounds good. We live at a good time too, as so much simulation and computer software is available these days, which emulate vintage stuff, and quite well, i might add.
I would really like to try recording on tape one day, using vintage gear and mics. Someday :)
Sysphus, calm down it's not that important. I'm guessing the recording and production is taking away from the magic of the tone in this vid. It's really hard to tell from all these vids, in person it may sound more "magical"? As is, It sounds pretty good to me. BTW I've gone the whole "callaham", NOS tube, Nitro finish BS & it really doesn't matter. It's a marketing ploy that we've bought into. I personally don't like "over produced" music and that's the only thing I'd complain about (echo, etc)
Grab a cheap squire, and a practice amp. Put it on nice and clean, and just nail that sweetspot where the finger frets the note. VIbrato is SUPER important too.
If you give any guitar to Eric Johnson, he will still get that gorgeous sound... I bet, even if it's slightly out of tune, and doesn't intonate properly.
Great tone, I can't wait to get a Callaham block and some of their other stuff in my strat. I'm not being a jerk but the one thing I noticed with the tone is that those are definitely not 13s on that strat haha. Im not sure if it was just the strings but it sounds like a thin pick too. I may very well just be picky, but thats what I noticed. Write back! I wanna hear about that REAL block! Oh i also forgot to mention your mad skills haha! way to play SRV well!!
guitar sounds stiff and not very resonant to my ears...especially when you hit the open E and the harmonics. I feel like some strats have the magic and some don't but often its mysterious. You can buy all the right components and still sounds bad..I've had this problem a few times.
@sysphus13 i know exactly what you mean. we will never know. it's gotta be the wood. Because aside from the wood, there cannot be anything else. (Everything else has been replaced)
@FranticRock Yes! I agree about the wood...I also wonder how much the finish might contribute..poly vs. nitro vs. tung oil vs. french polish, and then the factor of age -- how old the wood is. Too much to think about!! I just got a mid nineties G&L legacy...it sounds "mostly" good but certain things could be improved. I think I'm going to get a callaham steel block and locking tuners, and some nut sauce and I should be good to go!
@FranticRock try,as crazy as it sounds,stripping the finish,and try a thin nitro satin finish.If that finish is thick,it could very well be the problem.The new highway one has a great nitro satin,and I think it helps the guitar breathe and resonate better.
@hipyaboyya I only use the neck pickup for soloes. And it's a SD Antiquity A2. The bridge pickup is a hotrails, which is very very hot, so it would not be appropriate to use the bridge pickup to play a song like this at all... It's a humbucker... Could play Van Halen with it, but not SRV...
@FranticRock I just thought it had that "Quack" that is so associated with the bridge and middle combination, oh well! As I said, I've been wrong before :)
@FranticRock i use the middle/neck position for this song. granted, it may not sound exactly like SRV's version but i'll post a vid of me playing this nonetheless. :)
@Geokouu Hi. Nope these are the "brother" of the surfer - the A2. Alnico 2 magnets give a thicker sound, but less glassy. Surfers are Alnico 5 magnets. If you want to duplicate SRV sound or Hendrix sound, definitely go for the surfers, not the A2s, because you will get a glassier sound with the surfers.
Those strings look thickk. How do they feel to play coupled with those jumbo frets on the Highway 1? I'm definitely getting one after I sell my doubleneck Epi. I'd love to put heavy strings on there, but I'm just curious how they feel with this guitar, tuned down to Eb. I just can't play strats in standard anymore..
I don't play this guage alll the time. I just did for this video, so my fingers were really sore after this. Especially it's painful to bend the high E (13) up a whole step :)
Check out my little wing clip. Same strings, but different neck. Warmoth 1 piece all rosewood neck with 6100 fretwire, and 1 7/8" at the nut. Very thick. It's the biggest neck i could order without going bizarro, and i think it did the trick.
Great sounding strat. Iam going to set my Amer.standard up with antiquity 2's and calliham block/saddles like yours but your bridge pickup looks like a split rail or something different? Is it? I really like your playing.... Thanks for the inspiration!
@mtravics Thanks a lot man! I appreciate that! The A2s are very warm sounding pups. If you want more of a ring, get A5 Surfers instead or SD SSL1s. Don't forget that SRV actually used A5s, if you are going for SRV tone... The bridge PU is a SD Hotrail. But i am not using it here. It's a very hot pup - very good for Van Halen type stuff, and holds up just fine - just like a regular humbucker. Thanks man, Alex
@Danthehorse Thanks man. Les Pauls are definitely different beasts and I like my heritage a lot also. Strats definitely have some soul to them that les pauls dont have. A Les Paul feels like a "Plank" to me (a kickass plank mind you), but a strat feels like a "Vine of Life". Don't know if I am making sense or not...
@FranticRock yeah i get you bro, thats what im beginning to like about them, they connect more in a way. i still love LPs though i think Heritage have way more mojo then Gibsons. Some of my favourite pieces of music are played on Les PAuls but when playing i often hanker for something more vocal...... i know what you mean about soul, damn i need a strat!
Nice post and great playing! Did the Callaham Bridge improve the tone much? I have a standard MIM Strat and I have been thinking about buying a Callaham bridge setup for awhile. Thanks
It did make an improvement. More ring to the tone, but i'd say : only do it, if your strat really sings already. Some strats just sing, others are dull and crude.... I have an EJ signature strat - and it sings.... I'd say: pickups are first priority upgrade, then nut, tuners. I'm looking into making my own trem blocks soon out of brass and cold rolled steel, since I know a bit about cutting metals... :) take it easy, Alex
I'm a machinist myself, although I have been a little out of practice thanks to the recession. My strat does really sing for some reason, I guess they tried to make them a little better in '06 due to the anniversary of Fender, or I just got really lucky.
Thanks you very much man! SRV changed my life forever, and instilled a passion for the true energy and universal truth that is contained in any form of music.
Your tone is beautiful. Makes me want to sell my American Std and buy a Highway 1 with SD Antiquities. Then buy a Blues Jr with a Jensen. Then learn to play better. Lol.
Hey man. Thanks for the kind words. Any fender amp should get you there. The blackface or silverface fender amps are the best. Deluxe reverb amps and fender bassmans will all be awesome! Also a lot of the sound is changed AFTER recording (in the software). By EQing it the right way - so the treble rings a certain way, and adding the right effects like reverb and delay. In my case I added too much delay here, but I love delay. When i was recording this, it sounded very dry. Try it.
very very nice : ) after listening to it like a 100000000 times i know this song to an 12th note, and u nailed it! it was pleasure to both listen and watch u play. keep up the good work!
Its not really floating. I have 5 springs in the back, and the claw screws are set very very tight. So the bridge is being pulled back against the body very hard. HOWEVER, I can still use it for a tremolo effect on chords and stuff (just have to put some pressure on the bar to get it off the body) No i don't have that much tuning issues. I have an OK-cut stock plastic nut on this neck, I also have locking sperzel tuners. tuners make a difference, as there are no winds around tuner posts
It has nothing to do with the type of block you have, it's about your nut and of course tunners, bad saddles will be a problem too. Floating or flat really is not something that determines tunning stability. Bill Callham claims otherwise, and while he is a respected personell, I have found otherwise.
It's not about number of springs but how much tension you need. If you have 9 guage strings using five springs will make the arm very stiff. Floating or flat makes no difference if the nut is cut properly and the tuners have neat string winds. If your nut is not cut wide enough to stop friction then you will go out tune either way. I have a alot of experience with many Strats and believe me, the tremolo system works great when setup right.
Well, it seems like you'll just argue the point, but to tell the truth....I play a Robert Cray hardtail strat with Lollar Blackface pickups anyways. Trems suck and I refuse to use them. That's my opinion. Take care.
No I won't argue a point, I respect yoiur opinion. I have a Telecaster with a Strat hardtail bridge and I love it. I love it more than a trem. I didn't like trems for a long time but they do serve their puropse.
thanks man! I heard these guitars have changed over the years. This one is year 2000. There's practically nothing left stock in it though - i replaced everything. It has 9 way switching, seymour duncan pickups, and copper shielded cavities. The nut and the neck are the only 2 things that are stock. I really love the finish actually, because its nitro laquer. very thin. But it will flake off quite easilly. You can actually scrape it off with the pick ! lol
Using a fender blues junior with a jansen C12 speaker. Using it completely dry (adding effects later). Using an SM57 to mic it. Adding EQ, delays, reverb in Sonar 3.0 Cakewalk later.
Very nice job, but the vibrato effect would be better with the bridge floating like Stevie had. I know BIll Callham says the vintage tremolo should not float but, if you have a well cut nut and a neat string job it can flaot and work great. The Callham block is a big upgrade from Fender blocks though... nice job man.
Hey! I'd say the Callaham was worth it. It made the guitar kind of "Brighter", but in a nice, articulate way. I'd say it rings better now with the callaham. It makes enough of a difference to shell out the cash (if you feel OK with paying $120 for a solid chunk of cold rolled steel). I also like the shorter trem bar, and the design is smart (won't break that easy).
I have a Callaham trem, pickguard assembly w/ underwound Fralins and really dig it. You have great tone, and picked a great tune SRV, nice. One tip: stop wearing your wrist watch like a gook shopkeeper; no excuse for that.
At 3:37 you start sliding up to the 14th fret, then the sound gets more distorted. So I assume you are using a pedal there right? Or is it something else?
Well it was definitely an improvement. I found more ring to the notes, more vibration in the body. Guitar also got heavier slightly (more mass in the block). The change is not very drastic, but is noticeable. do it - if you already have a guitar that plays well, and want to improve the tone and feel of it. Can't go wrong with it - because you can always stick it in another strat in the future as well... Its a very high quality product. tremolo bar design is a good improvement also
LOL. The watch is loose, because i already have enough sustain. I didn't want to have "too much" sustain, so I loosened the watch for this song. I have already screwed a brass door hinge to the headstock to improve resonance. So this allows me to have a loose watch! Cheers! Are you from the SD forums by any chance?
Yes yes - I "met" you there when people were discussing how to improve the tone of their strat. I thought the watch was a factor easily overlooked. As guitarists we should always watch our watch, but as I understand you already knew that.
What a nice surprise ! By the way, Kombi and Budka Suflera are still popular in Poland. I recommend listening to Marek Raduli (formerly of Budka Suflera), which is very nice guitarplayer.
Thanks a lot dude!! I'm trying to figure out how to make the video 16:9. Mine was 16:9 but youtube squished it to 4:3. I think its because it was .wmv format I am trying DIVX in 16:9 but its kinda tricky. I'm gonna repost this vid. Thanks for watching :)
Hey! What's that wire coming out of the bridge pickup going to a box attached to the body?
leopolski888 3 weeks ago
ima post it on facebook maybe youll get more comments
MegaZackmack 5 months ago in playlist MegaZackmack's Favorited Videos
Man you play this better than stevie lol but hell yea this shits realy bro
MegaZackmack 5 months ago in playlist MegaZackmack's Favorited Videos
You killed that shit bro i like it keep it coming bro
MegaZackmack 6 months ago
Nice playing and timing. This song was just daunting but I just bought a nice Strat and it seems to just fall into place. Ha! I ad lib through the solo for now. Again, nice palying.
cyoteblues 9 months ago
You are a bad ass mutha fucker i cant get this song donw wortha shit lol but your tha shit bro hell yea you play jus like him
MegaZackmack 10 months ago
Wow, great playing and tone.
I see you use Callaham Bridge and Tremblock. What do you think about them?I ask because ihave an american Standard Strat from the year 2009, so is it worth to change the Temblock and saddles for callaham? And in which direction is then the sound better?
more Sustain? or less or more highs, mids, Bass???
NightnDayDrEamer 1 year ago
@NightnDayDrEamer Hi NightnDayDrEamer! Thanks for listening. I like the Callaham quite a lot. I think it made the guitar "brighter" and improved sustain. However, at the same time, i also installed a very thick one piece rosewood neck, which made the tone a lot more warmer and duller (less snappy). So, because i replaced too many things at once, i unfortunately can't tell what the exact effect of the callaham was. It's a positive change for sure, and many people like it.
FranticRock 1 year ago
@NightnDayDrEamer However, the callaham does cost a significant amount. So if you are willing to drop $120 on a piece of cold rolled steel, go for it. Some people have reservations about dropping that kind of cache on upgrades. But if you have a favorite number 1 guitar, then by all means max it out.
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock Hi, thx for your answer, hmm i see its not possible to say now how the callaham changed the sound,because you also changed the neck which can be a significant change in tone,especially if you change from one fretboardwood type to another. I cant say that i really need more brightness with my strat, more Sustain ok ,why not ;-P. Maybe i will do an experiment and change the stock Bridge Pickup for an Alnico 2 or a SSL 5..............How long did it take for you to learn this cover?
NightnDayDrEamer 1 year ago
@NightnDayDrEamer Hey. It probably took about a week. But i kept playing it over and over every day for a while. I don't think SRV uses the bridge pickup in this tune, but i could be wrong. Don't get me wrong about the callaham - everyone i talked to so far says great things about it. And it WAS an improvement for this guitar also.
FranticRock 1 year ago
@NightnDayDrEamer i own a lot of guitars now (around 15). Half of them are cheap, the other half are nice. I can say that from my experience, it's better to invest extra in a guitar that's really superbly made. Such as a Suhr, PRS or just one that "speaks" to you, rather than buying a cheap guitar and trying to upgrade it later. Some top end guitar makers actually pick the wood very carefully and pay close attention to detail matching things together. This really matters.
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock Hi,im also learning this song now from start to end, since 3 days, but now after 2/3 learned, i need a short break from it, because if you play all these separate parts over and over and over.......... again, it can get hard to keep the motivation up,,,,, but i will go back, and make it to the end. Its always interesting how many small Details this song have. I mainly have problems with the rhythm changes and the faster solo runs, i think i need to speed these up very slowly.
NightnDayDrEamer 1 year ago
@FranticRock, over some days/weeks........ I hope someday i can play it in a "smooth round way"..
About the bridge pickup, i didnt wanted to change it especially for SRV stuff, but i also like to play a lot of David Gilmour solos, and he uses a bit a fater one in Bridge position. Im still thinking about the callaham Block and saddles, maybe i try them out sooner or later, but im still not sure if the Temolo of my 2009 Am Std Strat really needs to be replaced, i mean its a USA Made Guitar.......
NightnDayDrEamer 1 year ago
fantastic, enough said.
do you put the playback after you record the video?
f1l1p1nh0 1 year ago
@f1l1p1nh0 Thanks man. I'm not sure... what do you mean?
FranticRock 1 year ago
Dude put some CS 69 pickups on that baby and you'll get the sweetest tone for lenny
francisco444 1 year ago
@francisco444 how about texas special?? :)
ardiandhani 1 year ago
@ardiandhani Texas specials are decent pickups, but they are "overwound". Stevies pickups were not overwound. They were not that hot at all. If you are trying to replicate Stevie's tone, i would go for the Antiquity Surfers by Seymour Duncan. They have Alnico 5 magnets (Just like Stevies). My pickups have Alnico 2 magnets (they are less glassy, but "fuller" and "more rounded")
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock aahhh i see.. have you ever tried klein PU??
ardiandhani 1 year ago
Thanks Sean. That's very kind of you. I appreciate it :)
FranticRock 1 year ago
This is absolutely gorgeous tone and playing and anyone who says otherwise is either jealous or loves to bash anything and everything they can. This has that magic, all you have to do is sit back and close your eyes and stop thinking a little bit. It's there ;)
~ Sean
pilotSSW 1 year ago
Dude, Great tone and Great playing as well. I dont care what anyone on here says, you have great feel, and a really sweet sounding axe with great sustain and tone. I think unfortunately that alot of people are hearing that overproduced studio type guitar tone in their heads and dont really know the difference between real LIVE great sound anymore. If someone recording this track, mixed and mastered it, then and only then would everyone be happy. In my opinion, you already did the mixing job. :)
allanjenny 1 year ago
@allanjenny Thank you. Yeah - to me it doesn't matter how it's done, as long as it sounds good. We live at a good time too, as so much simulation and computer software is available these days, which emulate vintage stuff, and quite well, i might add.
I would really like to try recording on tape one day, using vintage gear and mics. Someday :)
FranticRock 1 year ago
Sysphus, calm down it's not that important. I'm guessing the recording and production is taking away from the magic of the tone in this vid. It's really hard to tell from all these vids, in person it may sound more "magical"? As is, It sounds pretty good to me. BTW I've gone the whole "callaham", NOS tube, Nitro finish BS & it really doesn't matter. It's a marketing ploy that we've bought into. I personally don't like "over produced" music and that's the only thing I'd complain about (echo, etc)
joesl8 1 year ago
@joesl8 True true! Tone is IN THE FINGERS!!!
Grab a cheap squire, and a practice amp. Put it on nice and clean, and just nail that sweetspot where the finger frets the note. VIbrato is SUPER important too.
If you give any guitar to Eric Johnson, he will still get that gorgeous sound... I bet, even if it's slightly out of tune, and doesn't intonate properly.
FranticRock 1 year ago
sweet great sound and so well played, a rare treat! thanks
bluesedout 1 year ago
Great tone, I can't wait to get a Callaham block and some of their other stuff in my strat. I'm not being a jerk but the one thing I noticed with the tone is that those are definitely not 13s on that strat haha. Im not sure if it was just the strings but it sounds like a thin pick too. I may very well just be picky, but thats what I noticed. Write back! I wanna hear about that REAL block! Oh i also forgot to mention your mad skills haha! way to play SRV well!!
spotmeatsour 1 year ago
guitar sounds stiff and not very resonant to my ears...especially when you hit the open E and the harmonics. I feel like some strats have the magic and some don't but often its mysterious. You can buy all the right components and still sounds bad..I've had this problem a few times.
sysphus13 1 year ago
@sysphus13 i know exactly what you mean. we will never know. it's gotta be the wood. Because aside from the wood, there cannot be anything else. (Everything else has been replaced)
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock Yes! I agree about the wood...I also wonder how much the finish might contribute..poly vs. nitro vs. tung oil vs. french polish, and then the factor of age -- how old the wood is. Too much to think about!! I just got a mid nineties G&L legacy...it sounds "mostly" good but certain things could be improved. I think I'm going to get a callaham steel block and locking tuners, and some nut sauce and I should be good to go!
sysphus13 1 year ago
@FranticRock try,as crazy as it sounds,stripping the finish,and try a thin nitro satin finish.If that finish is thick,it could very well be the problem.The new highway one has a great nitro satin,and I think it helps the guitar breathe and resonate better.
rockerdude29 1 year ago
@FranticRock i use the middle/neck position for this. i'll post a vid of me playing this on my squier classic vibe.
avin4723 1 year ago
What pickup (or pickups) are you using when doing the solos? It sounds like bridge and middle to me, but I've been wrong before :P
hipyaboyya 1 year ago
@hipyaboyya I only use the neck pickup for soloes. And it's a SD Antiquity A2. The bridge pickup is a hotrails, which is very very hot, so it would not be appropriate to use the bridge pickup to play a song like this at all... It's a humbucker... Could play Van Halen with it, but not SRV...
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock I just thought it had that "Quack" that is so associated with the bridge and middle combination, oh well! As I said, I've been wrong before :)
hipyaboyya 1 year ago
@FranticRock i use the middle/neck position for this song. granted, it may not sound exactly like SRV's version but i'll post a vid of me playing this nonetheless. :)
awesome job, by the way. :D
avin4723 1 year ago
Now that is a strat tone.
Beautiful.
elitemathlete 1 year ago
are these the antiquity surfers ?
ty
Geokouu 1 year ago
@Geokouu Hi. Nope these are the "brother" of the surfer - the A2. Alnico 2 magnets give a thicker sound, but less glassy. Surfers are Alnico 5 magnets. If you want to duplicate SRV sound or Hendrix sound, definitely go for the surfers, not the A2s, because you will get a glassier sound with the surfers.
FranticRock 1 year ago
nice man. beautiful sound
coolkid325 1 year ago
Those strings look thickk. How do they feel to play coupled with those jumbo frets on the Highway 1? I'm definitely getting one after I sell my doubleneck Epi. I'd love to put heavy strings on there, but I'm just curious how they feel with this guitar, tuned down to Eb. I just can't play strats in standard anymore..
hvrock13 1 year ago
@hvrock13 Hey man. Yeah i think they are 13-56.
I don't play this guage alll the time. I just did for this video, so my fingers were really sore after this. Especially it's painful to bend the high E (13) up a whole step :)
Check out my little wing clip. Same strings, but different neck. Warmoth 1 piece all rosewood neck with 6100 fretwire, and 1 7/8" at the nut. Very thick. It's the biggest neck i could order without going bizarro, and i think it did the trick.
FranticRock 1 year ago
how you like that callaham trem block? is it a big difference from the stock highway one block?
kweerb8 1 year ago
Beautiful tone....
SstalkerS 1 year ago
beautiful playing and awesome sound !!
grables 1 year ago
@grables thanks a lot.
FranticRock 1 year ago
Great sounding strat. Iam going to set my Amer.standard up with antiquity 2's and calliham block/saddles like yours but your bridge pickup looks like a split rail or something different? Is it? I really like your playing.... Thanks for the inspiration!
mtravics 1 year ago
@mtravics Thanks a lot man! I appreciate that! The A2s are very warm sounding pups. If you want more of a ring, get A5 Surfers instead or SD SSL1s. Don't forget that SRV actually used A5s, if you are going for SRV tone... The bridge PU is a SD Hotrail. But i am not using it here. It's a very hot pup - very good for Van Halen type stuff, and holds up just fine - just like a regular humbucker. Thanks man, Alex
FranticRock 1 year ago
I miei complimenti!
P64G 1 year ago
i love this, after years as a les paul man im strating to love the strat vibe, thanks for the cool clip and playing bro, very inspiring!
Danthehorse 1 year ago
@Danthehorse Thanks man. Les Pauls are definitely different beasts and I like my heritage a lot also. Strats definitely have some soul to them that les pauls dont have. A Les Paul feels like a "Plank" to me (a kickass plank mind you), but a strat feels like a "Vine of Life". Don't know if I am making sense or not...
FranticRock 1 year ago
@FranticRock yeah i get you bro, thats what im beginning to like about them, they connect more in a way. i still love LPs though i think Heritage have way more mojo then Gibsons. Some of my favourite pieces of music are played on Les PAuls but when playing i often hanker for something more vocal...... i know what you mean about soul, damn i need a strat!
Danthehorse 1 year ago
What amp are u playing??
flashpadxxx 2 years ago
What are you playing through, amp or software?
strngldr 2 years ago
Very Tastey #. Diggin the feelin'
grok64 2 years ago
Nice post and great playing! Did the Callaham Bridge improve the tone much? I have a standard MIM Strat and I have been thinking about buying a Callaham bridge setup for awhile. Thanks
02stanggt 2 years ago
It did make an improvement. More ring to the tone, but i'd say : only do it, if your strat really sings already. Some strats just sing, others are dull and crude.... I have an EJ signature strat - and it sings.... I'd say: pickups are first priority upgrade, then nut, tuners. I'm looking into making my own trem blocks soon out of brass and cold rolled steel, since I know a bit about cutting metals... :) take it easy, Alex
FranticRock 2 years ago
I'm a machinist myself, although I have been a little out of practice thanks to the recession. My strat does really sing for some reason, I guess they tried to make them a little better in '06 due to the anniversary of Fender, or I just got really lucky.
02stanggt 2 years ago
do you use the David Gilmour Callaham tremolo arm length, or a different one?
PatrickBlommerde 2 years ago
its the one size shorter than standard from Callaham. It's between the standard size and the Jeff Beck super short one. I find it perfect length :)
guitarnut7 2 years ago
That was me on a different user name, sorry.
FranticRock 2 years ago
too much delay otherwise it's great!
richardwu0609 2 years ago
what pup in the bridge?
portfolio122 2 years ago
That's a seymour duncan hotrails. I didn't use it on this though.
FranticRock 2 years ago
if you think that is good (which it is ) check out mrbluesman14's video of lenny
fojock 2 years ago
your the best srv player ive seen up to now
irockyouroll 2 years ago
Thanks you very much man! SRV changed my life forever, and instilled a passion for the true energy and universal truth that is contained in any form of music.
FranticRock 2 years ago
Your tone is beautiful. Makes me want to sell my American Std and buy a Highway 1 with SD Antiquities. Then buy a Blues Jr with a Jensen. Then learn to play better. Lol.
mistersooty 2 years ago
Hey man. Thanks for the kind words. Any fender amp should get you there. The blackface or silverface fender amps are the best. Deluxe reverb amps and fender bassmans will all be awesome! Also a lot of the sound is changed AFTER recording (in the software). By EQing it the right way - so the treble rings a certain way, and adding the right effects like reverb and delay. In my case I added too much delay here, but I love delay. When i was recording this, it sounded very dry. Try it.
FranticRock 2 years ago
You did Lenny justice on that one. Nicely done!
ZZedmonds 2 years ago
so so nice man. just close those eyes and get lost in the music.
galacticox4 2 years ago
This has been flagged as spam show
nice job, check out my cover of this song too and rate it ! dont be shy to leave a comment too! im trying to get a few hits on it as its only new!!
buzzmund 2 years ago
very very nice : ) after listening to it like a 100000000 times i know this song to an 12th note, and u nailed it! it was pleasure to both listen and watch u play. keep up the good work!
5stars!
m0h1t0 2 years ago
Thanks a lot man!
FranticRock 2 years ago
@FranticRock
how does the Callaham is when you set it like a floating tremolo??'
dont u have tuning problems?
topicrass 2 years ago
Its not really floating. I have 5 springs in the back, and the claw screws are set very very tight. So the bridge is being pulled back against the body very hard. HOWEVER, I can still use it for a tremolo effect on chords and stuff (just have to put some pressure on the bar to get it off the body) No i don't have that much tuning issues. I have an OK-cut stock plastic nut on this neck, I also have locking sperzel tuners. tuners make a difference, as there are no winds around tuner posts
FranticRock 2 years ago
@FranticRock
but during this video on 0:05 you pull thebar up and down... just like SRV--- so are you telling me that the bridge is flat ---^?
also try lubricating the nut, string trees, and saddles with chapstick make wonders beieve me!!!!
topicrass 2 years ago
Correct, that bridge is completely flat on the body. I don't pull up - i push down only and then let it come back up.
FranticRock 2 years ago
It has nothing to do with the type of block you have, it's about your nut and of course tunners, bad saddles will be a problem too. Floating or flat really is not something that determines tunning stability. Bill Callham claims otherwise, and while he is a respected personell, I have found otherwise.
TheMadMusicMan 2 years ago
Actually, setting the bridge to be flat and and putting in 5 springs and tightening the trem claw will make the tuning more stable.
theshyguitarist 2 years ago
It's not about number of springs but how much tension you need. If you have 9 guage strings using five springs will make the arm very stiff. Floating or flat makes no difference if the nut is cut properly and the tuners have neat string winds. If your nut is not cut wide enough to stop friction then you will go out tune either way. I have a alot of experience with many Strats and believe me, the tremolo system works great when setup right.
TheMadMusicMan 2 years ago
Well, it seems like you'll just argue the point, but to tell the truth....I play a Robert Cray hardtail strat with Lollar Blackface pickups anyways. Trems suck and I refuse to use them. That's my opinion. Take care.
theshyguitarist 2 years ago
No I won't argue a point, I respect yoiur opinion. I have a Telecaster with a Strat hardtail bridge and I love it. I love it more than a trem. I didn't like trems for a long time but they do serve their puropse.
TheMadMusicMan 2 years ago
Awesome playing, but I think the delay is super distracting.
ChaoticRain1 2 years ago
I hear ya... I might have overdone it on this one. I just love delays so much, haha..
FranticRock 2 years ago
Very nice tone and great playing. I'm thinking of getting a highway one myself. How is the red finish? It looks rather orangey in this video.
sfeely7 2 years ago
thanks man! I heard these guitars have changed over the years. This one is year 2000. There's practically nothing left stock in it though - i replaced everything. It has 9 way switching, seymour duncan pickups, and copper shielded cavities. The nut and the neck are the only 2 things that are stock. I really love the finish actually, because its nitro laquer. very thin. But it will flake off quite easilly. You can actually scrape it off with the pick ! lol
FranticRock 2 years ago
Sounds terrific!
Waht amp are you using? How do you record?
GreatGreenRiver 2 years ago
Hey man thanks.
Using a fender blues junior with a jansen C12 speaker. Using it completely dry (adding effects later). Using an SM57 to mic it. Adding EQ, delays, reverb in Sonar 3.0 Cakewalk later.
FranticRock 2 years ago
Hey nice playing! I'm thinking about getting this upgrade for my Strat. Is your action really high? Or does it just look like that.
Thanks. :)
fredericiscool 2 years ago
Comment removed
guitarnut7 2 years ago
Very nice job, but the vibrato effect would be better with the bridge floating like Stevie had. I know BIll Callham says the vintage tremolo should not float but, if you have a well cut nut and a neat string job it can flaot and work great. The Callham block is a big upgrade from Fender blocks though... nice job man.
TheMadMusicMan 2 years ago
Very nice.
SpiritLevelBubble 2 years ago
How do you like the Callaham trem block?
is it really better with it?
NickCrate007 2 years ago
Thanks for the callaham description i got one and couldn't be happier nice playing too
bobo9023 2 years ago
smokin
sniffy45 2 years ago
how is the callaham does it make a big difference
bobo9023 2 years ago
Hey! I'd say the Callaham was worth it. It made the guitar kind of "Brighter", but in a nice, articulate way. I'd say it rings better now with the callaham. It makes enough of a difference to shell out the cash (if you feel OK with paying $120 for a solid chunk of cold rolled steel). I also like the shorter trem bar, and the design is smart (won't break that easy).
FranticRock 2 years ago
I have a Callaham trem, pickguard assembly w/ underwound Fralins and really dig it. You have great tone, and picked a great tune SRV, nice. One tip: stop wearing your wrist watch like a gook shopkeeper; no excuse for that.
tonestar100 2 years ago
any suggetion on the installation,, maybe a set up video of the callaham im having trouble s when waving the arm an upper step...
topicrass 2 years ago
Finally got through Lenny myself and went back and listened to your version. Makes me want to quit. You SMOKE.
FalcnLittle 2 years ago
Thanks for the kind words. I'm sure you can get this tune down with enough practice.
FranticRock 2 years ago
Ok thx. You did a great job btw!
Grtz
samvlayen 2 years ago
At 3:37 you start sliding up to the 14th fret, then the sound gets more distorted. So I assume you are using a pedal there right? Or is it something else?
Grtz
samvlayen 2 years ago
Hey man. Yes I am using a Keeley Boss DS-1 there for a little bit of distortion. A tube screamer would be best, but i just went with what I had.
FranticRock 2 years ago
very nice
yesmon4real 2 years ago
Question... Hows that Callaham steel block working out for you? Im thinking about getting one.
strikerfox1 2 years ago
Well it was definitely an improvement. I found more ring to the notes, more vibration in the body. Guitar also got heavier slightly (more mass in the block). The change is not very drastic, but is noticeable. do it - if you already have a guitar that plays well, and want to improve the tone and feel of it. Can't go wrong with it - because you can always stick it in another strat in the future as well... Its a very high quality product. tremolo bar design is a good improvement also
guitarnut7 2 years ago
beauty and class! looks like your best effort!
phildas 2 years ago
Thanks a lot man.
FranticRock 2 years ago
Gawd blimey, I've been playin' the guitar for 17 yrs so far and I feel ashamed while listening to you ;). Keep on rockin' fellar!!
KsiazeIgor 2 years ago
Thank you very much man! I've been practicing this tune for a long long time (and modifying this guitar for 7 years)
FranticRock 2 years ago
Sweetness! The playing is tight and the tone is fantastic...love that sound.
Keep up the great work!
808Monkseal 2 years ago
Excellent tone mate.
5 stars!!!!
Rock on \m/
JacKCampan 2 years ago
I love the rakes !!
dronai 2 years ago
Great job !!!!
dronai 2 years ago
Perfectly done. Absolutely love the tone of this song. Reminds me of Eric Johnson's work.
spectre1209 3 years ago
I could watch you play all day, Alex!
kgmessier 3 years ago
Thank you very much for watching. I love copying SRV. But I will get a bit more improvisational soon.
FranticRock 3 years ago
Great sound & playing, dude!
You should tighten your watch though. You will get considerably more sustain that way. A loose watch sucks up tone.
jacquesguitars 3 years ago
Thanks man.
LOL. The watch is loose, because i already have enough sustain. I didn't want to have "too much" sustain, so I loosened the watch for this song. I have already screwed a brass door hinge to the headstock to improve resonance. So this allows me to have a loose watch! Cheers! Are you from the SD forums by any chance?
FranticRock 3 years ago
Yes yes - I "met" you there when people were discussing how to improve the tone of their strat. I thought the watch was a factor easily overlooked. As guitarists we should always watch our watch, but as I understand you already knew that.
jacquesguitars 3 years ago
Oh man ! This is so good ! I really like your soulful playing.
Greetings from Poland
Rysiek
rsloma71 3 years ago
Thanks for listening man!
Hey I play in a Polish weddings band. We do a lot of Kombi, Budka Suflera, a lot of classics, and dance music.
FranticRock 3 years ago
What a nice surprise ! By the way, Kombi and Budka Suflera are still popular in Poland. I recommend listening to Marek Raduli (formerly of Budka Suflera), which is very nice guitarplayer.
See you on YouTube!
rsloma71 3 years ago
sounds great !*****
jstuka1234 3 years ago
I love your sound
Eveningcicada 3 years ago
Thanks for watching
guitarnut7 3 years ago
Ooops I was on my other account :)
FranticRock 3 years ago
One of the very best versions I've seen in a while. Keep up the good work.
mul211 3 years ago
Thanks a lot man. I wanna do Little Wing note for note. There are some fast passages in that one :P
guitarnut7 3 years ago
Amazing!!!
fendermannnn 3 years ago
Thanks a lot dude!! I'm trying to figure out how to make the video 16:9. Mine was 16:9 but youtube squished it to 4:3. I think its because it was .wmv format I am trying DIVX in 16:9 but its kinda tricky. I'm gonna repost this vid. Thanks for watching :)
FranticRock 3 years ago