How do I make a Single Coil sound thicker?

WellyBlues · Post by **WellyBlues** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:30 pm

I have a Gretsch Lap Steel with 1 x single coil pickup. Replacing the guitar or pickup isn't an option. I'd like it to sound a bit 'thicker', for the blues. And not spend too much, of course.

Looking on the interweb there were a multitude of suggestions, many involving pedals that you can't get easily in NZ. Some suggested a Compressor, others suggested a variety of OD pedals, a few suggested a Klon (makes the EHX Soul Food a contender, that's as much money I'd want to spend). One suggested a Delay between two OD pedals (one solely as a boost). The OD suggestions were to use it mainly as a boost. Is a Chorus part of the picture?

Anyway, I'm confused, again. Wonder what you folks think. Plenty of experience to tap into!

If I had the $$ I'd get a Duesenberg Fairytale. But I don't. Sigh.

Thanks in advance.

Vince · Post by **Vince** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:45 pm

What gauge strings?

StratMatt · Post by **StratMatt** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:50 pm

I picked up a Mcpherson Black boost for about $60 on TM. Just a nice clean boost which I put at the end of my signal chain to even out the volume when I change from buckers to single coil. If you can find something similar I'd recommend that, it works really well.

robnobcorncob · Post by **robnobcorncob** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:53 pm

Do you find the sound thin on clean as well overdriven sounds? What amp are you running it into? I've played a Gretsch Lappy a few times and they are bright but usually rolling the tone control down a bit helps.

Scooter13 · Post by **Scooter13** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 5:59 pm

Vince wrote:What gauge strings?

Good question.

My first avenue would be an OD set fairly clean, I would use a tubescreamer personally.

Rob's suggestion of turning the tone control down if you have one is good. Then you could just play harder/louder without any shrill making the tone seem "thin".

Can you adjust the pickup height too?

harveysj · Post by **harveysj** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:02 pm

I stack a philosophers tone with a soul food for single coil goodness, the soul food alone will start to get you there and they arnt too bad on the wallet.

Aquila Rossa · Post by **Aquila Rossa** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:05 pm

i am not a Strat player, but when i have had one i always found i had to roll back the treble on the bridge pup. that thickened it up a far bit. Yngwie used a DOD 250 to get a very thick tone, so any kind of boost like that would perhaps help.

robnobcorncob · Post by **robnobcorncob** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:08 pm

What tuning are you using?

borge · Post by **borge** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:10 pm

Why don't you want to replace the pup? You can get single sized humbucker that'll drop straight in for less than a pedal. $58 for a kent Armstrong from guitar parts.co.Nz

Post by **Slowy** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:17 pm

Compressors, boost, OD's will all do it depending on the flavour you want. So will the amp (turn it up) and speaker selection. What have you got already? Start with that.

willow13 · Post by **willow13** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:22 pm

does it have a volume pot?? if so check if its 250 or 500k if 500k change to 250.....does it have a tone pot?? if no then add one?? then roll back the treble....move the pick up as far away from the strings as possible (I guess being a lap steel its already miles away so this probably won't make a difference)

jeremyb · Post by **jeremyb** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:30 pm

I've never understood people suggesting pot changes, when the volume is on full it's zero ohms, regardless of the pot value... The higher ohm pots are just required to silence a hotter pick up!

willow13 · Post by **willow13** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 6:36 pm

jeremyb wrote:I've never understood people suggesting pot changes, when the volume is on full it's zero ohms, regardless of the pot value... The higher ohm pots are just required to silence a hotter pick up!

but the internet is always telling me to use 250k pots to fatten singles up..honest

Sustainz · Post by **Sustainz** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:45 pm

Unfortunately, the only real solution is called a humbucker.

In the absence of replacing the single coil, bump up the lower mids with an EQ.

jeremyb · Post by **jeremyb** » Sun Jun 08, 2014 7:55 pm

willow13 wrote:
jeremyb wrote:I've never understood people suggesting pot changes, when the volume is on full it's zero ohms, regardless of the pot value... The higher ohm pots are just required to silence a hotter pick up!
but the internet is always telling me to use 250k pots to fatten singles up..honest

One thing I should say, is tone pots work in reverse, so tone on full is max resistance, so a higher resistance pot does give you a brighter tone

But swapping to a lower resistance pot won't achieve any more than turning your tone control down a tad

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How do I make a Single Coil sound thicker?

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