Ok an interesting one maybe.

Which pickup/s on your strats do you prefer to solo on and why?

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"For every one person who loves you there are five lined up to just hate you" - P. Westerberg

4th position, a mix of the middle and neck pups because I play Blues mostly and that combo is more mellow.

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Very simply, it depends on the tune I'm playing. I'll admit it...I'm an eclectic SOB and I play a rather wide range of stuff...classic rock, blues, oldies, folk...I play stuff ranging from Chuck Berry to SRV and Clapton, from Peggy Lee and the Drifters to Pink Floyd and Fleetwood Mac, from John Melloncamp to Santana to AC/DC, older Black Sabbath, etc., etc.. If I'm doing something like SRV or George Thorogood for example, I may be on the bridge pup for the lead, but if I'm doing something like some Clapton or Jeff Beck, I may go for the middle pup or a two or four position. If I'm doing something mellower or more jazzy, then I'll use the neck pickup and maybe roll the tone off a little. I also do a lot of originals as well (written by both myself and my wife) that often come from a variety of influences. If I'm doing something I've written which is really "bluesy" then I may use an edgier tone which is usually the bridge pickup. If I'm doing something my wife wrote that's perhaps more melodic, I go for a more even tone. Which pickup I use for a given tune (lead or rhythm) and even which guitar I use for a given tune, depends on the tone/sound I want for that specific tune.

I would also add that a lot of what I do also depends a great deal on -who- I'm playing with at the time and their sound as well. For example, the bass player I'm working with now has a very specific sound and style of playing, so I work with his sound to get the best sound over-all. If I were working with a different bass player (or keyboard player or whatever) I might use a completely different setup depending on how that other person plays and sounds. To me, it's all about the mix and how "the band" sounds...I'm simply a part of that so I try to make it sound the best that I can.

Peace,
Jim

I like the middle or neck and middle for all rhythms /// all solos are done (at least for me ) on the neck pickup only…..the bridge pickup is just too bright for anything other than country solos……IMO

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(80’s Hair Metal) = A snapshot in time before Grunge ruined Rock & Roll forever!!!!

For me its depends on what I am playing or going for. With heavy distortion from Rock music, I can use either, but the bridge can be useful for tight fast picking, sawtooth cutting solos.

If I want something that is fatter and warmer, particularily for a bluesy sound, I like the neck.

With a clean lead/solo I generally prefer the neck for the extra warmth and fattness

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Guitars:
1. mid 70's Ventura MIJ Gibson l6-s clone (Pre-lawsuit) in Black with Rosewood FB and EMG 81 BR/ 85 Neck
2. ESP KH2 Neck Thru
3. 2008 Am Std Strat in 3 tone sunburst

I have my neck pickup set relatively high so it come in a little harder for soloing.

I mostly play rhythms in the middle position and switch to the neck for big, deep, ripping solos.

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Custom Shop '59 Strat with John Cruz Master Design Pickups
Vibro King
Fulltone Clyde>Deja-Vibe>TS-808>TS-9>Boss Tuner

Most of the time I play on my bridge and middle or just my bridge, on OD that is. Clean, I like to play on the neck or neck/middle. Although on my clean channel, I'll switch to my bridge pickup for that great classic rock OD sound.

I use mostly middle + neck, followed perhaps 20% of the time by neck only. But every once in a while (maybe 5%), I'll use the bridge pup ... if I'm in a mood for ultra-bright and treble shock.

I have a U.S.A. FENDER HIGHWAY ONE STRATOCASTER HSS, so I use the middle and or neck pickups for my STRAT stuff like SRV, CLAPTON, and HENDRIX stuff. I use my bridge HUMBUCKER for AC/DC or more distorted stuff.
I prefer a combo of my neck and middle SINGLECOIL pickups for my personal tone.

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2008 FENDER STRATOCASTER USA HIGHWAY ONE HSS.
2004 FENDER SQUIRE CYCLONE
2009 OVATION CELEBRITY DELUXE BLUE BURST QUILTED MAPLE
2008 PEAVEY VALVEKING VK112
"IT'S NOT ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU WANT, IT'S ABOUT LOVING WHAT YOU'VE GOT."= SHERYL CROW

Mostly neck pickup because it sounds really good

I do about 95% of my stuff on the middle/bridge slot.
For when I want a thick sound though, I'll throw it in 5th gear.

I used every combination, with different tone knob settings, with a clean tone, mid gain tone and high gain. I play a lot of styles and truly use it all.

The one tone that I tend to like more when I'm playing by myself or wrting?

Middle pickup only (silver lace sensor), mid-gain on my Rectoverb's beautifully warm "Vintage" channel.

The 2 and 4 positions are very nice as well, same settings.

The neck only for blues, the bridge only for classic rock or metal.

I like to tone I get from my strat in the 1st position if I am trying to get a warm sound for soloing. Otherwise i switch to the humbucker in the 5th position to get a nice and clear tone.

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I tried to think of something clever to put here but- OH! Something shiny!!!

MMMM... Heavy Blues 5th gear... Rock Rythms with O/D 4th... Any Lynrd Skynrd (quackalicious)must be in 2nd Gear. Will use 1st and roll off the treble on some leads...
Position 1 bridge only
Position 2 Bridge and middle
Position 3 middle only
Position 4 middle and neck
Position 5 neck only
Most all of this is played thru a Fender Twin with occassional help from a DD3 delay n the effects loop. I sometimes will use a POD X3 Live just so I don't have to lug the amp around.

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I'm not slow... and I'm not fast... just sort of halffast...