What i'm talking qabout here is lowering the middle pickup really low and almost flush with the scratchplate. I see Ritchie Blackmore did it on his strats and i think Malmsteen may have as well.

I have an EC strat and i'm thinking of doing this. One thing has always bugged me about strats and that is that middle pickup getting in the way when i'm picking. Some people don't seem to bother but i don't like the feel of the pick clanking against the pickup there.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

Decades ago, I did. I came to realize though that it was somewhat defeating as it reduced my tonal options. I simply reangled how I held the guitar and with a few hours practice, I became comfortably readjusted where that middle pickup wasn't a problem any longer. I also did it due to to the fact that I had a tendency to rest my third finger on the volume pot and inadvertently back it down while push-picking.

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You dig?

Depends on the Strat - I normally have the middle pickup fairly low, but if it's staggered I have to drop it right down due to the fact that I play fingerstyle only these days and those polepieces are annoying when they catch flailing fingers.

Not that I ever really use it anyway - almost always bridge, neck or neck/bridge in combination.

I suppose it just depends on where you're most comfortable resting your hand on the guitar really.

I always thought a cool strat would have been to eliminate the middle pickup and leave the other two where they are with all that nice free area in between to pick without interference.

This is also a lot of why i like tele's, you don't get that middle pickup in there.

Yes not having it might reduce some tonal options but i'd think most people could happily live with just neck and bridge.

Dave Gilmour from Floyd uses only bridge pickup i believe and never uses the other one's. i'm sure i read that somewhere.

I love strats, but personally that's just what i don't like about them. It feels uncomfortable to me, the middle pickup being there.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

That would be your tele !!
Sorry, couldn't resist............

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......it's a topsy-turvy world when noses run and feet smell...

I really don't hit the middle pickup much, I do tend plant my pinky on it though. and I generally play up at the neck pickup, I am one of those with the divots in between string's on the heel of the finger board

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Hi Alex, Yeah that's right You know when i see players playing on the pickup in the middle position and hitting it with the pick it just makes me shudder! I've always had a phobia about that. I can't stand that feeling

SBD: I play inbetween the middle and neck usually but a lot of times i still catch that middle pickup. Especially if you want to palm mute the low E, then you're right on top of that pickup

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I play my Strats in all positions, 1 thru 5, depending on the song and my mood. I can't fathom not using the middle pup and I've never noticed it being in the way. Now, if you wanna talk about how the volume knob is too close then ....

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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.

now that's something i love about the strat, i have very long fingers so i never bump it unintentionally. but it is so nice having it a half inch away all the time. thats why I dont get along with stock telecasters well.
what i do bump allot is the selector switch though I like to increase the tension on the selector notch thingy to compensate though ( just in case )

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I think Blackmores middle pickup was a dummy P/U.

Best known artist with that center pickup issue is Robbie Robertson. His guitars are wired to eliminate the center pickup completely. We had quite a discussion in the Forums a couple of years ago regarding that....particularly addressed to the double pickups at the bridge of his guitars. Now we'll wait for an appropriate photo courtesy of Chromeface.

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"Another day in paradise!"

Yeah it is on the sig models but on his original strats i'm not sure if they were also dummies.

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Luck won't do it and ignorance can't

George Van Eps.

I'm gonna look in to that. I didn't know you could increase the tension on the selector switch. Mine moves real easy. Got any pics of what you tightened. Even though I think I know, but pics are always better.


I use my middle pickup quite frequently in the 4th position. Nails that "Cold Shot" SRV sound perfectly.

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2000 American Deluxe Stratocaster
2011 Gibson Les Paul Trad Pro 50's
2007 Epi Les Paul Custom
90's ESP Eclipse
JH-1B Jimi Hendrix Crybaby
Analogman KOT
Korg Pitchblack
Boss NS-2 PH-2
Blues Deluxe Reissue
1999 & 2007 Marshall TSL 100 w/1960BV cab

you know i think i have a spare CRL that i can use for an instructional. its not difficult if you have a pair of nips and needle nose pliers. all i do is increase the spring tension by making the spring shorter.

and the cheap Chinese switches you can just increase the size of the ball bearing.

this really helps you keep up with the clicks

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Get one of these

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The strongest reason for the people to retain the right to keep and bear arms is, as a last resort, to protect themselves against tyranny in government.

Thomas Jefferson