When I was younger and starting out, I thought that I needed some special guitar like the starts had in order to get a blues tone. Many guitars and £££ later I realised that's not the case. It's possible to get a workable blues tone no matter the guitar. Practice got me the blues tone more than swapping guitars.That was the point I was trying to make in the opening section of this video. The full Patreon video then talks through amps, how I set them up, the pedals I use and how I record the tones on my videos.
I bought a Stage Right Tube Amp ($275) and it is absolutely amazing for acquiring a blues tone. I find it’s all I need besides lots and lots of practice! Love your lessons Marc👍
It wasn’t long ago I struggled with knowing and getting the tone. Going between lessons and distinguishing the different tones sure helped. I have a cheap les paul that had a broken neck with humbuckers and a 2nd hand squier strat. Boss mini amp and a Joyo Batsiin overdrive pedal. I can get close to most blues tones I hear. I bought alnico pick ups from AliExpress before I realised just how close I can get to the tones I hear on Marc’s videos. It was liked a switch was flicked on. Keep practicing and listening and it will come. I am sure I still have a lot more learning to do. The cheap guitars have taught me about set up too. I bought a set of nut files, a crowning file and fret dressing rubbers off STEWMAC, and along with a straight edge and flat sanding bar and probably a few other bits and pieces off AliExpress my guitars are easy to and are a joy to play.
Being able to set up and upgrade your own guitars is an excellent skill to have, and will save money in the long run. I've tried it in the past. I'm ok, but not great. I've put together a few guitars but then paid a pro to do the final set up. Great idea to hone your skills with some cheaper guitars. I've heavily mod'd a few of my guitars.
Thanks for lesson Mark. I use pedal reverb, vintage distortion. My amp is China making NEW -X model....but is sound is good... Your lessons is important for me. Thank a lot friend.
It's a heavily modified Mexican strat. They produced this limited edition finish and I love it. However I've changed neck, pickups, tuners and strap locks! I'd originally intended to swap the pick guard for torty, but decided against it as the black really suited.
@@MarcGuitarVideos I have the same MIM Player HSS strat but in aged cherry. I like the aged white pickup and control knob covers. I want to do the same mods that you have done. What pickups and neck did you go with? The new Fender Player II series has a rosewood fretboard option with rolled edges and I was thinking of getting one of those necks when they become available but who knows when that will be. It would be interesting to know what you went with.
@@retiredguyadventures6211 Neck pickup is a Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Strat. I love it. The original Fender was really good, but I prefer the Fralin. The middle pickup is the original fender and the humbucker is a Bare Knuckles. The tuners are Sperzel locking. I also had the volume pot replaced because the original one broke/developed a fault. I've also changed the strap buttons for locking ones. The biggest change though was swapping the neck. I made a video documenting this here: ua-cam.com/video/TgCn5oRS-fs/v-deo.html so you can see/hear the differences. I hope that's helpful
Was looking at PRS but a little pricey. My next 🎸 will be a Mex strat & put Seymour Duncan humbuckers, JB jr so I can split between single coil to humbucker ( less expensive, with the extra money I can get some pedals). My 🇺🇲strat I will leave it stock. I like the feel of the stratocaster instead of the PRS.
USA PRS are really expensive (Mine took me several years to pay off). Their S2 line is is cheaper but still a little pricey. Great guitars though. My main guitar these days is a Mex strat that I've heavily mod'd. Like you, I prefer the feel of a strat.
Humbuckers and single coils sound quite different but I love both. I find myself playing slightly differently with each as singles tend to be a bit more forgiving where as hum buckers force me to play a little more precisely. By that I mean that, for me, single coils suit a loose style of play which includes more incidental noises/handling noises. Maybe it's psychological because SRV, Hendrix ext tend to be looser and dig in more. What ever it is, I love both!
Hi Marc when people talk about tone why do they not mention the fact that if you play over the selected pickup as opposed to playing between pickups or even playing over a pickup that’s not selected gives you a different tone range
Hi Paul - that's an excellent point. To me the way you play has is bigger impact on tone than the gear you play. I know that's a controversial idea. I made a video a while ago where I took one of my strats and swapped the neck for an A/B comparison of maple and rosewood fretboards. In doing that, I noticed that my picking had a much bigger impact on tone than the neck wood did.
Yes, neck pickup is the pickup by the neck. Bridge pickup is the pickup nearest the bridge. And for guitars with 3 pickups, the 'middle pickup' is the one in the middle.
Thinking most newer players will be watching this so you can’t start the video with overdriven guitar tones. You can put an OD on a piece of lumber and make it sound bluesy but what does that tell you? At least tell us up front what your set up is.
Can't agree with your comment. Kirk Flletcher & Robben Ford sounded fine using the Roland Blues Cube and it's solid state. As for string gauge, B.B. King and Billy Gibbons use 8 gauge. Personally I think tuning stability is compromised with anything lighter than 10 gauge, but each to their own.
When I was younger and starting out, I thought that I needed some special guitar like the starts had in order to get a blues tone. Many guitars and £££ later I realised that's not the case. It's possible to get a workable blues tone no matter the guitar. Practice got me the blues tone more than swapping guitars.That was the point I was trying to make in the opening section of this video. The full Patreon video then talks through amps, how I set them up, the pedals I use and how I record the tones on my videos.
I bought a Stage Right Tube Amp ($275) and it is absolutely amazing for acquiring a blues tone. I find it’s all I need besides lots and lots of practice! Love your lessons Marc👍
Thanks! It's always great when you find a piece of gear that you connect with and can help inspire you
Nice clean tone
Thanks!
I've got a hutchins guitar with 1 pickup and it's great for playing the blues.
I use a little growl for blues. I don't like a thin tone for blues, needs some meat on it.
Absolutely!
Completely agree!
Thank you very much, Marc. Now that I have a different amp (with a tube!) I am getting a much better tone. 😌
Glad to hear that!
It wasn’t long ago I struggled with knowing and getting the tone. Going between lessons and distinguishing the different tones sure helped.
I have a cheap les paul that had a broken neck with humbuckers and a 2nd hand squier strat. Boss mini amp and a Joyo Batsiin overdrive pedal. I can get close to most blues tones I hear. I bought alnico pick ups from AliExpress before I realised just how close I can get to the tones I hear on Marc’s videos. It was liked a switch was flicked on. Keep practicing and listening and it will come. I am sure I still have a lot more learning to do.
The cheap guitars have taught me about set up too. I bought a set of nut files, a crowning file and fret dressing rubbers off STEWMAC, and along with a straight edge and flat sanding bar and probably a few other bits and pieces off AliExpress my guitars are easy to and are a joy to play.
Being able to set up and upgrade your own guitars is an excellent skill to have, and will save money in the long run. I've tried it in the past. I'm ok, but not great. I've put together a few guitars but then paid a pro to do the final set up. Great idea to hone your skills with some cheaper guitars. I've heavily mod'd a few of my guitars.
Thanks for lesson Mark. I use pedal reverb, vintage distortion. My amp is China making NEW -X model....but is sound is good... Your lessons is important for me. Thank a lot friend.
Thanks Stolen. A good dollop of reverb is good for blues
The green strat is beautiful. Looks like a custom shop?
It's a heavily modified Mexican strat. They produced this limited edition finish and I love it. However I've changed neck, pickups, tuners and strap locks! I'd originally intended to swap the pick guard for torty, but decided against it as the black really suited.
It is a beauty.
@@MarcGuitarVideos I have the same MIM Player HSS strat but in aged cherry. I like the aged white pickup and control knob covers. I want to do the same mods that you have done. What pickups and neck did you go with? The new Fender Player II series has a rosewood fretboard option with rolled edges and I was thinking of getting one of those necks when they become available but who knows when that will be. It would be interesting to know what you went with.
@@retiredguyadventures6211 Neck pickup is a Lindy Fralin Vintage Hot Strat. I love it. The original Fender was really good, but I prefer the Fralin. The middle pickup is the original fender and the humbucker is a Bare Knuckles. The tuners are Sperzel locking. I also had the volume pot replaced because the original one broke/developed a fault. I've also changed the strap buttons for locking ones. The biggest change though was swapping the neck. I made a video documenting this here: ua-cam.com/video/TgCn5oRS-fs/v-deo.html so you can see/hear the differences. I hope that's helpful
@@MarcGuitarVideos Thank you! Which Bare Knuckles humbucker did you decide to go with if you don't mind my asking?
I agree, nothing sounds better than a Stratocaster neck pickup. I also think single coil pickups sound great with pedals as well.
I love a single coil with a fuzz, or a wah-wah... or a fuzz AND and wah-wah!
Was looking at PRS but a little pricey. My next 🎸 will be a Mex strat & put Seymour Duncan humbuckers, JB jr so I can split between single coil to humbucker ( less expensive, with the extra money I can get some pedals). My 🇺🇲strat I will leave it stock. I like the feel of the stratocaster instead of the PRS.
USA PRS are really expensive (Mine took me several years to pay off). Their S2 line is is cheaper but still a little pricey. Great guitars though. My main guitar these days is a Mex strat that I've heavily mod'd. Like you, I prefer the feel of a strat.
My bluestone I’m looking for is that clean tone that is on the verge of being overdriven
Excellent
Your red Paul had the best tone.
IMO
Thanks, yes P90s have a very special tone
Hi Marc. I'm changing between humbucker and single coil. Both guitars sound good! Have a nice weekend!
Humbuckers and single coils sound quite different but I love both. I find myself playing slightly differently with each as singles tend to be a bit more forgiving where as hum buckers force me to play a little more precisely. By that I mean that, for me, single coils suit a loose style of play which includes more incidental noises/handling noises. Maybe it's psychological because SRV, Hendrix ext tend to be looser and dig in more. What ever it is, I love both!
@@MarcGuitarVideos You're right. Playing and sound are different but I love both too.
Another great lesson ..Thanks lot Marc 🥰
Thank you! 😃
When I started I thought I had to have a Gibson as my favourite players all used them, but I am most cumfy, and play better with Telecasters or Asats.
I love the sound of a Gibson, but I prefer strats. I think I play better on a strat. They feel more natural to me.
Hi Marc when people talk about tone why do they not mention the fact that if you play over the selected pickup as opposed to playing between pickups or even playing over a pickup that’s not selected gives you a different tone range
Hi Paul - that's an excellent point. To me the way you play has is bigger impact on tone than the gear you play. I know that's a controversial idea. I made a video a while ago where I took one of my strats and swapped the neck for an A/B comparison of maple and rosewood fretboards. In doing that, I noticed that my picking had a much bigger impact on tone than the neck wood did.
wtf is neck pickup the pickup closer to the neck?
Yes, neck pickup is the pickup by the neck. Bridge pickup is the pickup nearest the bridge. And for guitars with 3 pickups, the 'middle pickup' is the one in the middle.
👍🎸
Thinking most newer players will be watching this so you can’t start the video with overdriven guitar tones. You can put an OD on a piece of lumber and make it sound bluesy but what does that tell you? At least tell us up front what your set up is.
Marc was merely letting watchers know they can play blues on any guitar. As he says the level of dirt used differs from player to player.
@@kennypriest7434 a comment, a statement, and a question. What are you talking about?
You said nothing about amp settings or pedals!!
Ok i now see that's on patreon!!
Yes, that's it
13 gauge and tube amp. . .
Can't agree with your comment. Kirk Flletcher & Robben Ford sounded fine using the Roland Blues Cube and it's solid state. As for string gauge, B.B. King and Billy Gibbons use 8 gauge. Personally I think tuning stability is compromised with anything lighter than 10 gauge, but each to their own.
@@graemero5532 bro 13 i have on strat crazy srv sound .. another guitar 9 or 1o is still good