stan 58 Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 What do you think of them? I love the look and think there an added sound option. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I had a Gibson SG Custom, way back in '69...it was awesome. Can't remember now, why I sold it?! Sure wish I had kept it, though. I had 2 SG's the Custom and a '68 Standard, and you're right, there was a bit of difference in tone, with the middle pickup, as opposed to the middle switch turning on both pickups, with the Standard. The Custom still had that mid position roundness ("twang?"), but was a bit more raw...more of a growl, as I remember. But, that's been almost 40 years ago, so...??? How do your's compare, that way? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TheX Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I hate them personally, but it's just a matter of preference. Neither is right or wrong. I use the area between the pups to pick in and the 3rd pup always feels like it's in the way. I don't like the way it looks either. Just an opinion again. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted September 13, 2008 Author Share Posted September 13, 2008 Well. truth is I play 100% of the time on the neck PU on all my guitars so for my it's a look thing. And we all kmow it's more important to look good then to feel good. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
layboomo Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 On a strat it's an absolute necessity because I play on position 2 and 4 all the time.....but on any Gibson 3 Humbucker guitar it gets in the way for me too just like X and I never used the middle pickup. Like you stan I like the neck position most on mbucker equiped guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Nic Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 The SG with three pick ups looks like it has braces. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SkEpTiKaL Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 The three-pickup Black Beauty I played felt really nice, and it sounded great. Had nice cleans and a good crunch. Only thing I was worried about (besides the price at the time) was that I would scratch up the middle pickup with my pick, since I like to strum there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Charles Obscure Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I like three pickup guitars. It's an expensive mod, however, if you want to replace them all at once. I set my mid pup a bit lower than the others. That way, I'm not banging it with the pick. Lowering it doesn't seem to affect the sound in a negative way. Works for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnpaulgeorge Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I'm with you guys !! look & sound good, but feel a bit cramped whilst strumming IMHO. That's why I flogged my Black Beauty, I tried & tried some more, but couldn't get on with it at all. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
custer Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I really like the three pick ups, however, the middle pick up does get in the way at times. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ef_in_fla Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I drop my middle pickup down a bit lower than the other two to leave some picking room. Doesn't really affect the sound as far as I can tell. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Oh my God...CRS! I just remembered my little Rickenbacker 325 has 3 pickups! (Shows how much I use it.) I think Lennon unhooked his middle pickup, because he kept hitting it, with his pick. So..."X" maybe on to something, there? CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ricochet Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 Don't like the look nor the sound of a middle PU humbucker. + it gets in the way of my picking. I can moderately stand it on a strat(for the 2&4 position) but I screw it down till it's almost flat with the pickguard. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
charlie brown Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 I guess I don't strum that hard, or whatever, as I've never minded the middle pickup, that is, it's never been "in the way," for me. But, everyone has their preferences. CB Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
JefferySmith Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 My first electric was a loaner Firebird custom with 3 pickups. I saw no advantage to the 3rd pickup. I think it is sort of like having the other two pickups on simultaneously. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
midiman56 Posted September 13, 2008 Share Posted September 13, 2008 This thread got me thinking about three pup guitars in general. Two of my Fenders (the Strat, naturally, and my Telecaster Delux Blackout) have three pickups and I don't give it a thought as far as picking room is cocerned. The Gibson/Epiphone three pup models have always looked cramped in comparison. Maybe that's why they give the impression that they'd be difficult to play? Come to think of it, there is a J5 model Telecaster with three buckers in it that looks a little "busy" between the bridge and the neck. I guess its just a matter of those little single coil sticks taking up less room. By the way, a three pickup SG in ivory has, and always will be sort of a Holy Grail guitar for me! MIDI Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Muskank Sally Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Pump It Up Yo!! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Bender 4 Life Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Only 3 p'up guitar i've ever had was a late 80's "Series 10" (cheapie) Strat copy that had Dimarzio H/S/H config. with the middle p'up ACTIVE of all things. That was my only experience with Floyd Rose trems too (not bad I must admit). How they packed all that into a $200 (new)guitar is still beyond me, but I regret cracking the neck socket "Bowing" the neck for sure. Anyhow.....I like 3 p'up guitars. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MacBratt Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Well, I do agree it looks a bit silly on a SG and a LP. As to the guys complaining about the middle pick-up being in the way : for Pete's sake, learn to experiment with pick position, on my Rick 340, I usually play between the neck and middle, but if I want a harder tone I'll change to between middle and bridge, and for a softer I go up the neck. I don't claim to be a good guitarist, it's one of the basics of righthand technique (or lefthandtechnique if you hold your guitar differently). Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospero Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Those white Epiphone SG-Customs sure are GAS-inducing. I'd like to have one with a black pick-guard, like this: I'm also GASing for a 3-pickup Black Beauty with a Bigsby. Sigh... but the Casino and Sheraton come first. I currently have a Godin Solidac that has an H-S-H pickup arrangement, and I quite like it. I often play in position 2 on its 5-way switch, which is the neck humbucker and the middle single-coil together. Beautiful tone. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
stan 58 Posted September 14, 2008 Author Share Posted September 14, 2008 Thats an unusual Custom there Prospero, no les paul badging below the neck and a wierd looking bridge. Stan. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Prospero Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 Thats an unusual Custom there Prospero' date=' no les paul badging below the neck and a wierd looking bridge. Stan.[/quote'] Oh, I'm pretty sure it's not a real Gibson. I grabbed the image from a quicxk image search on the interweb just as an example to illustrate my preference for an SG Custom with a black pickguard. I have seen genuine article Gibson ones with the black PG, mostly from the 70s, I think. The white pickguards on the customs just don't do it for me. A small little quibble on an otherwise fine guitar. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
fenrirlupus Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 i wish i could say, but i'm a hollowbody-nut and will probably never get a 3-pup guitar unless there's a "sheraton III" oh that, and they tend to be a bit on the pricey side... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dbirchett Posted September 14, 2008 Share Posted September 14, 2008 My first guitar was a 3 pickup Harmony with Bigsby. Really a pretty good and great sounding guitar. Wouldn't mind having one now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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