Members danswon Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 Does anyone actually use a middle humbucker? I can't see any time i'd ever use one. It's frustrating because i love the look of an SG custom but would never buy one because of that middle 'bucker. Plus it seems that all the 3 humbucker guitars i've seen use a 3-way selector switch, so you lose those sexy in-between sounds! The only way i can imagine appreciating 3 'buckers is if they were all wired in parallel and had a 5-way selector switch, so it'd be in the ballpark of a noiseless strat. Hmm that's got me thinking! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members MyEmergency Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 Does anyone actually use a middle humbucker? I can't see any time i'd ever use one. It's frustrating because i love the look of an SG custom but would never buy one because of that middle 'bucker. Plus it seems that all the 3 humbucker guitars i've seen use a 3-way selector switch, so you lose those sexy in-between sounds! The only way i can imagine appreciating 3 'buckers is if they were all wired in parallel and had a 5-way selector switch, so it'd be in the ballpark of a noiseless strat. Hmm that's got me thinking! I can solve your problem, I used to have one of those, I totally loved the looks but the middle bucker got in the way. Ordered a full face SG pickguard from WD Music, problem solved, just had to had a few screw holes, sorry I don't have a pic anymore, did this a couple years back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members diadorastriker Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 what about a 3 way with 3 coil taps? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steadfastly Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 With a three way switch it doesn't make as much sense but it could still be wired as one or two of the HB's could be split coils, I believe. But, I'm with you, the five way switching makes much more sense. In another but similar train, I saw a guitar yesterday with four coils; a humbucker, a mini humbucker, a single coil and a P-90. The switching was crazy, though. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members cratz2 Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 But how can you look like teh Framptonz or the Frehleyz without three pickupz? I've not played any of the Epis, but most of the Gibsons have three volumes and one tone so you have access to all of the combinations. I'd imagine the Epis are the same arrangement. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I've played three pickup Les Pauls before and the middle position is the middle pickup and the bridge together. It does the strat thing well enough for a convincing version of "Sultans of Swing" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members jrockbridge Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 You could rewire the guitar so it only uses the bridge and neck pickups. Leave the middle pickup in there for looks. You can even lower the middle pickup to help get it out of the way. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 ^^^ The Blackmore version. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members DeadNight Warrior Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I don't really like middle pickups in general. If I had to have one I'd much prefer a single coil though. Not that I'd use it anyway... I'd just leave it there but only have the bridge and neck actually connected, like I'll do to my RG560 when I get around to it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danswon Posted August 22, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I can solve your problem, I used to have one of those, I totally loved the looks but the middle bucker got in the way. Ordered a full face SG pickguard from WD Music, problem solved, just had to had a few screw holes, sorry I don't have a pic anymore, did this a couple years back. I really don't like those SG Standard full-face pickguards Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members mnhhngbfs Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I always thought the three HB Gibsons were wired with the three way switch wired normal (neck + bridge in middle position) and then all three pickups had their own volume knob (can blend middle pickup in at any position), with a master tone control... I'm not familiar with them at all but that's what I remember hearing some where. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members onelife Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members D-log Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I always thought the three HB Gibsons were wired with the three way switch wired normal (neck + bridge in middle position) and then all three pickups had their own volume knob (can blend middle pickup in at any position), with a master tone control... I'm not familiar with them at all but that's what I remember hearing some where. I have a 3 pickup Epiphone SG custom, and it's wiring scheme is Bridge and mid, all three, and neck and mid. With a volume control for each pickup, you basically can get any combination between the three, so I find it very useful. As far the mid humbucker being useless, I'm going to have to disagree. it can be very handy for giving a bit more bite to a neck humbucker, or for rounding off a bridge tone that's too sharp. The only real conceivable complaint I guess you could find with it, is that the mid humbucker can get in the way of picking for certain players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members danswon Posted August 22, 2011 Author Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I have a 3 pickup Epiphone SG custom, and it's wiring scheme is Bridge and mid, all three, and neck and mid. With a volume control for each pickup, you basically can get any combination between the three, so I find it very useful.As far the mid humbucker being useless, I'm going to have to disagree. it can be very handy for giving a bit more bite to a neck humbucker, or for rounding off a bridge tone that's too sharp. The only real conceivable complaint I guess you could find with it, is that the mid humbucker can get in the way of picking for certain players. ah yes that does sound more useful. add a series/parallel switch and you've got lots of useful tones, all noiseless. but yeah my main issue would probably be getting in the way of picking. i do like the look though Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Wulver Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I'd say there's some value to the middle pickup. I've never actually TRIED a mid-position humbucker, but I know a mid-position Strat pickup is highly versatile, seems to have a little more midrange and growliness to it....I quite like it.....a shame so few use it... A mid-position humbucker would be that, but moreso perhaps? And, your idea of parallel-wired humbuckers with Strat switching, quite intriguing. Hm. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members straycat113 Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I sink all the middle pups ala Blackmore and Yngwie in my Strats for interfering with my picking. I could just imagine dealing with that. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members bsman Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 Guitars with three HBs make exactly as much sense as an amp that goes to 11... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members tim gueguen Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 Gibson had several different 3 pickup wiring schemes over the years. The original ES5 had 3 volumes and master tone for its 3 P90s. The Switchmaster version was introed in 1955 and went to a configuration of individual volumes and tones for each pickup, with a 4 way switch that chose each pickup individually or all 3 at once. This was retained when humbuckers replaced the P90s. The 3 pickup Les Paul Custom wiring was neck by itself, middle and bridge together, and bridge by itself. It retained the two volume, two tone configuration of the 2 pickup Les Pauls. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members FlyingV Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 I've got a Flying V-3 with a rotary pickup selector which gives these selections, from one "end" of the selector to the other: bridge+neck, bridge, bridge+middle, middle, middle+neck, neck. A lot of useful tones actually. Took a little while to get used to it, but no problem now. Been using it for live gigs with no problem. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members genesis3 Posted August 22, 2011 Members Share Posted August 22, 2011 middle pickups in combo with the bridge is a great , mellow but not too dark sound when used on a squeeky clean amp settting especially when you pile on the chorus/flange and reverb/delay... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Steadfastly Posted August 23, 2011 Members Share Posted August 23, 2011 It would also make sense if those three humbuckers were different, thus producing different tones/sounds/volume. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Bbreaker Posted August 23, 2011 Members Share Posted August 23, 2011 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members william weterings Posted November 16, 2020 Members Share Posted November 16, 2020 I am just learning to play so I do not know enough about guitars...but its fascinating, now I am learning for a few day's on a Vintage Boulevard Black 1003 with three humbuckers. I like the guitar but I find there is hardly any info by the factory in what everything does, I miss the Info on the volume and toneknobs and I am still discovering what every part does. That in itself is fun but there is hardly any info or user reviews on the web or youtube. Just general info about Vintage and some youtube films on older examples of that brand. Now my question is: Are three humbuckers like this: 2 neck and 1 bridge? Or is the humbucker in the middle a special humbucker for that purpose? Again I am new at this and learning a lot about Gibson/Fender and other brands so sorry if my question seems so simple but hé I am a beginner and up untill now I love the guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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