Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

[MetalManiac]

When you switch to the in between positions on a guitar ( middle position for most Gibson types, and bridge and middel or middle and neck for Strats), what exactly is happening?
How come it doesnt get twice as loud ( or does it?). Do you get twice as much bass and treble?

My concern relates to the fact that I have a .47 Cap in series with the Strat neck pickup to cut some bass.
I find the bass a littel too weak on its own this way , but paired with the middle pickup its just about perfect.
I'm wondering if I remove the cap, will the middle /neck become overpowering and muddy .

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

The in-between positions are the weakest sounding because the coils are in parallel, not in series like a humbucker.

Changing the cap will change your tone, but not your volume, in the in-between positions.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

The in-between positions are the weakest sounding because the coils are in parallel, not in series like a humbucker.

Changing the cap will change your tone, but not your volume, in the in-between positions.

Oops, forgot to mention, they are single coil humbucker rails pickups, but good to know that for a normal Strat, thanks.

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

Oops, forgot to mention, they are single coil humbucker rails pickups, but good to know that for a normal Strat, thanks.

It doesn't matter what type. What I said is not specific to one type of pickup. It applies to all pickups wired in parallel.

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

It doesn't matter what type. What I said is not specific to one type of pickup. It applies to all pickups wired in parallel.

No way this can be true. I have the bridge, which is just as loud as the middle pickup, but when I switch bridge AND middle , it's quite a bit louder than each on its own.

 

[crusty philtrum]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

If two similar humbucker pickups are in phase, there will be a slight increase in percieved volume when both are on together. If they are out-of-phase, there will be a noticeable volume drop ... not massive, but noticeable.

(well, that's my experience anyway ... no doubt someone will be along soon to tell me that i don't know what i'm talking about).

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

Here's the science bit...

When the signals from two pickups of approximately equal output are combined in parallel and electrically in phase with each other, the effects of string excursion will set up some frequency cancellation and some frequency reinforcement.

At the same time, the DC resistance for both pickups running in parallel with each other is lower than either of them running alone. e.g. Two PAFs (approximately 8k each) will combine to give approximately 4k.

Here's the superstitious bit...

Electro-magnetism does strange things. Humans are too dumb to explain them fully (yet).

 

[MetalManiac]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

So , in order for there to be such a noticeable volume boost with the in between 2-3/ 3-4 postiions, the rails /stacks on my Strat are series wired and in phase, correct?

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

No way this can be true. I have the bridge, which is just as loud as the middle pickup, but when I switch bridge AND middle , it's quite a bit louder than each on its own.

You didn't say you got a volume boost in the notch position. You asked why it isn't twice as loud. So, I answered that thinking that you were wondering why it got quieter instead of louder.

If you get louder in the notch positions, the pickups must be wired in series. I've never used a notch position that does anything but make the guitar quieter...unless the pickups are in series.

When you switch to the in between positions on a guitar ( middle position for most Gibson types, and bridge and middel or middle and neck for Strats), what exactly is happening?
How come it doesnt get twice as loud ( or does it?). Do you get twice as much bass and treble?

My concern relates to the fact that I have a .47 Cap in series with the Strat neck pickup to cut some bass.
I find the bass a littel too weak on its own this way , but paired with the middle pickup its just about perfect.
I'm wondering if I remove the cap, will the middle /neck become overpowering and muddy .

 

[tonello]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

They aren't twice as loud, because your getting a signal from the pickups at the same time and then both signals go through their respective circuits then to the output. When you use both pups at the same time your blending sounds.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Quick Question about 'in between' guitar postitions

Here's the science bit...

When the signals from two pickups of approximately equal output are combined in parallel and electrically in phase with each other, the effects of string excursion will set up some frequency cancellation and some frequency reinforcement.

At the same time, the DC resistance for both pickups running in parallel with each other is lower than either of them running alone. e.g. Two PAFs (approximately 8k each) will combine to give approximately 4k.

Thank you.

The Jimmy Page system has an option for linking two PU's in series (neck tone pot), which makes it noticeably louder and much darker. Not all that usable for a two HB guitar, unless one (or both) of the PU's are in coil cut, then it works well.

Likewise, when the PU's are out-of-phase (bridge tone pot on the Page system), the volume drops quite a bit and it gets thinner, but by linking them in series (neck tone pot) it boosts the volume and mids back up.

Linking PU's in series works very well for P-90's and Fender SC's; this should be a strandard feature on some of those guitars.