zenmindbeginner
New member
Re: Let's talk about the middle pup on a Stratocaster.
I like to keep my middle pick down as low as possible. Neck is fairly low and the bridge pickup is normal height. This gives me different levels of overdrive since I have distinctly different millivolt outputs coming from each pickup position. This makes each pickup hit the amp differently and gives me 3 different gain levels with just flicking the switch. The middle pickup is my crystal-clean sound (can sub for country twang if needed)... the neck is my jazz/blues with a hint of grit and edge. The bridge pickup is where the rawk happens... with a balanced set like the Antiquities and their custom bridges, the rawk is even more pronounced. If the amp is set just right, I find I just toggle through the positions when I want different levels of gain.
And I'd like to give a shout out to the Duckbucker. After I installed my first Duckbucker... I was underwhelmed and couldn't believe how low it's output was. Over time however, I figured out that the low output is the source of it's power and strength as a middle pickup. It behaves just like a totally lowered vintage output strat RWRP middle. It is sooooo quacky and has really good chime for a humbucker. When combined with a humbucker in the bridge... it behaves exactly like the 2nd position and likewise with a Lil '59 in the neck. With a humbucker or JB jr in the bridge... it's really the ultimate strat set for Floyded strats. True singles just have no bottom end with a Floyd compared to a traditional strat trem or hardtail.
The middle pickup is where the FUNK is at... you can cop all of those Paul Jackson jr. MJ licks.
The middle pickup is often where Memphis soul resides on a strat.
The middle pickup is where you go when you want it... "A little softer now... a little softer now"
The middle pickup gives us hum free operation in positions 2 and 4... this is sooooooo useful!!!!
Nice low output middle pups lowered all of the way down provide less string pull and you'll have a more balanced sounding strat as a result.
Truly the unsung heroes of the pickup world.
I like to keep my middle pick down as low as possible. Neck is fairly low and the bridge pickup is normal height. This gives me different levels of overdrive since I have distinctly different millivolt outputs coming from each pickup position. This makes each pickup hit the amp differently and gives me 3 different gain levels with just flicking the switch. The middle pickup is my crystal-clean sound (can sub for country twang if needed)... the neck is my jazz/blues with a hint of grit and edge. The bridge pickup is where the rawk happens... with a balanced set like the Antiquities and their custom bridges, the rawk is even more pronounced. If the amp is set just right, I find I just toggle through the positions when I want different levels of gain.
And I'd like to give a shout out to the Duckbucker. After I installed my first Duckbucker... I was underwhelmed and couldn't believe how low it's output was. Over time however, I figured out that the low output is the source of it's power and strength as a middle pickup. It behaves just like a totally lowered vintage output strat RWRP middle. It is sooooo quacky and has really good chime for a humbucker. When combined with a humbucker in the bridge... it behaves exactly like the 2nd position and likewise with a Lil '59 in the neck. With a humbucker or JB jr in the bridge... it's really the ultimate strat set for Floyded strats. True singles just have no bottom end with a Floyd compared to a traditional strat trem or hardtail.
The middle pickup is where the FUNK is at... you can cop all of those Paul Jackson jr. MJ licks.
The middle pickup is often where Memphis soul resides on a strat.
The middle pickup is where you go when you want it... "A little softer now... a little softer now"
The middle pickup gives us hum free operation in positions 2 and 4... this is sooooooo useful!!!!
Nice low output middle pups lowered all of the way down provide less string pull and you'll have a more balanced sounding strat as a result.
Truly the unsung heroes of the pickup world.
