Non-Traditional Middle Pickup in Three-Pickup Tele (or Strat)

[Falstaff]

One more silly question:

Has anyone here tried either a mini-humbucker (Firebird or Gibby type, not stacked single coil type) or P90 in the middle position of a three-pickup tele or strat? I wonder how it would sound, not so much for position 2/4 purposes but just by itself. I think Randy McFarland has a three-minihumbucker Strat, maybe he can chime in, so to speak.

Thanks guys!

 

[Travis]

Re: Non-Traditional Middle Pickup in Three-Pickup Tele (or Strat)

I've got a Cool Rails in the middle of a H/S/S setup. It's nice. 3 humbuckers, no buzz. Can't beat it.

 

[FireBros.]

Re: Non-Traditional Middle Pickup in Three-Pickup Tele (or Strat)

Jonny lang uses a p90 in the middle of his tele's, and he always sounds great. His neck and bridge pickups are SD custom shop though, not traditional tele.

 

[mig50]

Re: Non-Traditional Middle Pickup in Three-Pickup Tele (or Strat)

i don't have any of the pickups you asked about, but i do have a full sized humbucker in the middle of one of my teles. it took a while to find the right one, but i've finally settled on a '59.

 

[rhmcfarland]

Re: Non-Traditional Middle Pickup in Three-Pickup Tele (or Strat)

Yes, I have a Strat with 3 Antiquity Firebirds. The pickups are really excellent!

HOWEVER, the middle pickup by itself doesn't absolutely knock my jock off. Its probably just the fact that I have never used the middle one by itself much in any configuration (Strat single coils, anything else).

SO, I wouldn't spend the extra money just for that. Positions 2 and 4 sound good, but by itself its just okay. Actually, I've given thought to taking that one out, and putting it in the neck position of another guitar. They are incredibly soulful in that position. It would be a hassle to get another Warmoth pickguard cut for 2 mini's, but that's not a big deal overall.

DOES THAT HELP?

grace & peace,

Randy