How to get that kind of Cray Strat Sound?

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Jimbo99

Senior Stratmaster
Jun 5, 2021
4,695
Palm Coast, FL
Fender has this video, at certain points (starting at 2 minute mark) the positions of the Pickup switch are explained & generalized. The Neck position, Blues & Jazz players for a favorite. Robert Cray if I watch his videos closely & focus on the pickup selector switch position, he's playing the neck pickup for "Phone Booth" exclusively.

Summarizing the video linked below:

Neck position = Blues & Jazz
Neck & Middle position = R&B/Funk music.
Middle position = ????, he really didn't indicate what genre of music.
Middle & Bridge position = Country
Bridge position = Lead position, he didn't say it out loud, but the volume level can be clean & crunchier breakup for Rock by adding distortion.

Note for the Fender video, they use a Squier Frontman 10g, although RC uses Matchless & Fender amps. As I was reading that the Matchless Clubman is his main amp, I can see both of the amps have chicken head knobs that can be seen for amp settings.

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The good news, seems RC is a minimalist. Nothing but guitar & amp, no pedal board to chase. Internet detective, looks like he sets it for the formula.

equipboard.com

Robert Cray

Robert Cray's gear and equipment including the RIAA Gold Sales Awards - Robert Cray - Don't Be Afraid of the Dark and RIAA Platinum Sales Award - Robert Cray - Strong Persuader. Get the gear to sound like Robert Cray and get their tone.
equipboard.com equipboard.com
 
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Forpie

Forpie

Senior Stratmaster
Mar 24, 2019
3,697
Montréal
Yeah, driven fender style amp on neck for rhythm and mid+bridge for lead. That’s how he rolls for pretty much all his shows.

Blocking the trem and buying the D Allen VooDoo 69 should get you there… Fender 54 also get very quacky… these pickups are only the ones I experienced the most chimey tone out of, there’s probably a bunch of other good options 👍
 
touch of gray

touch of gray

Senior Stratmaster
Jul 10, 2022
1,020
Bismarck, ND
Jimbo99 said:
This is short of getting a RC Strat.

happybluesman.com

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 happybluesman.com
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Good synopsis, but unless he changed his rig since I saw him a few years ago, he also relied heavily on a Magnatone stereo amp with a LOT of vibrato, as well as a rack mounted Vibroman unit custom built for him. Listen to his early albums- that vibrato was always there.
Like all the greats most of his sound is in his hands, brains and soul. How he attacks the note is most of it, any Strat with decent quack and a decent tube amp will get the rest of it for you. I spent a bit of time chasing his sound, which isn’t as difficult as Stevie’s or other blues icons. In the end I realized I wasn’t him and I needed to find my own sound.
 
touch of gray

touch of gray

Senior Stratmaster
Jul 10, 2022
1,020
Bismarck, ND
guitarchaeologist said:
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).

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I personally liked his sound prior to using Matchless amps. His original 64 Strat, Super Reverb and/or Magnatone amps with lots of vibrato.
 
M

Mojo-Man

Strat-Talk Member
Jul 24, 2022
71
Cologne, Germany
touch of gray said:
Good synopsis, but unless he changed his rig since I saw him a few years ago, he also relied heavily on a Magnatone stereo amp with a LOT of vibrato, as well as a rack mounted Vibroman unit custom built for him. Listen to his early albums- that vibrato was always there.
Like all the greats most of his sound is in his hands, brains and soul. How he attacks the note is most of it, any Strat with decent quack and a decent tube amp will get the rest of it for you. I spent a bit of time chasing his sound, which isn’t as difficult as Stevie’s or other blues icons. In the end I realized I wasn’t him and I needed to find my own sound.
Click to expand...
There's much truth in your words....But however..his strat clean sound for me is very beautiful....
 
touch of gray

touch of gray

Senior Stratmaster
Jul 10, 2022
1,020
Bismarck, ND
Mojo-Man said:
There's much truth in your words....But however..his strat clean sound for me is very beautiful....
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Having said what I said, I know realize I actually owe a ton of my overall Strat sound to him. I often play without any overdrive pedals, just a lot of reverb and vibrato and a little delay.
 
J

Jimbo99

Senior Stratmaster
Jun 5, 2021
4,695
Palm Coast, FL
touch of gray said:
Probably closer than you might think.
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Definitely a big reason why I don't chase artist models. I only went as thorough as I did, might as well get the answers for sameness for every piece of gear that's involved to recreate the identical settings for everything. I don't think there would be much difference with amp choice, Matchless vs Fender.
 
touch of gray

touch of gray

Senior Stratmaster
Jul 10, 2022
1,020
Bismarck, ND
Jimbo99 said:
Definitely a big reason why I don't chase artist models. I only went as thorough as I did, might as well get the answers for sameness for every piece of gear that's involved to recreate the identical settings for everything. I don't think there would be much difference with amp choice, Matchless vs Fender.
Click to expand...
Probably not. I just like 6L6 better than EL84 power tubes.
 
R

Ramblin'man

Strat-O-Master
Feb 20, 2013
923
Northern Illinois
You should chasse an artists model if your in a tribute band. Otherwise just buy a guitar and play it like you want it to sound in your hands. Making music or playing music is all about how you interpret the the piece your working on. Your in charge of how it will sound. Why try to sound like everyone else out there. Create your own special sound.
 
J

JonClarke

Strat-Talker
Aug 6, 2009
232
..
He uses graphtech String Saver Classics for saddles. Custom string gauge on EXL110 set replaces the 10 for 11, 17 for 18 and 26 for 28 and a Dunlop tortex 1mm pick. For pickups go for custom shop Texas specials. A higher action as well.

​

 
stratman323

stratman323

Dr. Stratster
Apr 21, 2010
39,989
London, UK
JonClarke said:
He uses graphtech String Saver Classics for saddles. Custom string gauge on EXL110 set replaces the 10 for 11, 17 for 18 and 26 for 28 and a Dunlop tortex 1mm pick. For pickups go for custom shop Texas specials. A higher action as well.

​

Click to expand...

None of his classic early recordings (which defined his tone) were made with Texas Specials, same as with SRV. They are a later & far from perfect invention. Cray's sound is a '64 Strat with standard pickups. That's all you need to know.

For God's sake don't use Texas Specials.

Ever...
 
J

JonClarke

Strat-Talker
Aug 6, 2009
232
..
The new generation texas specials are good. Lower output than what is in the mexican robert cray signature and the custom shop signature use texas specials. There was even an article with RC saying TS are his favorite pickups.
 
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