when do i use my guitar pickups?

Question

my electric guitar has three pickups...i just don't know when to use each of the pickup...i dont know when to push the pickup switch up or down..does it depends on the song i'm playing?and please describe to me the different effects on each of the three pickups?somebody plese help...I'm dying to know..

Answer 1

Yes, the song you are playing will determine what "sound" you want to create on the guitar. Basically, the up position (toward the neck) will emphasize the bass tones and the down position will emphasize the treble tones. This is an oversimplification, but the middle position is best for rhythm (fullest sound), the down position is good for lead (solos), and the up position is good for that "twangy" country style. However, the type of guitar and pickup will also have a major impact.

Try playing the same riff in each mode and you decide which position provides the sound you are looking for in any given song.

Answer 2

Position # 1: The bridge pickup will give you a trebly, snappy sound. More focused and bright (think rock guitar leads).

Position # 2: When you use the bridge and middle together, you get a nice vocal tone that is much like the sound Eric Clapton uses on the song "Cocaine". Really a classic "Strat" sound.

Position # 3: The middle pickup is more of a honky / vocal sound (think 60's rock and roll like the Byrds or the kinks).

Position # 4: When you use the neck and middle pickups together, it's a really sweet, yet deep sound that is like what Stevie Ray Vaughan used alot (for example the song "Lenny")

Position # 5: The neck pickup will give you a more sweet sound that is dark yet soulful (think Jimi Hendrix).

Generally, all of these tones will be a bit more exaggerated and easier to hear the differences in with a little drive. Not too much, because then it all gets muddy. But if you turn your amp up a little, or use a little drive, you will really hear the differences in these sounds.

Overall, use your ears, trust your own taste. If YOU like your own tone, others will be more likely to feel the same. Don't worry too much what others think, what you play and feel matters most when you express yourself.

Good Luck!

Answer 3

It just depends on the sound you want. If the switch is up (or towards the neck of the guitar) you are using the neck pickup. This will make your guitar sound bassier. If the switch is down (or towards the bridge of the guitar) you are using the bridge pickup. This will make your guitar sounds brighter or thinner. If it's in the middle then it uses the middle pickup. Just use whatever you prefer. It's all up to your taste and preference. Have fun!

Answer 4

Well, I don't think that using the P94 precludes you from using humbuckers... you just have to be careful not to use too high output of humbuckers, or have a separate volume control for both pickups, to make sure the volumes balance out. Me, I'd go for the Seymour Duncan. Not saying that Gibson makes a bad pickup (oh no sir!), but using the SHPR simply gives you more options, and that's attractive to me. From the product description : "...To have humbucker and P-90 tones and bring in the added dimension of the single-coil Rail, use a three-way switch (DPDT on-off-on)..." It would be just as easy to put a push/pull pot or mini-toggle to switch between the P90 and humbucker tones... you could have the volume knob for that pickup be a push/pull, for instance. I do something like this on my LTD EC-100QM loaded with Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro's and Alternative 8's.... my tone control is push/pull, and when on, coil-taps both pups at the same time. You could have a push/pull to coil-tap each pup, so you could go between the humbucker sound and P90 sound quite easily. Of course, this would remove the single-coil only sound, but... well, so? *grin* Anyways, I personally don't see a significant difference between the Seymour Duncan and Gibson pups, and I really like the ability to go between the different tones of the SD pup. A quick google search turned up a few links you might be interested in reading. I *strongly* urge you to read the reviews (last link). There are some good views on this pickup, it is well-reviewed but with some caveats. Understanding what you can get out of the pickup is important, especially regarding what position you want to put it in. Good luck! Saul

Answer 5

Genearlly, use just the back two. It really depends on what sound you are going for.

They are used to create the sound that you would make when strumming the strings at a different position on an accoustic guitar.

Answer 6

the bridge pickup (one closest to bottom of guitar) is moer treble, better for harmonics, etc.
neck pickup give you sweet child'o mine type sound
more bassy

Answer 7

probably a bass to treble varience
the middle setting,give the mid tones

Answer 8

just play some hammerons, and pulloffs with your fretting hand and flip the switch around, youll hear the difference

its personal choice

Answer 9

well find your own sounds no matter what you're playing!