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Post subject: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:24 am
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So why should a guitar with 2 pickups have a pickup selector switch limited to 3 options? (namely the usual neck, neck and bridge, bridge).

Having tried a 4 selector switch on a 2 pickup guitar the range of voices seem super sweet - and that got me wondering (see Johnny Marr Jaguar, Tele thinline, … ) The range being bridge, bridge & neck series, neck, bridge & neck parallel)

So:
1 - why isn't a 4-selector switch set as a standard?
and

2 - why not a 5-selector switch?
neck, neck & bridge parallel, bridge, with

bridge & neck series leading bridge p/u
bridge & neck series leading neck p/u

To me, the difference between parallel and series provides such sweet overtones, depth and texture to the sound it seems worth the tiny bit extra manufacturing expense.

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 1:33 am
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Why not only one guitar ? Why so any models ?

3 positions selector is the first Leo fender use.
Some people may wish to have a copy of a vintage guitar.


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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 5:17 am
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Why? Different strokes yada yada yada...

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:44 am
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I think that’s a legitimate question, dood.741. While we’re at it we could do what money losing accordion manufacturers did to guitars. Insert a whole bunch of rocker buttons. Just kiddin’.

Stratele52 is right on the money here about the vintage nostalgia and wanting the original or similar to the original. That doesn’t mean classic cars aren’t modded to power steering and disc brakes. (Until you young ‘uns get behind the wheel of those beautiful old tanks, you’ll never fully know how limited yesteryears’ models were). :wink:
Mike put it right by saying different strokes for different folks. Yada.

Why stop at 4 positions? Here’s one guy’s different stroke:



Me? One position on the acoustic. Ten on the Strat; but, I may downsize the switching on the next axe. :lol:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 9:51 am
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Yeh - thanks for sharing - I might have to try something out - now where is my soldering iron? :-)

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:10 pm
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For me, I always preferred simpler without the desire for a bunch of switch positions (remember the Jaguar's switches and dials all over the place??). My Les Paul with a 3-position switch and coil taps on each humbucker almost seems like overkill ... LOL

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Tue Jul 17, 2018 10:53 pm
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01GT eibach wrote:
For me, I always preferred simpler without the desire for a bunch of switch positions (remember the Jaguar's switches and dials all over the place??). My Les Paul with a 3-position switch and coil taps on each humbucker almost seems like overkill ... LOL


Yeh - similar experience here - in/out phase switching, coil tapping, … series /parallel tweaking.

OTH the additional voices from series/parallel combinations for 2 pups seems worth the complexities and retain streamlining of options and stuff on the guitar surface.

Heck I'd even go for 2 PUP Strats with 5-selector switch giving: bridge, bridge & neck series, bridge & neck parallel with leading bridge, bridge & neck parallel with leading neck, neck. And yeh I accept it is personal but from a manaufacturers point of view it does seem to fit snuggly into the range offered to a buying public.

Single coils need that smooth blending of tones through to rough twanging with optional add-in chime and chiming highs with/without thinning the sound?

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 5:44 am
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Some players just want a volume knob and a single pickup, no selector switch because there is nothing to select! (see Eddie Van Halen).

Personally I love the 5 way selector switch on my Ibanez JS but I could see why others might not. Sometimes I bump it onto the wrong pickup by accident. The more "features" pretty much anything has, the more points of failure there are.


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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 6:17 am
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Variety is the spice of life, and music : ) Some people like simplicity, others prefer variations. It's a good thing to have options. If you are in a cover band and only have one guitar, you may want/need one with as many sonic variations as possible.

Instruments are essentially tools right? Sometimes you only need a screwdriver, other instances the job may call for a variable speed reversible drill with multiple attachments. The nice thing about a guitar is that you can turn that screwdriver into a multi-purpose tool with a soldering iron and a few dollars in parts if you so desire.

Cheers!

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:10 am
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In the late '70s and much of the '80s, manufacturers went switch-crazy. Gibson's L6S had a 6 position pickup selector. Fender had Strats with 3 toggles (or 3 push buttons). BC Riches were festooned with switches and knobs.

And what they found is that most guitarists don't care. And the guitarists who do care often want something other than whatever configuration the manufacturer can think of.

Plus, the more switches and solder joints, the more warranty repairs.

So for the most part they've reverted to simple traditional switching. With the idea that guitarists who want some specific non-traditional option can simply add it themselves.

There's no way to please everyone. If you make a guitar with every possible switching option, many people will complain it's too complicated or too cumbersome (that Gibson L6S rotary selector was a pain when all you wanted to do is quickly flip from the neck to the bridge pickup).

Yes, a 4 way switch on a Tele is simple and useful. But it's a slippery $@!&#. If they install that as standard, what about the people who want a phase switch?
-------------------
But the manufacturers haven't completely abandoned those who want switching options. Lots of Strat and Tele models have S1 switches that offer series/parallel options.


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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 9:44 am
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That is one of the great things about online forums - the way to see a topic from many different perspectives.

Simplicity themes: in manufacture, player use, marketing, quality control, ethos, ...
Justification themes: why?, …

Thanks for the views expressed - they do make sense.

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Wed Jul 18, 2018 10:04 am
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There’s a lot to take into account between having one guitar or multiple guitars at your beckon. Add to that different brands and models. Can’t turn that luxury down; but, there are reasons for choices.

After all, what’s stopping that stage act from having a couple of guits of the same brand, perhaps even the same colour, and model with different guts or not? It happens, although different guitars altogether are more likely.

In the studio there are advantages to simplify the switching and electronics. How and what you use between your axe and the amplification or recording will usually dictate that. Additional selections from the guitar works for me, especially in a non-live situation, and with options it can be beneficial when modeling or trying to reproduce a similar sound with an A/B comparison. The more I have on my plate - the better the flavour and the more I can digest. Then I have the benefit of chucking what I don’t want with plenty left over to enjoy. It’s great for keeping from boredom of same old same old, although boredom would be pretty hard to find with any axe. :lol:
If I had one complaint, if wouldn't be the switching, it’s the well known volume control with the Strat. :roll: Almost never is it accidentally hit with a reduction in volume, but I know it happens here and elsewhere, and yet it’s historical placement is beneficial for control and so it stays with appreciation.

However you do it, whether with an S1 (as I have, but only occasionally use), a Super switch with a crazy amount of positions, or rocker buttons like those introduced on vintage Teisco, Kawai, Guyatone, Ibanez, or a duct taped one position on a guitar - it’s all good. IMHO. YMMV.

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After all, it’s either on or off. :wink:

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 8:02 am
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Well, thank you for sharing ideas on this theme.

I tried a new-ish style Am Pro Jaguar today and all I can say is: I am correct :-)

Interim conclusion: So, I suppose the future may be very interesting or just more of the same?

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 9:11 am
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dood.741 wrote:
Well, thank you for sharing ideas on this theme.

I tried a new-ish style Am Pro Jaguar today and all I can say is: I am correct :-)

Interim conclusion: So, I suppose the future may be very interesting or just more of the same?
Could be. I forgot to say that I learned on an original ‘62 Strat as many here have read before, and it had just 3 switch positions, and it was more than just fine. On the other hand, Buddy Holly is famous for jamming that switch between positions (as others did) for even more options. :P That selector switch is just like any other tool. It all depends with whose hands the masterpiece is made. IMHO. :wink:
FSB

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Post subject: Re: Why 3 options with 2 pickups?
Posted: Thu Jul 19, 2018 10:30 am
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Why? Simple, when these guitars were designed a Three Way Switch was the only type available. There were no five ways back then.

T2

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