Very basic, basics...
Posted: 21 Sep 2009, 10:29
Over the years, I've heard lots of people playing Shads music on a variety of kit... I've heard guys playing my 40th Anniversary Hank Sig Strat (before I sold it) through expensive echo units and a vintage Vox - and sounding like a bunch of slack elastic bands. And I've heard others playing a £120 Strat copy through a cheap transistor amp sounding remarkably like the real thing. So what do we learn?
Even if you went and and bought the best kit (ancient or modern) unless you start out doing the right thing with your fingers, it won't happen for you... so here are the very basic, basics of getting that sound.
1) Strings: Nothing lighter than 10-46 strings will get the right sound, and there are those who insist that 12-52 strings with a wound third string are the only route. You may finish up there in the end (perhaps via 11-48), but it will require a new set-up on your guitar, so in the meantime just make sure your strings are a minimum of 10-46 and are fresh (I use Fast Fret to help maintain the twang but not everyone agrees...)
2) With minor exceptions, Hank plays holding his tremelo arm in his hand. (I hold it with my pinky and ring finger together, leaving the others and thumb for picking) The effect of this is to force you to pick the strings near the neck pickup at all times - which is why even the Strat's edgy bridge pickup can sound mellow. Hank's personal guitars have either a shortened standard arm (in the old days) or more recently the Easy Mute arm which is both shorter and has a shape which allows easier muting at the bridge (http://www.easymute.freeserve.co.uk/). The easiest and cheapest option is to remove the trem arm, remove the plastic knob, saw and inch off, and replace the knob... (or of course you could buy a spare and do it to that, or buy and Easy Mute ... welcome to G.A.S. - gear acquisition syndrome!)
The shortened trem will make you play just south of the neck pickup (where the head is north!)...
3) Plectrum: Don't use a wimpy thin thing... different pick material sound different, and what's good for rhythm isn't likely to be good for lead. Try a variety and see what's most comfy for you (I've used these http://www.jhs.co.uk/dava.html exclusively for years now - the simple green ones at the top - because I can get great tone and they allow flexibility for chords and stiffness for twang all in one pick... but you find your own way!)
4)Trem setting: Your trem should be set up to allow up and down bends of approx 1 semitone. This equates to a gap between the trem base plate of between 1.5 - 2.0 mm. There are many sites on the web which will go into the how-tos of adjustment (something of a black art) but try this for starters http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php
Why all the fuss? Because when you use your trem, Hank style, don't waggle it up and down... it doesn't sound right! Very gently, use slight up-pulls to get the right effect...
5) Finally for today... you may know the notes but it still doesn't sound right? Are you playing it in the right position on the fretboard? When I came back to playing Shads music in 1996 I found that I had to relearn it all... the positions I used as a kid on my Hofner Colorama were all wrong. Listen carefully to the records and try playing your tune somewhere different... (Tabs are sometimes wrong you know...
Hope you found this useful...
Even if you went and and bought the best kit (ancient or modern) unless you start out doing the right thing with your fingers, it won't happen for you... so here are the very basic, basics of getting that sound.
1) Strings: Nothing lighter than 10-46 strings will get the right sound, and there are those who insist that 12-52 strings with a wound third string are the only route. You may finish up there in the end (perhaps via 11-48), but it will require a new set-up on your guitar, so in the meantime just make sure your strings are a minimum of 10-46 and are fresh (I use Fast Fret to help maintain the twang but not everyone agrees...)
2) With minor exceptions, Hank plays holding his tremelo arm in his hand. (I hold it with my pinky and ring finger together, leaving the others and thumb for picking) The effect of this is to force you to pick the strings near the neck pickup at all times - which is why even the Strat's edgy bridge pickup can sound mellow. Hank's personal guitars have either a shortened standard arm (in the old days) or more recently the Easy Mute arm which is both shorter and has a shape which allows easier muting at the bridge (http://www.easymute.freeserve.co.uk/). The easiest and cheapest option is to remove the trem arm, remove the plastic knob, saw and inch off, and replace the knob... (or of course you could buy a spare and do it to that, or buy and Easy Mute ... welcome to G.A.S. - gear acquisition syndrome!)
The shortened trem will make you play just south of the neck pickup (where the head is north!)...
3) Plectrum: Don't use a wimpy thin thing... different pick material sound different, and what's good for rhythm isn't likely to be good for lead. Try a variety and see what's most comfy for you (I've used these http://www.jhs.co.uk/dava.html exclusively for years now - the simple green ones at the top - because I can get great tone and they allow flexibility for chords and stiffness for twang all in one pick... but you find your own way!)
4)Trem setting: Your trem should be set up to allow up and down bends of approx 1 semitone. This equates to a gap between the trem base plate of between 1.5 - 2.0 mm. There are many sites on the web which will go into the how-tos of adjustment (something of a black art) but try this for starters http://www.fender.com/support/stratocaster.php
Why all the fuss? Because when you use your trem, Hank style, don't waggle it up and down... it doesn't sound right! Very gently, use slight up-pulls to get the right effect...
5) Finally for today... you may know the notes but it still doesn't sound right? Are you playing it in the right position on the fretboard? When I came back to playing Shads music in 1996 I found that I had to relearn it all... the positions I used as a kid on my Hofner Colorama were all wrong. Listen carefully to the records and try playing your tune somewhere different... (Tabs are sometimes wrong you know...
Hope you found this useful...