Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

[Philcguitars]

This is a question about playing the guitar, not how the Pickup works or sounds.

I'm told, that if you have THREE humbuckers, 2 out of 3 guys will hate it and return the guitar to the shop!

Why?

Because you hit the middle pickup when you pick!

Anyone care to agree or disagree?

I've done my own epxeriment, but am looking for your views.

 

[WhoFan]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

i've had a few MIM strats with 3 full sized humbuckers in them and the middle one sometimes feels like it's in the way... but once you get used to it it's great.. I plan on oneday sticking 3 Duncans again in one of my MIM's.... it's great to have a guitar with some power...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I considered buying a white 3-pickup SG Custom years ago, but couldn't get around that middle pickup whilst picking. I have a middle Strat pickup in my Tele, and that even gives me a bit of trouble now and then.

 

[PFDarkside]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Heck, I hit the middle pickup on a Strat if I'm getting into it! Didn't Ace lower his as far as possible?

 

[That90'sGuy]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I considered buying a white 3-pickup SG Custom years ago, but couldn't get around that middle pickup whilst picking. I have a middle Strat pickup in my Tele, and that even gives me a bit of trouble now and then.

Yup, I had a 3 hum SG Custom and that middle pickup always got in the way. I really didn't care all that much for the middle hum anyways. I had mine wired up to a volume pot so I could blend it however I wanted it - it never really added anything all that useful (humbuckers don't quack like single coils do when you combine the middle pickups).

 

[FAC]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I have a 3 pickup les paul and the middle pickup doesn't get in my way at all, but that's just me. (OK, I know the thread is not about sound, but I wanted to put in a plug for putting PhatCat in the middle position...).

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I don't find it gets in the way at all, but I don't think it adds much to the sound unless you have significantly different pickups in there, like a high output neck and bridge with a lower output middle. I prefer the versatility of an HSH configuration and would most likely stick a Phat Cat in the middle if I had a guitar with a triple humbucker configuration.

 

[ericmeyer4]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I havn't had any experience with one.

I remeber a backing guitarist for Clapton had a strat with just a middle and bridge bucker. It looked sooo cool. If I were to ever get a strat that would be the combo I would get.

 

[Surgeon]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I played one once... I guess I could've got used to it but I'd probably go for a 2 pu guitar myself.

 

[andrizzle]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I've got no experience with them, but THIS ONE is one heckofa sexy guitar!!!

 

[ibanezrocks]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I've got no experience with them, but THIS ONE is one heckofa sexy guitar!!!

I think if one were to play that guitar, the middle pickup getting in the way would be the least of their concerns.

 

[Pink Unicorn Horsey]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Just based on looks -- and because of Ace Frehley -- I'd totally dig a three-bucker Les Paul. However, I've never played one, so I'm not sure whether or not it would get in the way. On my LP Standard, I pick almost directly over the neck bucker, so I have a feeling the triple-bucker wouldn't be an issue for me.

- Keith

 

[Sprinter]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I had a Dean, Cadillac with three humbuckers. I lowered the middle pickup just a little bit, and it worked fine for me.

Sprinter

 

[3'scompany]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

I think if one were to play that guitar, the middle pickup getting in the way would be the least of their concerns.

Hahaha. My initial thoughts exactly. Playing that thing is like running the gauntlet. :laugh2:

 

[theodie]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Does a middle bucker sound any good??? I have never played one.

 

[Rowan]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Does a middle bucker sound any good??? I have never played one.

+1

I've always wondered this as well. Maybe the sound is bassier like a neck pickup but still cuts like a bridge pickup?

 

[FAC]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Does a middle bucker sound any good??? I have never played one.

Short answer: not really.

Long Answer: With stock wiring on a 3 pickup les paul, the middle toggle position gives you the bridge+middle pickup, not the middle pickup alone...so you never really hear the middle pickup by itself. I first rewired mine so I had the middle on a separate volume control (like discussed, above)...but this was cumbersome to change on the fly, and still really did not give the middle by itself (turning the bridge and neck pickups down all the way shorts out the signal, so I never got the middle all alone).

I then used push pull pots to be able to turn the middle on by itself or in combination with the others...and I was not impressed by the sound of the middle humbucker by itself. I replaced the stock gibson with a PG, which was better, but still not great in that position. I switched it to a PhatCat and now I love it. It is currently my main guitar, with the PG in the bridge, a PhatCat in the middle, and another PhatCat in the neck (HSS!!). By the way, with the PhatCat in the middle, the B+M and N+M positions get much closer to that "strat quack" than with the HB in the middle...not the same, of course, but in that family of sounds.

 

[FAC]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

+1

I've always wondered this as well. Maybe the sound is bassier like a neck pickup but still cuts like a bridge pickup?

Oops...just saw this one...I should have addressed this, above. In my opinion, the middle HB alone was actually muddy and didn't cut enough...rather than being the best of both worlds, it was kind of like the worst of both worlds...

I sort of liked it with slide, and kept the HB in the middle for longer than I might have for this reason alone...but ultimately I am much happier with the PhatCat in the middle position because I don't use slide that much at this point.

 

[Low_fidelity2100]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Anytime I've played a 3-bucker LP custom, I've never had any issues with the middle pickup getting in the way. I pick right at the end of the fingerboard, or above the neck pickup most of the time anyways.

But, I've never owned a 3-bucker guitar, just played other peoples. I also don't ever want a 3-bucker guitar though, I think the middle pickup sounds terrible (by itself and with others), and I also think it looks disgusting.

 

[Philcguitars]

Re: Guitars with Triple Humbucker Configurations

Interesting reactins, and I'm glad so many of you have something to add.

In my experiment where I purposely played over my neck Pup, which I often do anyway, I found that I might hit it if picking heavily. Strangely about 2 out of 3 times.

I love the look of a 3 Hum Guitar. I've been told that it can sound great, depending on settings, and your view on tones. However, the guy I was talking to mentioned this issue with guitars coming back.

If you strum mostly with it I don't see there being an issue.

I was also considering, maybe buying a stock 2 bucker, and mounting the middle right beside the bridge.

Keep the views coming. Never expected this thread to take off so well. Great.