Im currently trying to perfect a song, Boston - More than a feeling. I have the perfect tone for the clean verse part, using my Pod x3 live and the 2nd pickup selector position on my strat deluxe.

For the chorus, im still perfecting the crunchy tone, but i have a decent tone, again through the pod, but this time i need the bridge pickup on its own.

So, along with using the footpedal to change tones, i also have to switch pickup positions.

Its much more difficult than i thought it would be. do people regularly switch between pickup positions mid song?

If so, is there a technique, and if not, do they just do with whatever tone there is on the current selection?

I switch pickup positions the same way, middle pickup for clean and bridge for crunch on my telecaster and Gretsch 6118. Haven't found it too difficult, but just like with anything else, practice the changes.

-Vince

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-Fender 92' Telecaster unknown
- 2007 Gretsch 6118T
- Ibanez 02' AF85 Artcore hollowbody, modded
- Epiphone Firebird
- Line 6 Variaxe 300
- Squire strat (refinished)
- 2008 Fender Supersonic
- Fender Blues Junior (original)

I switch positions multiple times in every song, anything to help emphasise different aspects of different sections.

Just a flick of the little or ring finger.

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No no and no

i think having to flick along with hit a foot switch at the exact same time is whats getting me. il figure it out. thanks folks.

I have a Digitech RP155, and though I love the effects and emulations it can create, I hate that little blip that is audible when changing between presets. I feel the same way, perhaps a bit of practice with the footwork can improve the problem.

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Fender Classic Series '50s Stratocaster, 2-Tone Sunburst
Carlos 207
Dunlop Crybaby
Digitech RP50
One WORKING Pro Junior

+1 and with primarily using a 72 Tele Custom RI I have the Les Paul style switch so I tend to just whack it with my thumb. Humbucker for cleans, middle for crunch, bridge for solos.

CC

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Fender Stratocaster (parts build)
Fender Telecaster 72 Custom RI
Fender Telecoustic Deluxe
Gretsch Electromatic Pro-Jet
Gibson Les Paul Standard Plus
Gibson ES-135
Zenith Type-17
Marshall 70's JMP Superbass 100w
Blackstar HT-5

i know the feeling. when i really get into a song i am knonw to hit the 5way switch on my strat quite abit.

German guitarist Thomas Blug is one of the great in-flight selector switchers. Check out his switch in this neat bit of playing:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZQej5bUW ... re=related

Nice number too...

Blug deserves to be better known internationally. Though what a dirty guitar - that man has paid no attention to the regular threads on how to clean your Strat on this Forum!

Cheers - C

very cool video, awesome playing, awesome sound, awesome strat!

Like any great player, he makes it all (including the pickup selector change) look super easy and fluid.

Ceri I never knew who he was till I found him on licklibrary and there is a cool interview where he shows some of his tricks of the trade. Thanks for the video as it was a great song that will now go into my rotation.

schimintan it is not very hard to due and is one of the best ways to add dynamics to a solo. Beck, Moore, SRV, Yngwie and Santatna are just a few who have a lot of songs where you can hear the actual switch of the pup selector switch in mid solo. I do it all the time and there is nothing hard about it. Just start out with a backing track of say a blues jam and go with the feel and soon you will be slapping back and forth unconsciously.My alltime favorite recorded switch is on Gary Moore's Still got the Blues right after he plays the main melody in the solo he goes from the neck to the bridge and you here the change so clearly , it takes the whole solo to a different level.

Same here. Usually swapping to and from bridge only to neck only and then back again several times during lead breaks. Those kinds of changes are much easier to make than trying to find one of the other positions on the fly because you just sweep the switch from one end to the other. No finesse involved. Slam it over and rock out.

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Just think of how awesome a guitar player you could have been by now if you had only spent the last 10 years practicing instead of obsessing over pickups and roasted maple necks.