Author Topic: What do the Apaches sound like? (Read 14301 times)

gripweed · « **on:** May 06, 2005, 06:13:45 PM »

I've been really curious about Alnico III strat pickups. I've known some players who have had the Lindy Fralin real '54's with Alnico III and said that they were weak and very bright. Do the Apaches have a weak and bright sound?

Ratrod · « **Reply #1 on:** May 06, 2005, 06:57:27 PM »

Apache...hmm...could have something to do with the Shadows, you know..Hank Marvin.

And no.... I'm not 50+

lulusg · « **Reply #2 on:** May 07, 2005, 03:18:40 AM »

Hi , there are some interesting reviews on Harmony Central , they may be of some help :)

R/2e · « **Reply #3 on:** May 07, 2005, 07:49:07 AM »

Don't be fooled by the name, they're not a one trick pony. They do nail the Shad's early sounds with the volume backed off a bit, first gig I did with them I had people complimenting me on my Shads sound on the couple of Shads numbers we do, including our bass guitarist, and you know how ignorant of tone bass guitarists are (if it goes thud it's OK.......)!! :D I also took my EMG 60/89 equipped custom to this gig, but only played it for a couple of numbers, it just didn't sound right. That one now sports a pair of Mules!

They're everything a 54 Strat would be and then some, helped by the hotter bridge pickup, they most certainly do NOT have a weak and very bright tone. They have that clear bell like tone clean, but are also capable of driving the amp and providing enough dirt to keep me happy, and the inbetween settings are magic. The bridge pickup is one of the most useable Strat bridge pickups I've ever come across, doesn't have that fingernails across the blackboard teeth on edge sharpness.

gripweed · « **Reply #4 on:** May 07, 2005, 11:10:44 AM »

Quote from: Ratrod

Apache...hmm...could have something to do with the Shadows, you know..Hank Marvin.

And no.... I'm not 50+

Well, I'll be 41 in July ;). But I'm from the U.S. I know who Hank Marvin is, although I can't say that I've ever heard the Shadows music. I don't think they get much airplay on this side of the pond.

Ratrod · « **Reply #5 on:** May 07, 2005, 12:05:54 PM »

The Shadows don't get much airplay overhere either. Our lead guitarists dad is a big fan though. So we sometimes have a little fun with it. Hank Marvin is a good player but it's not my style of music. I'd describe it as tame surf. Kinda like Dick Dale without the tempo but loads of Fender reverb and echo.

R/2e · « **Reply #6 on:** May 07, 2005, 12:52:04 PM »

The closest in the US to the Shadows was the Ventures. But don't get too hung up on the name, think any early Strat players from Buddy Holly on and you have the clean sound capability, only better.

To understand Hank Marvin and the Shadows (or any defining players, Clapton, Hendrix, etc), you really had to be around at the time, late 50's early 60's. Compared to what was available before, the Shadows stuff was new and exciting and Hank is named as a seminal influence by virtually every guitarist who was around at the time, and who was enthused to take up guitar by him (that includes me!). Yes things moved on, and by the mid 60's, they were old hat. I recently saw Hank play at the Strat Concert at Wembley and he's still a very good guitarist indeed. Unfortunately (or fortunately!) nowadays any 13 year old has access to equipment of a quality we only dreamed of, can have lessons, and in no time can play any Hendrix riff you might wish. We had to learn them from the record, with no clue what the man was doing!! That is when you really appreciate people's inventive play. When I was a boy 'widdle' was something you did at the urinal :o

Ratrod · « **Reply #7 on:** May 07, 2005, 04:59:03 PM »

Those were the days. Learning to play from your record player and tape deck. The CD made it a little easier, it's better in tune and it's easier to forward and reverse. Internet ruined it. It made me lazy.

Elliot · « **Reply #8 on:** May 10, 2005, 06:39:02 PM »

I just put an Apache into my 1983 Squier JV '62 strat (in Hank Marvin pink (i.e. fiesta red)

WOW F'ING WOW

I have Mother's Milks in the other two holes - I never normally play bridge so the Apache is there to add a different colour. It replaces a Duncan classic stack that was getting boring and was imbalanced with the other two pups.

(By the way the mother's milks are awesome too - bassy and woody - real 10 out of 10.)

The Apache pickup is just awesome - I pulled off a blues solo and the guitar played itself.

I plugged it into my Tremolo , delay and reverb pedals and played (you guessed it) Apache - the Hank sound was easy to get in seconds.

Best of all - in bridge/middle position (i.e. Apache/MM) I have some of the most convincing surf guitar in the world.

AWESOME DUDES - FIT THEM TO YOUR STRAT TODAY

Ratrod · « **Reply #9 on:** May 10, 2005, 06:57:46 PM »

I have mothers milk in my other two holes?

If you were a girl, that would be disgusting. :stupid:

Sorry man, I'm picturing it.

Our solo guitarist's dad should have Apaches in one of his Strat. Too bad he's the kind of freak that wouldn't even change a screw on his guitars. Sometimes I'm surprised he even changes strings and that he takes the tags off. PDT_022

The amazing Phil · « **Reply #10 on:** May 11, 2005, 09:42:05 AM »

Well the internet is a great learning tool, but I've started trying to learn more stuff by ear, it's a lot harder at first but I'm starting to pick it up slowly. If you practice for obsessive ammounts of time it gets so you can know what's being done without having to see a load of lines with numbers on! I think relying soley on tab held me back for a while, I wasn't using my ears.

As for leaving guitars completely stock, unless it's rare/old I think it's a shame. And even then most times it can be returned to stock provided you didn't have to do any woodwork. Hot rodding them makes the instrument more unique and individual.

gripweed · « **Reply #11 on:** May 11, 2005, 03:55:08 PM »

Quote from: Ratrod

I have mothers milk in my other two holes?

If you were a girl, that would be disgusting. :stupid:

Sorry man, I'm picturing it.

Our solo guitarist's dad should have Apaches in one of his Strat. Too bad he's the kind of freak that wouldn't even change a screw on his guitars. Sometimes I'm surprised he even changes strings and that he takes the tags off. PDT_022

I'm thinking of an Apache for the neck position. I think I would prefer a slightly brighter pickup in that spot anyway.

FELINEGUITARS · « **Reply #12 on:** May 11, 2005, 07:39:13 PM »

Just fitted a set of Apaches to a Fender Jap 62 reissue strat and it sounds great . Kind of a distillation of everything that you think a strat should sound like- well a 60s one anyway.
Goes from twang with lots of reverb/echo to Hendrix vry nicely and all points in between. Very nice indeed.

In the past I positively loathed strats (funny to say that as a guitar repairer) - mainly because of very scratchy sounding pickups and harsh upper-midrange spikes making the amp splutter and squeek, but these handwound pickups may convince me otherwise

Ratrod · « **Reply #13 on:** May 11, 2005, 08:29:55 PM »

I love the strats for their sound but I'll be thinking twice before ever buying one. Ergonomical reasons: the top volume knob, or is that a tone knob? gets in my way, meaning bloody knuckles. And then there's that Fulcrum style vibrato: detunes when palm muting too hard, low sting tension. I sometimes pick up a strat, my ears say yes but every inch of my body screams no. Weird isn't it, for a guitar that was built with ergonomics in mind.

Johnny Mac · « **Reply #14 on:** May 11, 2005, 08:56:21 PM »

''Well the internet is a great learning tool, but I've started trying to learn more stuff by ear, it's a lot harder at first but I'm starting to pick it up slowly. If you practice for obsessive ammounts of time it gets so you can know what's being done without having to see a load of lines with numbers on! I think relying soley on tab held me back for a while, I wasn't using my ears.''

Have you heard of the tascam guitar trainer (CD-GT1mkII). I bought one at the LGS last weekend, it's great!