Poll: How do you use your pickup selector?

[RVA]

How do you use your pickup selector? For purposes of this poll, pickup selection may include switches or push-pulls for split coil and series/parallel.

 

[eSGEe]

Set it and forget it

But i dont play professionally so--- the only tone I am trying to make----is my own.

 

[Bocc69]

I'm a bridge guy mostly. I've only recently started mixing it up...but somehow, i end up with my selector pointing down again.

 

[RVA]

I'm a bridge guy mostly. I've only recently started mixing it up...but somehow, i end up with my selector pointing down again.

I am the same, except the opposite side of the switch. I am a neck man. It's all about the bass (no treble)

 

[jjudas]

I like the neck position the best, but I like to experiment with the middle positions (Strat) and bridge.

 

[RVA]

I like the neck position the best, but I like to experiment with the middle positions (Strat) and bridge.

I like the combo tones, but usually want the neck pup in the mix. That is why I like a pull pot to add the bridge when on the neck pup and a split for the bridge. Those are great options. Oddly, on my recent strat mod, I chose to have all push-pulls for splits. Maybe I will add a mimi toggle for the add bridge option

 

[Mr Grumpy]

Just move them around as need be... On the Epi G310 the bridge position was my favourite, but on the SG special I much prefer the neck position, sometimes middle. Depends on the geetar and what music I'm trying to play - I must admit that on a single pup geetar, I do tend to think more carefully about what I do with my strumming hand.

 

[JohnnyGoo]

Mostly bridge here but ive been really digging the neck position on my Teles.

 

[Kerry Brown]

I mostly use the neck position because I mostly play rhythm. Some songs work much better on other positions so for some songs I use other positions. I rarely switch pickups mid song. If I'm switching from rhythm to lead I either just turn up the guitar volume or use a foot switch to change the amp channel. I'm just not coordinated enough to use the pickup switch mid song

Then again lately I'm mostly playing acoustic guitar so it only has one pickup, no switching involved.

 

[Biddlin]

I paid for all the positions and I use 'em! I play a lot of OD leads on the neck with the tone at 1 or 2 and then switch to the bridge at 10/10 when I want pinch harmonics.

My N-225 is usually in the middle spot with no coil-split.

 

[Paul G.]

Mostly bridge, but I'm flexible ;-)

 

[guitarweasel]

I use mostly Les Paul Jr's using my tone control to darken things up.

 

[Sérgio]

I don´t like to switch pickups during songs with guitars that have the switch down below where I can reach with my eyes.

I hate the SG/Strat swtch positions, in that aspect the Les Paul is the best. You can switch pickups without having to hit-or-miss the lever; I would do that ad libitum back when I played les pauls.

Now I just don't. I use bridge for harsher distortion (mostly rhythm), middle or neck for a creamier or mellower rhythm or lead.

 

[Relic]

A change in the pickup selection switch can be like a breath of fresh air. Appropriately used, it can breath new life into a song or jam. It can also bring fresh inspiration while altering the tone & feel.

For you guys that are used to the 'one pickup only' routine, I can only suggest you 'make yourself' (yes intentionally) switch pups & experiment with finding things that work with that sound. In the end it should inspire you as a player, doodler or 'one finger charlie' to think outside your box & develop some fresh skills.

Ever watch Stevie Ray go from pup to pup while diggin in for fresh inspiration during a live lead????
Well then check out this youtube vid & watch the old master use those pups (among some other tricks lol) to his advantage!

 

[Biddlin]

watch the old master

I like SRV, but sadly, he was neither old nor master. A dedicated journeyman, to be sure. A sterling example of a Texas bluesman.

 

[gball]

I tend to be the opposite of most: I use the bridge pickup for most rhythm/comping stuff and the neck for solos/fills. I end up diddling the selector and knobs quite a lot when I am playing.

 

[smitty_p]

I tend to be the opposite of most: I use the bridge pickup for most rhythm/comping stuff and the neck for solos/fills. I end up diddling the selector and knobs quite a lot when I am playing.

That is exactly what I do, too.

I also use the controls a lot while playing.

"Use 'em, if you got 'em", I say!

 

[Inspector #20]

I tend to be the opposite of most: I use the bridge pickup for most rhythm/comping stuff and the neck for solos/fills. I end up diddling the selector and knobs quite a lot when I am playing.

Bridge does it all...unless I'm doing Rory Gallagher or Gary Moore Blues covers....then it's all neck.

 

[mdubya]

I use all positions.

 

[smitty_p]

But, to answer the question in the thread title..."How do you use your pickup selector?"

Here's how I do it...

The way I use my pickup selector is that I move the switch to select different pickups.