And what do you think of it? And if you could state exactly how it is. I ask because I like a lot of things about the strat, but the sound is not my favorite. I know, maybe I'm barking up the wrong tree. However, I like the feel and the cut of the body and all that. Plus, they are ubiquitous and finding a good choice is easier than other models on my list. So....

I'm thinking about getting one and changing the pup configuration. It stinks because I actually like the sound of the middle one, but it's in my way when I play. Unless you lower it to the point that I don't really like the sound of it. I think.

Anyways, I was just wanting some feedback from you guys that have either 2 humbuckers or something like that, if it's a good set up.

Do you mean like a "Big Apple" strat with the two humbuckers or do you mean like the Richie Blackmoore with the middle deleted?

There are ways to get around it, you could just simply lower the middle pick down to level with the pick guard if it is in the way of your playing, and you could also rewire to have the neck/bridge.
Or you could have a 7 way switch wired in to give you more options.

You could also look at a Mustang.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

I don't know how to get middle sound without the pickup being in the middle. If you like a more muddy sound get a pair of humbuckers.

Taste is a funny thing. I could actually get along without the middle. I just screw mine down so its out of the way.

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I remember when we were free!

Yesterday I was watching a video of SRV playing a Strat that had just the neck pickup, that was a little different.

2 humbuckers do not a Strat make.If it has 2 humbuckers it's not a Strat, not as far as I'm concerned anyway.I went from a 2 pup to a Strat and had no problem adapting to the 3 pups.I can't see how someone could hit the middle pup all the time unless they are digging in the pick too far anyway which is not a good practice.I have yet to put a pick scratch on a pickguard,it's just a matter of taking the time to refine your strumming.

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'65 Strat,65 Mustang,65 Jaguar,4 more Strats,3 vintage Vox guitars,5 Vox amps,'69 Bassman with a '68 2-15 Bassman cab,36 guitars total-15asst'd amps total,2 vintage '60s Hammond organs & a myriad of effects-with a few rare vintage ones.

It's not when I strum. It's when I pick or mute. And it doesn't dig into it or scratch it, it just sometimes touches it. I should probably just keep it lower. The thing I'm playing presently is a starcaster and the pick ups sound better closer to the strings, IMHO, because I realize they are not so good. But yeah, it hits it every once in a while and it's annoying to me. I'm not doing anything wrong and I've heard others who know how to play might have this same opinion. When I mute, I like to feel the bridge on my hand, and in that position, my pick is right over the pick up, and if it's too close to the strings, it does touch it every once in a while. There are no scratches from my pick on the pickguard. I don't claim to be an expert, but I don't have this problem on other guitars, just this kind. And I've played many. I'm sorry if my experience is unrelateable to you.

And as far as a 2 pick up not being a strat, that's kind of funny, because I've seen Fender offer it. Obviously you don't think it's a good idea, but you yourself just said you had one. So which is it, did you have a "strat" with two pick ups or was it not one? I see different people modify different guitars from time to time and because it is modified doesn't necessarily make it not that guitar. IMHO. It just isn't stock anymore.

If you're not irritated at my response, would you be kind enough to tell me what you thought of the sound of the other, I'm guessing you didn't like it. Would you mind telling me what you didn't like about it? Like, too muddy, just wrong, or something like that?

I think a neck pick up that was a splittable humbucker would probably be a cool set up.

I was thinking the mustang might work. Or I played a jazzmaster the other day and kind of liked that too.

The Jazzmaster has very different pick-ups in comparison to a strat, the Mustang uses the same type pick-ups that the strat uses.
There is also the Jaguar, again, not the same type of pickups but closer there to the strat types, but with there dual tone system and phasing switches it is still not the same.
Not to forget the tremolo systems in the Jazz/Jaguar it very different, and a bit problematic.

This is why I suggested the Mustang, the tremolo is different but it is a fast tremolo and far less issues to deal with.
It is more simple and user friendly.

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Marriage is like playing cards...

At first all you want are Hearts and Diamonds.

But in the end, all you really want is a Club and a Spade.

He means that to him and to most strat design purists, if it doesn't fit the original strat offering of 3 Single coil pickups, then it isn't a true "Strat". Yes of course if Fender makes it and slaps Stratocaster on the headstock it is a strat, but I know personally I only considering buying Stratocasters with a SSS configuration. If I want Humbuckers I'll buy a 335,SG or LP.

I don't get the whole middle pickup gets in the way thing that a lot of people confess to have. I just pick in between the pickups and have never had a problem.

Here's something for you all to think about:

I use the neck, neck/bridge combo and the bridge constantly. I use the middle pickup here and there too but I never use the "quack" positions of 2 and 4 unless it is in a cover tune where by signature sound, it is absolutely required.

The way I figure it, there are two chief reasons why I don't use positions 2 and 4:

1. When I started playing Strats and for years thereafter, there was no 5 way pickup selector switch so my stylings pretty much were built around the three pickups separately.

2. Once the 5 way pickup selector switch was invented, everyone and their mother used positions 2 and 4 to the point where every Strat player sounded the same with no deviation so I avoided it.

Sure, I like the sounds of position 2 and 4 but IMO, it has become way too generic over the years.

FWIW, to this day I still use only 3 way pickup selector switches in my Strats.

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You dig?

I strongly dislike the 5 position switch.

I am replacing mine with 3 positions.

The 2 and 4 positions sound horrible and depressing.

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I remember when we were free!

Well, I've tried to explain it as best I can. If you don't get it, it's because you don't play the same way I do. Thank God we're not all the same. Life would be boring if all of us had the same size bodies, hands, styles of play, cars, houses, wives, kids, etc etc etc.

I wouldn't say I hate the 2 and 4 positions, but the one inbetween the bridge and middle is my least favorite. Is that 2 or 4?

I was hoping that somebody that had some real experience with a non standard set up could give some input on how they like it, instead of fixating on the question of whether a person is doing something right or wrong if they don't like the middle pick up. I guess it's probably not very common.

ABPOS,

Several of the artsist Strats are dual humbucker strats and there is a HSH one to throw in.

I am considering building an HH myself. Its still a strat to me. There is a lot more to the lure of the strat to me than just the pickups.

I once had a Gibson SG, and sold it when I got out of playing. For a while I regretted it, but now I would not take a dozen SG's for a good Stratocaster.

Buddy, go were your heart and you ears lead, enjoy.

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I remember when we were free!

Thank you. I think it's a good "idea". Whether or not it turns out good is a hole different thing, which is why I asked. Tell me how it goes if you do it!!!