This is my US Deluxe Strat Plus, bought new in '94 on layaway my senior year of high school. I would go into the shop a few times a month to play while paying it off. Wilkinson style roller nut, Schaller locking tuners, Lace Sensor pickups. This was my main guitar all through university and the very rare occasions I got the itch to play for many years after college.

I never realized how the scale length and string gauge had me doing a death grip on the neck and strings until I picked up a PRS a couple years ago as motivation to really try and get playing regularly again. Picking up the Strat today, and my volume/gain settings throughout my signal chain were really underwhelming. So I guess I need a second rig for single coils now! 😂

  • QuasarEnglish
    3·
    1 year ago

    Not sure if you have tried one, but a Boss Eq pedal can help the single coil tone, may save you some cash.

    • Baron Von J@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
      2·
      1 year ago

      Yeah, I could probably get by with just adjusting the Soul Food into a boost, but where’s the panache in that? Also, I have enough pedals from previous iterations of my board to make a second board (my collection is posted over on [email protected] ). In all honesty, though, I really felt the string tension in my wrist and thumb today.

      • QuasarEnglish
        2·
        1 year ago

        I had a feeling you’d have one given your tenure, but figured I’d put it out there anyhow lol

          • QuasarEnglish
            1·
            1 year ago

            I just peeped the pedal collection, got quite a few of my favorites. How do you like the Orange Amp? Always wanted to pick one up but have yet to pull the trigger.

            • Baron Von J@lemmy.worldOPEnglish
              2·
              1 year ago

              I’m super happy with the amp, it’s a Crush 35rt. I like both channels but usually play the dirty channel with the medium gain, low enough for dynamics and cleanup with the guitar’s volume knob. I almost went for the Katana Mk II 100w head, but I’d rather go the old fashioned route for pedals and have no complaints. My son is playing drums now, so I might still get the Katana as a desktop amp in my office and move the full rig and his drums together, if he’s not too embarrassed to jam with his old man.

              • QuasarEnglish
                1·
                1 year ago

                Sounds like a great plan! I’m sure he’d love to jam especially if he can pick a song or two!