What Guitar Strings Should I Use To Sound The Most Like Eric Clapton?
I have been playing guitar for a little while now and I still cant seem to get the sound that I want. I am using a fender deluxe power stratocaster that has tex-mex pickups,and I am playing through a fender hot rod deluxe amp.
I don’t really know anything about strings so any help would be nice.
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I’m not trying to sound insulting by any means, but I’m not sure that Tex-mex pups can really get a Clapton tone.
That said, if you think you’re close, then I would go with one of the following – Elixirs (pref 10’s), or a set that’s nickel and flatwound. One of these is linked below… the ones on the left. Jazz strings get really thick really fast, and if your hands aren’t ready for it they can be killer. Bending will be more difficult, too, with the higher gauges. This is the first set that I found, but you can keep looking. I googled “guitar strings nickel flatwound”.
Nickel = darker, rounder tone vs Steel = brighter and more “attackey”. Flatwound = warmer vs Roundwound = brighter.
I have a feeling that a nice mellow, warm set of strings will help you get closer to your goal.
You may also want to watch the height of your pickups – lower them a little bit (but not too far, as that will sound mushy… you’ll know when they’re too low) and reduce the output. Tex Mex are going to be on the higher output end of the single-coil pups, so you’re going to want to do what you can do reduce how much they push your amp. Judicious usage of your volume knob is advised!
Umm, I think Clapton used his tone knob halfway down and volume to taste (lower on rhythm, higher on solos?) to get that “woman tone”… he also had an onboard midboost circuit installed in his guitar, too. You might be able to approximate that with an EQ pedal. The better way to go would be to *cut* the highest and lowest frequencies, and use a moderate level boost to raise the overall signal, rather than just boosting the mids. Try both, though, it may depend on the pedal! (I think the Boss GE-7 and MXR 10-band are good places to start, although a rackmount 17-band EQ would be more powerful, but where ya gonna put it, right?)
You may also consider putting a different value cap on your tone pot, as that will alter how much high end it pulls off. More cut may give you a darker (and possibly closer) tone.
Good luck!
Saul
If you have to ask, you lack the knowledge, experience, and equipment to sound like Clapton.
If you think using specific equipment can make you sound like someone else, you clearly don’t know what it takes.
Even with Clapton signature strings and a Clapton signature guitar you’ll never sound like Clapton unless you also have his exact technique, experience, recording gear, sound technicians, etc. etc. etc.
And yes, there are Clapton signature strings and a Clapton signature guitar.
And they’re NOT Fenders.
They’re Martins, which is what Eric Clapton now plays (in fact there are several Eric Clapton signature Martins and 2 types of Martin Eric Clapton signature strings).
You will never sound EXACTLY like eric clapton. You want to know the most important thing in making a unique sound/tone? Your fingers. Stop focusing on gear, and start practicing.