Which Pickup To Use?

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Which Pickup To Use?

Postby Phrygian » Sun Nov 07, 2021 2:00 pm

As a relative latecomer, I am impressed with how well That Sound has been documented for the Shadows recordings. I have not yet come across a listing of which pickup Hank used for each particular song. I have watched recent videos to get a clue and found that helpful, but that is not always available. Is there a list documenting which pickup to use for each song?
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby chris mcbain » Sun Nov 07, 2021 3:45 pm

Hello Bob,
There is a list available which usually comes with a pedal when purchased in the UK, these pedals have all the echo patches preset on them and give info on which pick up
settings were used and what type of echo machine was used at the time of the recording but they are all slightly different ( i don't have the list but i am sure some one reading this will send you a copy) I think as a general rule it's the bridge position or one position up but it does vary some, also type of pick ups / string gauges / some say even the wood type makes a different sound, I also read that hank shortened the Wammy bar so his hand was nearer to the bridge. So to really answer your question which ever sounds right for you. I would think every Shadow fan on this site has tried dozens of different setups trying things out to get the Sound and i am sure someone will follow me with some answers for you .

Thanks .
Chris.
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby Uncle Fiesta » Mon Nov 08, 2021 1:20 am

Here's a list I came across:

1861 Middle
36-24-36 Middle
Apache Bridge
Atlantis Neck (Choruses) Bridge (Verses)
Big Boy Bridge
Blue Sky, Blue Sea, Blue Me Neck
Brazil Middle
Cosy Neck
Dance On Neck
Diamonds Bridge & Neck
Fandango Neck
F.B.I. Bridge
Find Me A Golden Street Middle
Foot Tapper Middle
Genie With The Light Brown Lamp Bridge & Neck
Geronimo Neck
Going Home Bridge
Gonzales Middle
Guitar Tango Middle & Neck
It's Been A Blue Day Neck
Jessica Bridge
Kon-Tiki Bridge
Las Tres Carabelas Neck
Les Girls Neck
Main Theme Neck
Man Of Mystery Bridge
Midnight Bridge
Mustang Bridge
Nivram Bridge & Neck
Parisienne Walkways Bridge
Peace Pipe Neck
Perfidia Middle
Quatermasster's Stores Middle
Riders In The Sky Bridge
Round & Round Middle
Sacha Bridge
Shadoogie Bridge
Shazam Neck
Shindig Neck
Some Are Lonely Neck
Somewhere Middle & Neck
Spring Is Nearly Here Middle
Stars Fell On Stockton Middle
Summer Love 59 Bridge
Tales Of A Raggy Tramline Middle
Telstar Bridge
The Boys Middle
The Cruel Sea Bridge & Middle
The Frightened City Bridge
The Girls Neck
The Lost City Neck
The Rise & Fall Of Flingel Bunt Neck
The Rumble Middle
The Savage Bridge
The Stranger Bridge
The Warlord Middle & Neck
Theme For Young Lovers Bridge
Theme From A Filleted Place Middle
Theme From Giant Middle
Theme From Missing Bridge
Theme From Shane Middle
Theme From The Boys Neck
Walk Don't Run Bridge & Neck
Walkin’ Neck
Wipe Out Bridge
Wonderful Land Bridge
Zambesi Neck
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby Phrygian » Tue Nov 09, 2021 4:18 pm

Thanks Uncle Fiesta! Based on the tones I hear and the videos I have seen, I thought Hank used the bridge pickup for many of the original recordings. Since Strats of that era were wired without a tone control for the bridge pickup, I surmise Hank adjusted the tone controls on his amps to get a good sound with the bridge pickup.
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby bazmusicman » Tue Nov 09, 2021 6:58 pm

Phrygian wrote:Thanks Uncle Fiesta! Based on the tones I hear and the videos I have seen, I thought Hank used the bridge pickup for many of the original recordings. Since Strats of that era were wired without a tone control for the bridge pickup, I surmise Hank adjusted the tone controls on his amps to get a good sound with the bridge pickup.

The VOX Amps of the time had a 'Cut Control' which backed off the treble. I still have a 1964 one.

Regards,
Baz.
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby Terry B » Mon Dec 06, 2021 5:43 pm

In my experience your ears are the best judge. The Stratocaster has three very different and distinctive sounds depending on which pickup is used. Over the years you get to know by the tone which is which, and from that even which string is being used for each note - that's the way I've always made my decisions - by ear! As an example, if you listen to "Theme From Shane" on the Shadows to the Fore EP, after the first damped middle eight he switches from the middle to the bridge pickup, you can even hear the flick of the switch and the tone change from middle to bridge as the note dies. The tone changes from a mellow tone to a quite a harsh tone, granted he is really digging into the strings on that section, but nevertheless you can hear the difference.
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Re: Which Pickup To Use?

Postby nivramarvin » Tue Dec 07, 2021 5:09 pm

Maybe this list can add something ...
ShadowsSettings.pdf
(83.93 KiB) Downloaded 411 times
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