Getting a "blues"-like tone

[Keitake]

Hi,

I want to get a blues-like tone for my electric guitar, but no matter how I changed the settings on my amp, I can't get the right tone that I want. When I played it clean, it sounds just like an acoustic guitar. Even on my friend's amp. Is it really supposed to be this way? I remembered playing a Fender on a jamming studio and it sounds really nice playing it clean

Anyway, I want to know which part of the guitar must I change: The pickups, strings or amp?

Regards,
Kei

 

[Phil]

Blues is in the feel, not so much the tone.

But you probably need a lil bit of dirt. Check out some of the many overdrives in the market.

My Danelectro Transparent Overdrive V1 is my main fix for slight overdriven tones nowadays.

 

[mockingbird]

^ Agreed. There are many Blues "drivers" in the market. And you gotta have the feel. That said, I do have this old pedal which I no longer use. It's a Danelectro Pastrami Overdrive. It delivers that sweet bluesy sounds. Perfect if you ask me.

 

[subversion]

one can also acquire a blues-crunch type of drive from a straight-through set up:

*turn down your amp's drive, say to about 60%

*turn down your guitar's volume to taste

 

[Breen]

I like my volume 90%, gain at 15% =]

You can play clean and play blues. You just got to find that soul in you.

 

[glblues]

clean but dirty, dirty but clean is what the majority of blues guitarists go for. i do stress the word "majority"

 

[Keitake]

Thanks everyone! I've got a bit of the sound that I want

Ok, now I'm going slightly out of topic, but my pickups are a bit rusty, and I think it's time for me to upgrade it to a new one. So... Can a humbucker pickups be installed on an S-S-S type Strat Copy?

-Kei

 

[Phil]

Can, but you'd have to route the pickup cavity to get it to fit a humbucker.

Worth the effort and moolah? Entirely at your discretion.

Is it absolutely necessary? Nope, IF you ask me that is.
Single-coils have their uniqueness and uses. Try to make the most of what you already have. Single coils can definitely handle the blues spectacularly.

Rusty pups? It doesn't matter, as long as they are still working fine. Rusty pups generally do not interfere with the sound and tone, just the looks.

 

[Keitake]

Hey thanks! That really motivates me! I don't feel "different" anymore, haha. Alright, so I'm not going to change my pickups.

-Kei

 

[The_Alchemist]

When it comes to the blues, tone is crucial. Of course the most obvious manners of getting there are by electronic means, i.e. overdrives, e.q. settings, pickups, etc. But these are not necessarily the most crucial factors. The secret and most fundamentals to great tone lie in your hands, followed by the thickness of your strings. You can have a really clean, thick tone with wet reverbs like Peter Green, a clean glassy smooth sound like Robert Cray or overdriven tubes screaming away like Stevie Ray Vaughan...they're all so different from one another. But what makes their playing distinct is in the manner of picking, bending, holding, and squeezing that note. Thicker strings will give you a fuller tone as well, but don't overdo it or else you might end up fighting with your guitar each time you solo.

 

[Phil]

'Fighting' and 'tussling' a bit with your guitar is not exactly a bad thing. It's actually quite a good feeling.