Silence Kid
New member
In Parallel; standard setup.
Does anyone actually use this position? How about for non-Jazz? Or under gain? How?
Does anyone actually use this position? How about for non-Jazz? Or under gain? How?
Both Humbuckers
- Thread starter Silence Kid
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Re: Both Humbuckers
You mean each humbucker in parallel mode & then using the middle position for both pickups active, right?
Well haven't had that chance yet since the only aftermarket humbucker for the neck position i had was 59n with two conductors. But I've found that not all bridge pickups sound good in parallel.
Anyway, it will be a cleaner brighter sound, kinda quacky wahish sorta way but not all that nasal sounding. Just wire each pickup in parallel mode(alligator clips could help without soldering) to check out if you like the sound with the pickups you have in there.
You mean each humbucker in parallel mode & then using the middle position for both pickups active, right?
Well haven't had that chance yet since the only aftermarket humbucker for the neck position i had was 59n with two conductors. But I've found that not all bridge pickups sound good in parallel.
Anyway, it will be a cleaner brighter sound, kinda quacky wahish sorta way but not all that nasal sounding. Just wire each pickup in parallel mode(alligator clips could help without soldering) to check out if you like the sound with the pickups you have in there.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
I set up most the pickups I evaluate to be wired for such an options. Each goes to its own switch for series/split/parallel. I do run through all the positions and all the options.
In most cases, I find the middle position of 2 hums in parallel under certain levels of gain to still be very workable for some classic rock rhythm applications (for example).
Best way to learn more is to wire a set up that way and see what you discover.
I set up most the pickups I evaluate to be wired for such an options. Each goes to its own switch for series/split/parallel. I do run through all the positions and all the options.
In most cases, I find the middle position of 2 hums in parallel under certain levels of gain to still be very workable for some classic rock rhythm applications (for example).
Best way to learn more is to wire a set up that way and see what you discover.
VinceT
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
My Music Man Reflex has this setting - it's my #1 guitar by a long way.
To answer your question - both humbuckers on, each internally parallel - yes, I use it. It's close to the standard Tele middle setting (Reflex can also do that with the outer coils, so that's what I prefer)
Typically, and particularly under drive/distortion, flipping the pickup from series to parallel in any position empties out the bass end, and brings in a bit more of a "cut-through" tone. Clean, there's a noticeable drop in volume (nothing a good compressor can't smooth), but when driven that's not so apparent.
Final thought on this, there's a demo video of Blues Saraceno out there with the Reflex, where he puts the bridge in parallel and then winds back the tone, played through a driven amp - it's a surprisingly useful "cocked-wah" tone, and I use it more than I expected I would.
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My Music Man Reflex has this setting - it's my #1 guitar by a long way.
To answer your question - both humbuckers on, each internally parallel - yes, I use it. It's close to the standard Tele middle setting (Reflex can also do that with the outer coils, so that's what I prefer)
Typically, and particularly under drive/distortion, flipping the pickup from series to parallel in any position empties out the bass end, and brings in a bit more of a "cut-through" tone. Clean, there's a noticeable drop in volume (nothing a good compressor can't smooth), but when driven that's not so apparent.
Final thought on this, there's a demo video of Blues Saraceno out there with the Reflex, where he puts the bridge in parallel and then winds back the tone, played through a driven amp - it's a surprisingly useful "cocked-wah" tone, and I use it more than I expected I would.
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Silence Kid
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough; each humbucker in full/series, in parallel combination with each other; such as a Les Paul, or most HH guitars have as the standard "middle."
I'm almost never compelled to select the middle position; a neck or a bridge alone always seems like a better sound for whatever I'm playing. I can get a "flat" sort of jazz tone from both humbuckers combined, but add any distortion and it becomes simultaneously gut-less and muddy. I'm more likely to use neck and bridge combined single coils together on guitars so equipped; I find that to be a workable tone, but not two humbuckers. Wondering how people who do use that tone deal with it; certain guitars/amps/pickups that work well that way?
As for two parallel humbuckers in parallel combination... I had a guitar that could do that at one point, with a Duncan Distortion and an unknown neck pickup... That tone was very, very thin and clucky. At least it had a bit more character than two series humbuckers in combination.
Sorry, I wasn't clear enough; each humbucker in full/series, in parallel combination with each other; such as a Les Paul, or most HH guitars have as the standard "middle."
I'm almost never compelled to select the middle position; a neck or a bridge alone always seems like a better sound for whatever I'm playing. I can get a "flat" sort of jazz tone from both humbuckers combined, but add any distortion and it becomes simultaneously gut-less and muddy. I'm more likely to use neck and bridge combined single coils together on guitars so equipped; I find that to be a workable tone, but not two humbuckers. Wondering how people who do use that tone deal with it; certain guitars/amps/pickups that work well that way?
As for two parallel humbuckers in parallel combination... I had a guitar that could do that at one point, with a Duncan Distortion and an unknown neck pickup... That tone was very, very thin and clucky. At least it had a bit more character than two series humbuckers in combination.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
so... 2 hums wired for series with the 3-way in the middle. some people must be using it, or they would have done away with a 3 way switch for lack of use. LOL! it does seem there was something about that middle position being more usable for some players with the neck humbucker flipped in a Peter Green sort of setup.
so... 2 hums wired for series with the 3-way in the middle. some people must be using it, or they would have done away with a 3 way switch for lack of use. LOL! it does seem there was something about that middle position being more usable for some players with the neck humbucker flipped in a Peter Green sort of setup.
vinnie1971
New member
Both Humbuckers
I have APH1s with push pulls to for series / parallel on each pickup.
I have the middle position as standard with no ability to run both pickups in series.
I do like the sound of a humbucker with both coils in parallel- kind of between a single coil and a filtertron I think.
And I like running coils in parallel with both humbuckers selected in parallel- kind of between a Gretsch and a tele.
I like the sound of a thin bridge and a fat neck together - sort of tele deluxe middle position:
bridge coils in parallel and neck coils in series.
With both pickups in normal humbucking mode, I use the middle position a lot - especially rockabilly style chicken picking.
And the solo for lemon song sounds wrong if it's not played in the middle position .
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I have APH1s with push pulls to for series / parallel on each pickup.
I have the middle position as standard with no ability to run both pickups in series.
I do like the sound of a humbucker with both coils in parallel- kind of between a single coil and a filtertron I think.
And I like running coils in parallel with both humbuckers selected in parallel- kind of between a Gretsch and a tele.
I like the sound of a thin bridge and a fat neck together - sort of tele deluxe middle position:
bridge coils in parallel and neck coils in series.
With both pickups in normal humbucking mode, I use the middle position a lot - especially rockabilly style chicken picking.
And the solo for lemon song sounds wrong if it's not played in the middle position .
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Last edited:
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
Yep. I'm implying the mysteries of every HH setup being wired this way, yet me never being compelled to use it. There must be people who get utility from it. Wonder if I should just incorporate split/split/parallel for middle on my most recent setup.
Yep. I'm implying the mysteries of every HH setup being wired this way, yet me never being compelled to use it. There must be people who get utility from it. Wonder if I should just incorporate split/split/parallel for middle on my most recent setup.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
Honestly, I stopped using split for my own purposes years ago. Parallel gives me what I need, without the hum. I also stopped trying to get clean tones from many bridge hums in preference for getting cleans from middle and/or neck.
It's all a preference things, depending on the persons goals and their rig.
Honestly, I stopped using split for my own purposes years ago. Parallel gives me what I need, without the hum. I also stopped trying to get clean tones from many bridge hums in preference for getting cleans from middle and/or neck.
It's all a preference things, depending on the persons goals and their rig.
beaubrummels
Well-known member
Re: Both Humbuckers
I typically leave my Gibsons in the middle position and roll back the bridge pickup for clean or rhythm playing. Certain songs need neck-only. Leads I just throw to the bridge, or just roll the bridge on full while still in the middle position. The bridge will overtake the neck sound when both are dimed, but the neck in the mix will provide a little fullness and warmth to the lead tone. Note, I don't play high-gain metal.
I typically leave my Gibsons in the middle position and roll back the bridge pickup for clean or rhythm playing. Certain songs need neck-only. Leads I just throw to the bridge, or just roll the bridge on full while still in the middle position. The bridge will overtake the neck sound when both are dimed, but the neck in the mix will provide a little fullness and warmth to the lead tone. Note, I don't play high-gain metal.
Re: Both Humbuckers
Actually, I never use both HB on together. I do use both split (inside or outside coils) quite a bit, though. The sound of both HB is sort of a watered-down version of each on its own for me. I could get by with a 2 position switch if I had to.
Actually, I never use both HB on together. I do use both split (inside or outside coils) quite a bit, though. The sound of both HB is sort of a watered-down version of each on its own for me. I could get by with a 2 position switch if I had to.
darthphineas
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
Well the standard default wiring in most HH guitars has the neck & bridge in parallel when using the middle position. I love that position for cleans but it also depends on the pickups, as in with moderate output p'ups it can kinda get a nice acoustic clean sorta without the piezo sound. With more gain or something its still usuable.
Here's a vid with some gain that gives an idea of it https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aNI3YHQligw
In a LP with two volumes & tones, it can be fine tuned a bit better I guess by blending each pickup sound.
Your thread came up when during from earlier this week I've been wanting to try out the middle position working as the neck & bridge in series and out of phase. That's why I was wondering if you meant something different than series/parallel for individual humbuckers lol
Well the standard default wiring in most HH guitars has the neck & bridge in parallel when using the middle position. I love that position for cleans but it also depends on the pickups, as in with moderate output p'ups it can kinda get a nice acoustic clean sorta without the piezo sound. With more gain or something its still usuable.
Here's a vid with some gain that gives an idea of it https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=aNI3YHQligw
In a LP with two volumes & tones, it can be fine tuned a bit better I guess by blending each pickup sound.
Your thread came up when during from earlier this week I've been wanting to try out the middle position working as the neck & bridge in series and out of phase. That's why I was wondering if you meant something different than series/parallel for individual humbuckers lol
PFDarkside
of the Forum
Re: Both Humbuckers
Yes, I like it for cleaner blues and especially for strumming type clean parts where the neck is too woofy and the bridge is too barky.
Apparently my Les Paul is a dog. :chairfall
Yes, I like it for cleaner blues and especially for strumming type clean parts where the neck is too woofy and the bridge is too barky.
Apparently my Les Paul is a dog. :chairfall
vinnie1971
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
I am just going to ask Jimmy Page what he thinks ;-)
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I am just going to ask Jimmy Page what he thinks ;-)
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Dave Locher
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
I'm on bridge humbucker 99% of the time, but with a four-control guitar (LesPaul, SG, 335, etc.) I like to crank the neck tone all the way down, leave the bridge tone up around 9 or 10, and flip to the middle position rather than mess with the bridge tone control while playing. It's brighter than the neck pickup alone and gives a tone you can't get with either pickup alone. Worked great on an SG I used to play. Other than that, only when playing really clean rockabilly or something.
I'm on bridge humbucker 99% of the time, but with a four-control guitar (LesPaul, SG, 335, etc.) I like to crank the neck tone all the way down, leave the bridge tone up around 9 or 10, and flip to the middle position rather than mess with the bridge tone control while playing. It's brighter than the neck pickup alone and gives a tone you can't get with either pickup alone. Worked great on an SG I used to play. Other than that, only when playing really clean rockabilly or something.
eclecticsynergy
Well-known member
Re: Both Humbuckers
I love middle position. Maybe it comes from forty-plus years with Les Pauls, but I find it pretty natural and intuitive to tweak the volume controls a bit and fine tune the middle tone. With low-output or fairly bright humbuckers you don't need parallel coils for them to clean up really well and there are infinite shades to be had there. On guitars which don't have two volumes it's less flexible but I still use it quite a bit. My oldest PRS with T&Bs sounds almost Tele-like in middle position; it's an absolutely great tone. My McCarty is stellar in middle position but it has 57/08s from which it's nearly impossible to get an unlikeable sound, ever. The Starla sounds excellent unsplit in that position, though its humbuckers are pretty unusual also; I suspect they might have A3 mags. Trying to think of other 2HB axes I've got that only have one volume... The MusicMan Armada has great middle tone. I like the middle tone from my Washburn Maverick too- it has a set of vintage 80s Schallers, no parallel or split wiring.
Maybe I just like middle position. But I seldom use it for lead passages. For leads I mostly hit bridge pickup full on, or sometimes neck pickup on full.
I love middle position. Maybe it comes from forty-plus years with Les Pauls, but I find it pretty natural and intuitive to tweak the volume controls a bit and fine tune the middle tone. With low-output or fairly bright humbuckers you don't need parallel coils for them to clean up really well and there are infinite shades to be had there. On guitars which don't have two volumes it's less flexible but I still use it quite a bit. My oldest PRS with T&Bs sounds almost Tele-like in middle position; it's an absolutely great tone. My McCarty is stellar in middle position but it has 57/08s from which it's nearly impossible to get an unlikeable sound, ever. The Starla sounds excellent unsplit in that position, though its humbuckers are pretty unusual also; I suspect they might have A3 mags. Trying to think of other 2HB axes I've got that only have one volume... The MusicMan Armada has great middle tone. I like the middle tone from my Washburn Maverick too- it has a set of vintage 80s Schallers, no parallel or split wiring.
Maybe I just like middle position. But I seldom use it for lead passages. For leads I mostly hit bridge pickup full on, or sometimes neck pickup on full.
Silence Kid
New member
Re: Both Humbuckers
There's a point there on tweaking individual volumes of each pickup; on a Jazz Bass, I almost always have both pickups on to some extent largely due to having that level of control. I haven't had a Les Paul or guitar with individual volumes in years, though; my HH guitars are Strats/Superstrats.
There's a point there on tweaking individual volumes of each pickup; on a Jazz Bass, I almost always have both pickups on to some extent largely due to having that level of control. I haven't had a Les Paul or guitar with individual volumes in years, though; my HH guitars are Strats/Superstrats.
