I have a MIM Standard HSS Strat. I've noticed that the volume is louder when I switch to using one pickup only and is noticeably lower/softer when I select either the Neck and Middle, or Middle and Bridge combinations. I would think having two pickups on would produce a greater output than from just one pickup. Is this normal, or do I have a problem with this guitar? Thanks for any answers.

It's normal for the volume/punch to drop a little when you combine pickups. That's because they're connected in parallel (if you combine pickups in series instead of in parallel, the combinations are a little more powerful than the individual pickups).

There's also some cancellations/reinforcements of the harmonics when the strings are sensed at multiple places. That's not so noticeable if the pickups are very close together (like the coils of a humbucker) or very far apart (like the bridge & neck pickups). But the neck & middle and middle & bridge spacings are close enough that they create a distinctive "hollow" sort of sound (typically referred to as "quack"). That sort of tone is often perceived as softer sounding, so combined with the slight output loss caused by parallel wiring the 2 & 4 switch positions can seem a lot softer than the individual pickups.

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If the middle pickup is miswired so that its signal is out of phase with the bridge and neck pickups, the 2 & 4 positions will be extremely weak and thin sounding. But that's a really drastic reduction -- you'd know for sure that something is wrong, not just be wondering if maybe something's wrong. If your guitar is stock I'm sure you're just hearing the normal drop-off in the 2 & 4 positions.

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Your amp's basic tone quality and how you set its controls can make the normal drop-off in 2 & 4 more or less noticeable. With a lot of gain, distortion, compression the drop-off may virtually disappear; with cleaner drier tones it's more apparent.

I've never played a HSS Strat that has had any continuity of volume in the in between positions. I had a Texas Special Fat Strat that I loved, but when I went to the Bridge position, the volume jumped up quite a bit, the same with the 2nd position. the 3rd, 4th, and 5th positions were fine because they were switching between single coils.

I have 2 HH strats...one with a 3 way switch, and one with a 5 way. The 5 way has crazy volume differences in the 2 and 4 positions. The one with the 3 way has complete continuity of volume, and I can switch pickups without having to lower/raise the volume. It has to do with the coil splitting with the 5 way switching when you have a humbucker with single coils.

+1 on all that good stuff!

Very nicely explained.

Andy

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Pending Greatness

Thanks guys for the excellent answers. Strayedstrater's description of the sound as "hollow" is a very good description of what I hear when two coils are on. The drop in volume is definitely not a significant amount so I can at least rest easy knowing that there is nothing wrong with the guitar. Again, thanks for the fast and very clear answers.