How to get that kind of Cray Strat Sound?

[Mojo-Man]

Hey you people,
can you recommend any pickups that sound similiar to this awseome strat sound of Robert Cray in this video ; ?
I know Cray has a hardtail strat and that of course influences the sound. But iam not going to copy his sound but i want to have new pickups on a MIJ strat (1993) and are really looking for PU's that might quack like these in the video.

Thanks from Cologne (Germany)
Mathis

 

[guitarface]

Any traditional low output strat pickups.

 

[joebtone]

Fender Original 57/62's

 

[Quikstyl]

Hey you people,
can you recommend any pickups that sound similiar to this awseome strat sound of Robert Cray in this video ; ?
I know Cray has a hardtail strat and that of course influences the sound. But iam not going to copy his sound but i want to have new pickups on a MIJ strat (1993) and are really looking for PU's that might quack like these in the video.

Thanks from Cologne (Germany)
Mathis

Pos 3 on the switch. Hardtail.

 

[Ramblin'man]

I have a set of Cray pickups and the specs are close to early CS Texas Specials.

 

[Jimbo99]

This is short of getting a RC Strat.

How To Sound Like Robert Cray - Happy Bluesman

Like Stevie Ray Vaughan, Robert Cray played a huge role in reviving the blues genre during the 1980s. And he did so whilst fusing the blues

happybluesman.com

 

[gypsyseven]

I have a set of Cray pickups and the specs are close to early CS Texas Specials.

Yeah, but the pole pieces are staggered differently…

 

[Jimbo99]

I often wonder how close my 2005 Squier Bullet SSS HT is to either the MiM RC or even the CS RC Strats. For this song, he plays the switch for the neck pickup.




Not RC, but a RC Strat being played.

 

[Jimbo99]

The Bullet HT specs are very close to the Fender RC's. The CS has 10-46's on it, the Squier 9-42's. I prefer 9.5-44's.

Bullet® Stratocaster® HT | Squier Electric Guitars

Bullet® Stratocaster® HT, Laurel Fingerboard, Brown Sunburst

www.fender.com

Robert Cray Stratocaster® | Electric Guitars

Robert Cray Stratocaster®, Rosewood Fingerboard, 3-Color Sunburst

www.fender.com

Robert Cray Signature Stratocaster® | Artist Series | Fender® Custom Shop

The official Fender® Robert Cray Signature Stratocaster® product details, reviews and authorized dealer information.

www.fendercustomshop.com

 

[stratman323]

Pos 3 on the switch. Hardtail.

Wrong, it's neck & middle, which most people call position 4. That should be obvious from the sound? His classic recordings were made before anyone had heard of Texas Specials. I believe he uses a Super Reverb, which will be far more relevant to his tone than which brand of pickup he uses.

 

[guitarchaeologist]

Wrong, it's neck & middle, which most people call position 4. That should be obvious from the sound? His classic recordings were made before anyone had heard of Texas Specials. I believe he uses a Super Reverb, which will be far more relevant to his tone than which brand of pickup he uses.

Or Matchless amps, or sometimes a combo of the two.
In that video, he's using a pick, but he often palms it (RC talks about that and his tone in general in the vid below)

@Quikstyl ... hardtail makes extremely little difference (if any).

 

[stratman323]

Or Matchless amps, or sometimes a combo of the two.
In that video, he's using a pick, but he often palms it.

@Quikstyl ... hardtail makes extremely little difference (if any).

Or, if he's over here, whatever he can hire, probably a Twin. He still sounds like Robert Cray though. Perhaps there's a reason for that?

 

[unionjack515]

@Quikstyl ... hardtail makes extremely little difference (if any).

Certainly a matter of opinion. I never make any claims about being able to pick out attributes of a guitar by their sound (I’m sure I’d even struggle with the Tele vs Les Paul on some days!) but I am positive I can hear the difference in my tremolo equipped Strats versus my hardtail. Especially in positions 2 and 4. Not sure why that would be but the difference definitely stands out more in those.

And as mentioned before…those high- clean headroom amps make a big difference. Matchless, Fender Vibro King etc.

Good luck!

 

[guitarchaeologist]

Certainly a matter of opinion. I never make any claims about being able to pick out attributes of a guitar by their sound (I’m sure I’d even struggle with the Tele vs Les Paul on some days!) but I am positive I can hear the difference in my tremolo equipped Strats versus my hardtail. Especially in positions 2 and 4. Not sure why that would be but the difference definitely stands out more in those.

And as mentioned before…those high- clean headroom amps make a big difference. Matchless, Fender Vibro King etc.

Good luck!

I have two hardtails and one trem Strat. All very similar. All setup very similarly. All with the same brand and size strings.
In a blind test, I can hear slight differences in the three, I couldn't tell you which was the trem unit.
I seriously doubt any mortal could. YMMV.

 

[stylemessiah]

One would think its more about his picking technique (fingers or pick) and *where* he's picking

I think theres plenty of folks wouldnt mind sounding like Young Bob, me included

 

[Quikstyl]

Wrong, it's neck & middle, which most people call position 4. That should be obvious from the sound? His classic recordings were made before anyone had heard of Texas Specials. I believe he uses a Super Reverb, which will be far more relevant to his tone than which brand of pickup he uses.

You're probably correct. I never liked the guy.

 

[Mojo-Man]

I have two hardtails and one trem Strat. All very similar. All setup very similarly. All with the same brand and size strings.
In a blind test, I can hear slight differences in the three, I couldn't tell you which was the trem unit.
I seriously doubt any mortal could. YMMV.



View attachment 622251

 

[Mojo-Man]

I have two hardtails and one trem Strat. All very similar. All setup very similarly. All with the same brand and size strings.
In a blind test, I can hear slight differences in the three, I couldn't tell you which was the trem unit.
I seriously doubt any mortal could. YMMV.



View attachment 622251

Sweet looking strats...

 

[stratman323]

You're probably correct. I never liked the guy.

It's easier to understand how someone gets their sound if you have actually taken the time to listen to them. If you haven't, why comment?

 

[Quikstyl]

It's easier to understand how someone gets their sound if you have actually taken the time to listen to them. If you haven't, why comment?

I've listened. Just not a fan. Was trying to help. Not be an ass.