what's different btw 2 pickup vs 3 pickup lp

[liberticide]

i am going to check out a lp with 3 pickup, what are the things i should check to make sure it's working properly? is 3 pickups better than 2 pickups?

 

[dwagar]

see if you are comfortable playing it, that middle pickup can be in the way. IMO no, 3 isn't better than 2. Just different.

 

[HellRot]

It's brighter. Not better or worse - just different.

Usual check, like switching through all positions and making sure the pups work + tone and volume control functionality.

 

[DonP]

I think it's Bridge, neck + middle, and neck only. The middle position is not middle only.

More wood carved out, a pickup in the way, not really for me. I would have to try one in person to decide if I'd like it.

 

[loucamaro91]

I like mine.

 

[kysrsoze]

I think it would be killer to somehow keep the look and have strat-type switching, with push-pull taps for all 3. I think you could do it by having bridge/mid, all 3 and mid/neck on the main toggle, then 3 coil tap push-pulls, and finally a mid on/off push-pull. Man, that would be some complicated wiring.

Anybody ever done that? A wiring diagram, perhaps?

 

[Xavier_32]

I think it would be killer to somehow keep the look and have strat-type switching, with push-pull taps for all 3. I think you could do it by having bridge/mid, all 3 and mid/neck on the main toggle, then 3 coil tap push-pulls, and finally a mid on/off push-pull. Man, that would be some complicated wiring.

Anybody ever done that? A wiring diagram, perhaps?

My Strat Deluxe has the typical 5 way toggle switch with two tones and a master volume, but it also has a small button near the knobs. When in positions 4 or 5, the button activates the bridge pickup. That means your options are bridge, bridge+middle, middle, middle+neck, middle+neck+bridge, neck, and neck+bridge. That neck+bridge option is probably my favorite combination, it offers a lot of variation with the tone knobs.

I'd imagine that it would be possible to wire a push pull on an LP knob that turns the middle pickup on, so that your options normally are bridge, bridge + neck, neck; and then with the pot pulled, bridge + middle, bridge + middle + neck, middle + neck. The only option not possible with this wiring scheme would be the middle pickup alone.

All the options you have listed require either a massive amount of push pulls like a JP wiring harness, or a 5 way switch. I've always imagined that a 3 pickup LP with P-Rails on a 5 way switch with the button from the deluxe wired to a push pull would have the widest tonal spectrum ever.

Someone should get on that....

 

[lp_junkie]

last one I had with 3 pups, I wired it so that the toggle switch functioned just like the 2 pup guitars and then had a push pull for the neck volume that switched between the neck and middle pup.

But I suppose you could use one of the rotary switches PRS uses and get all sorts of funky combos and splits, just have Volume, Volume, Master Tone, Rotary Switch- then the toggle switch becomes more of a decoration/killswitch.

 

[Xavier_32]

last one I had with 3 pups, I wired it so that the toggle switch functioned just like the 2 pup guitars and then had a push pull for the neck volume that switched between the neck and middle pup.

But I suppose you could use one of the rotary switches PRS uses and get all sorts of funky combos and splits, just have Volume, Volume, Master Tone, Rotary Switch- then the toggle switch becomes more of a decoration/killswitch.

Some of us use both tone knobs in the middle position for variety. My favorite rhythm tone is in middle position with bridge volume at 10, neck volume at 7, bridge tone at 10, neck tone at 3. I couldn't roll with a master tone.

However, if you could put the rotary switch on a push-pull...

 

[bryvincent]

try this one:

STEWMAC.COM : Free-Way Pickup Switch

 

[Xavier_32]

try this one:

STEWMAC.COM : Free-Way Pickup Switch

HOLY CRAP!

I'm sold. Next guitar is a 3 pickup Custom and I'll toss P-Rails on it. That's friggin' sweet!

 

[captain tightpants]

HOLY CRAP!

I'm sold. Next guitar is a 3 pickup Custom and I'll toss P-Rails on it. That's friggin' sweet!

Be advised, I think Stew Mac says you will have to alter a Les Paul's switch cavity to make that switch fit.