Re: Guys with 3-Humbucker Guitars
I dont see the point in putting something like a Custom in the middle. There is no way that sounds as good as the bridge JB for metal rythm and soloing, OR as good as the neck Distortion for metal soloing.
So whats the point?
Because he likes it and you, who very likely hasn't even tried it in his exact setup and for the sound he wants, do not think you would. Of course those pups won't sound the same as they do in the bridge or neck positions, but to say they don't sound as good is completely subjective and not a reason to avoid trying it, if you're open to such changes and like tonal options. However, it is reasonable to advise someone not to expect a pup in the middle to give the same tone as it would give in other positions.
My point is that if you don't agree with it, you either 1) haven't even tried it, or at least tried the exact setup others have found useful, and are ok with just relying on what you've read about it and making speculations about it 2) you're just not the type who likes a lot of options and variety, and that's fine, or 3) you've tried it and the tone or physical position just isn't for you, and that's fine.
The tones I get by mixing the neck and middle while both are in parallel or mixing the parallel middle with the series bridge are unique, without any kind of weird characteristics, and are like having a second guitar, only now I don't need one to get that tone (which a second guitar with standard positions wouldn't provide anyway). Without it, it doesn't exist on this one guitar. What could be better? I know, setting both neck and middle to single and blending them, to get a clearer, more open sound, etc.
When I get tired of that, I just revert to using just the bridge in series alone or just the neck in parallel alone, which are what I use the most, simply because they respond better to high gain, which is the gain level I spend the more time in. If I spent all my time playing clean or mildly dirty, I'd actually spend more time on the neck and middle with this guitar.
All of my options are noticeably different, so I'm very pleased with it. Does this mean every new guitar I get will go this route? Maybe, but only if they use a plastic pickguard and have a large cavity like the Parker does.
My next project is a warmoth solist with basswood body, maple top, and mahogony neck. It will use just two humbuckers (likely a PATB2 in the bridge and, gasp, a JB in the neck; not sure yet) because the electronics cavity is smaller than the parker, I don't want to drill it larger, and the pup mounting includes a plastic rim box that plastic pickguards don't require, meaning an extended edge to get in the way; I have just enough clearance with the Parker where the middle doesn't bump me.
