Strat +DR?

[enuenu]

I have a 3 ch DR + Recto 4 x 12 + Gibson Explorer. The bowell shattering rock chords this rig spits out are heavenly. However I am looking to spend some money to get some new tones. I am tossing up between getting a LP (Traditional Pro maybe) and a CS Strat. Leaning to a Strat just to get a real new sound.

Plus I love Jimi and I think every self respecting guitarist should perhaps own a Strat at least once in their life.

I was wondering how a Strat would go with my DR. Clear cleans in my DR don't exist beyond loud bedroom volume so I was wondering if a Strat is a bad match. I am sure however it would sound a lot different to my Explorer and thought that some new tones might be fun if they are in there. I wonder what the Strat would do at my favourite super high gain settings. Weak, thin, rich, great, crap ????

Some have said a DR is a one trick high gain pony and playing a Strat through it is a bit silly. My other option would be to get hold of a Mesa Lone Star head, dump the DR head and get the Strat.

Many ways to go. Any opinions? Main question is;
Strat + DR = ?????

PS - I like metal, stoner rock and hard rock mainly but play a bit of everything.

 

[sted]

By your musical preferences I wouldnt dump your recto for a lone star, totally different animals, the lone stars are great amps but it wont have the gut punch of your DR.
In terms of guitars a LP is close to an explorer in terms of sound and features, both are superb rock instruments with perhaps the LP having a tad more versatility for other styles, the strat will provide a completely different tonal ball park to your explorer but dont be expecting scintillating high gain performance from a strat bridge single coil, especially anything vintage voiced. Ive literally just ordered a cool rails to sit in my bridge on the strat to try and get a little bit more meat in there for leads, no way would I change the neck pup on a strat though, sheer blues bliss!
I would try a few strats on rectos and see which suits you best, the new American Specials look exceptional value for the features you get and are more modern sounding than CS builds.
In all honesty if it was me I would ditch the explorer and get an american special HSS strat and a used LP std with some hotter pups, heaven! 8)

 

[enuenu]

Here is a guy getting what I consider some great tones with a Strat and DR. Maybe I need a re-tube as the cleans on my DR come nowhere near what this guy achieves. Maybe it is the Strat?

The tones in this clip sound a lot more articulate than my Explorer. Some chords I play on my Explorer get overly dominated by the low E string. Maybe the thinner tone of the Strat removed some of the boom? The Explorer would still do down tuned evilness better though I would gues.

 

[sted]

Im not a fan of that combination to be honest, sounded great on the gainy settings but the cleans werent anything special, guess thats not the DR's strong point anyways. why not look at the Mark series? they can do clean and high gain equally well ,though its not the same sound as a rec (What is!).

 

[erectifier]

I have a strat in my quiver and its the oldest one there, my first guitar! I honestly love them and am able to get a really good sound from it (probably the seymour duncan invader in it mwahaha) but the thing i love about them is that they will take any pickup any string gauge etc (just dont buy one with a trem!) and their necks are pure bliss to play on, unless your used to ibanez or jackson. If you play gibson id probably get one with a c-shape or something. ultimately, like everything else, you need to find a store with DR's and strats for sale and try it out who knows you may just hate how it feels slung over your shoulder.

 

[erectifier]

....as you said every self respecting guitarist should have one anyways so youll probs buy one hahah

 

[enuenu]

I've played Strats and Teles, but never through a DR. I loved a CS Tele I played through an AC30. Real easy to chord.

I will put a Strat thru a DR at my local shop and see what the combo can do. I have considered other amps as well. However as mentioned I think I would miss that evil Recto growl. Also, the problem is that when you offload your used gear you really don't get value and you lose a part of your history. I don't know if I can part with anything I have!

Yes, I think I will probably get a white Strat in homage to my man Jimi. Just a matter of choosing the right one. In particular one with the right pups to suit what I want to do (where do i start here!) I have the Explorer for the evil stuff, now for something with a sort of vintage edge.

The other axe I was considering was the new Gibson LP Traditional Pro, you can coil split the 'buckers in this baby. I'm not sure but I think you can only buy them thru GC.

 

[Roadifier]

you could always buy a strat with a humbucker in the bridge and then have to two single coils on top. That might suit your needs

 

[sted]

I've played Strats and Teles, but never through a DR. I loved a CS Tele I played through an AC30. Real easy to chord.

I will put a Strat thru a DR at my local shop and see what the combo can do. I have considered other amps as well. However as mentioned I think I would miss that evil Recto growl. Also, the problem is that when you offload your used gear you really don't get value and you lose a part of your history. I don't know if I can part with anything I have!

Yes, I think I will probably get a white Strat in homage to my man Jimi. Just a matter of choosing the right one. In particular one with the right pups to suit what I want to do (where do i start here!) I have the Explorer for the evil stuff, now for something with a sort of vintage edge.

The other axe I was considering was the new Gibson LP Traditional Pro, you can coil split the 'buckers in this baby. I'm not sure but I think you can only buy them thru GC.

Beauty of a strat is that there are literally hundreds of pups out there, miught as well start with the stock ones and let your ear tell what you want from there on in.

 

[enuenu]

Thanks all. Opinion seems to vary a bit. I will go down to my local store, grab a Strat off the wall and head for their amp room.

 

[cheameup]

I dont have a strat but I use my cole clark tele with my DR . The pick ups are stock and I will change them out one day but its really good for some things with the DR . The stock bridge humbucker is a bit weak for metal so If I drop a nice pickup in there it will be good combo of the single coil neck with a fat bridge for heaviness

 

[enuenu]

Well I just got back from my local shop after playing a CS NOS 60s Strat through a DR. In a word "fantastic". It beat the **** out of the Standad Strat and an American Deluxe.

The cleans were lovely but bridge pup on high gain was blowing my mind. Much brighter and articulate than my Explorer. Not knocking the Explorer, just very different.

Also played an ESP Viper with EMGs for something different. Total metal and awesome but the Strat had something real.

 

[erectifier]

im glad you got to try some out and liked the results! i know ill always keep my strat for something bright and jangly.

 

[lesterchopper]

Well I just got back from my local shop after playing a CS NOS 60s Strat through a DR. In a word "fantastic". It beat the sh!t out of the Standad Strat and an American Deluxe.

The cleans were lovely but bridge pup on high gain was blowing my mind. Much brighter and articulate than my Explorer. Not knocking the Explorer, just very different.

Also played an ESP Viper with EMGs for something different. Total metal and awesome but the Strat had something real.

I have a CS 60 NOS Strat I'm working on making a closet classic. I guess I'll bust it out and put it to work on my 2 ch DR.

 

[TTSTWO]

you could always buy a strat with a humbucker in the bridge and then have to two single coils on top. That might suit your needs

That's what I did but unfortunately I don't own a Recto.....