Telecaster tone from a dual humbucker Strat?
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I'm guessing this is asking more from a modeling amp than possible, but is it possible to get a Telecaster "twang" out of an HH Strat style guitar? Looking forward to the "just buy a Tele" comments, which I'm considering, but thought I'd ask. :) I spent a lot of time leveling my frets and finding a guitar that physically fits (Strandberg like headless) and I really love the form factor. Not a fan of the way a Tele looks, but love that sound.
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@cbrandst i have 3 Solar guitars that are "Strat" style. They all have HH and a 5 way switch so pos 2 splits the bridge humbucker, pos 4 splits the neck humbucker. You get a nice twang from them in split mode, although not quite the Tele twang.
Models i have are A1.6FRC, S1.6FRQOB, S1.6FRBLB. The "FR" in the model no == Floyd Rose 1000.
I have 2 other Solars too - a single cut GC1.6 and an explorer type E1.6. Both those are also HH. All have awesome necks and compliment my 2 strats and Ibanez Pia.I have ToneCloud tones uploaded too that i've tailored for HH.
Search ToneCloud for "CMP" which is my Country Member Productions tag and you'll find them. -
@peter-moore350 After doing some research, it looks like I might be able to replace my bridge pickup with a Seymour Duncan Twang Banger. I borrowed a Telecaster from my father in law and the form factor is so different that I think it's work it to explore how I can get the Tele sound out of my existing guitar. I'd be swapping a dual coil for a single coil, but I can get a pickup covered designed for covering the extra space in the cavity. Was hoping to just use the Spark amp to get a supper Twangy sound, but that doesn't seem possible. I wonder if some of the Positive Grid software could get me that sound without having to swap hardware. I haven't checked into their software much and don't know if it's got a lot more options for stuff like that or if it just a duplicate of the software running on the Spark Amp. Seems like I've got more digging to do.
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@cbrandst Ok, well, that didn't take long. Might not be 100% the same sound, but it's close enough to my ears. And the answer for anybody else looking to get that Tele twang sound without hardware swapping or modification seems to be Bias FX.
Timestamp = 14:53
Earlier in the video he runs through a calibration process so the software knows the profile of the input signal, but once you do that it knows what to do to change the sound for the desired results. Not the best solution for all situations, but for what I'm doing, sounds like it would work well. I don't have a separate interface for the guitar, but I wonder if I can use the Spark as an input interface only and then feed the sound into Bias FX?
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@cbrandst cool i'll watch it after work tonight.
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@cbrandst i can verify that using the spark into Bias FX2 works fine. My Spark is basically dead, but the headphone jack still works and i thought i'd see if i could still use the usb in Bias FX or AmpliTube and the usb interface still works.
See https://forum.positivegrid.com/topic/5960/spark-audio-dropping-out-for-10-20-seconds-every-few-minutes/One thing you'll need to be aware of though is that whatever patch you have on the Spark will be reflected in the software sonically. So you have a chorus enabled on the spark it will be in the chain.
What some ppl have done is swipe up on the icons in the Spark iOS/iPadOS patch you are on and switch off the amp and all effects. Switching off the amp tho will lower the input volume a little but that's fine because it just passes through the raw guitar into the software. Then in there just adjust the volume for the input in sound preferences in macOS or windows or even in Linux. Yes the Spark works as a usb input/ouput in Linux ! -
@peter-moore350 That's unfortunate that your Spark is having issues. I've recently noticed mine sometimes stops working and I have to power it back off and back on. It's only happened about 5 times over the last month, but that makes me think it's days are numbered. I've had mine for about 1.5 years and like you, if I goes out, I'll probably try something else out as lasting just beyond the warranty is not sometime I'll take a chance on a second time. Good to know I might be able to use some software to get around such an issue in a pinch.
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@cbrandst yeah it is rather annoying. My friend is in electronics and he's suggested a couple of things (i updated the post).
I just ordered a Bugera T50 Infinium. It's just an amp, no usb etc but has DI out so i can connect it to my Behringer USB mixer and use AmpliTube, Bias FX etc. I have a Hughes & Kettner 2x12 cab which the Bugera will compliment.
Worse case scenario is i can tap the Sparks speaker wires and use it as small speaker box if i don't want the 2x12 on.
I bought some Morel Ultra 402 2-way speakers January 2021 similar to this Hackaday mod thread https://hackaday.io/project/174163-positive-grid-spark-40-teardownmodsAmazon link to the Morels i have.
https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B071YFBWYW/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_asin_title_o02_s00?ie=UTF8&psc=1Much better than the factory speakers, although the factory ones are in there now in case i have to send it back to Positive Grid under warranty. Same 4ohm specs so it's not gonna cause any issues.