Middle Texas Strat pickup Query

[Ormond]

I have been considering getting one of the Crook Customs with the simple two pickup system - an Adder at the neck and a Voodoo 60 at the bridge. Baring the ability to find or wait for a Crook to be built I have also considered buying a 52 ReIssue and replacing the pickups in that.

However, I have been playing my standard Parsons/Green Bender this weekend and I kinda like that setting in between the bridge PU and the Texas Strat. I am considering replacing the bridge PU with an Adder, or maybe a Fralin and just hanging on to the B Bender. I just need to buy another neck or find a wizard to make the one i have work.

anyway, I was wondering if the folks on this Forum find they use that middle pickup very often. Would I miss it if I just had a bridge and neck PU?

[HC]

I've had a HotRod Nashville for 9 years and use the bridge/middle setting on it extensively. I installed a volume blend knob for that PU, a la Brent Mason, and found it very usefull. The bridge PU alone on that guitar was a bit too harsh sounding for me, switching to a Seymour Duncan vintage stack helped that though. But I still prefer it with a bit of middle Pu blended in.

Earlier this year I bought a fantastic 52 RI that I have used almost exclusevely since, don't miss the middle PU a bit. Sometimes miss the B-bender, but I've still got the Nashville.
If you get a good Tele with good pickups I don't think you will miss that extra pickup. Set amp eq a bit different and get comfortable with using the guitars volume and tone knobs.

The pickups in the 52 RI are IMO very good pickups, sure you'll need to replace them? They sound great in every amp I've tried them in, Dr. Z RX, Fender HotRod Deville, Vox AC30, Matchless DC30...

Be sure to test the 52 as is before you yank them out.

[Ormond]

You asked if I am sure I would need to replace 52RI pickups...maybe not! I will have to buy one and see what I think.

Oh, check my post after this one about the new Adder Bridge pickup....

[Raybob]

I added the middle strat pickup to my B-bender Tele but use a 5 position Mega Switch from Stu-Mac that's wired so the middle position uses bridge and neck pickups and cuts out the middle pickup. The middle pickup is only used in positions 2 and 4.

[HC]

That's the same wiring as the Nashville. It is a nice setup I think, especially for one-guitar-gigs. That blend pot added a lot of diversity. Adding just a little bit of the middle PU to the bridge fattens it up and takes some of the harshness away without destroying the classic Tele sound.

[Ormond]

HC and Raybob - what is the setup on my Parsons/Green B Bender? Is the middle position full-on Strat pickup or a blend of the BP and NP?

If it is "full-on" middle pickup in the upright position, how hard is it to rewire so that it does the Bridge and neck in the middle, just like RayBob did?

Thanks

[jmiles]

You can also put either the bridge or the neck pup on a push/pull pot. That's what I do with my Strats and Nashville Tele. That way you don't lose any combinations.

[Dave Hopping]

Originally Posted by jmiles

You can also put either the bridge or the neck pup on a push/pull pot. That's what I do with my Strats and Nashville Tele. That way you don't lose any combinations.

One of my Strats is wired like that,but I don't use the neck-bridge combination very often and all 3 almost never. I do use the middle pickup by itself a lot.My Nashville is as Raybob describes and I miss that middle pickup sound.Been promising myself a pull-pot mod but it hasn't happened yet.

[HC]

Originally Posted by Ormond

HC and Raybob - what is the setup on my Parsons/Green B Bender? Is the middle position full-on Strat pickup or a blend of the BP and NP?

If it is "full-on" middle pickup in the upright position, how hard is it to rewire so that it does the Bridge and neck in the middle, just like RayBob did?

Thanks

The HotRod Nashville (with the Parsons/Green bender) has the traditional tele wiring with neck+bridge in the middle position.
*bridge PU
*bridge + middle PU
*bridge + neck PU
*neck + middle PU
*neck PU

[Ormond]

HC - I do not have the Hot Rod, just a 9 0r 10 year old (maybe older) sunburst American P/G with the three pickups and five way switch.

Would that middle upright position also be bridge + neck PU or is mine different than the HotRod version?

Thanks

[Dave Hopping]

Originally Posted by Ormond

HC - I do not have the Hot Rod, just a 9 0r 10 year old (maybe older) sunburst American P/G with the three pickups and five way switch.

Would that middle upright position also be bridge + neck PU or is mine different than the HotRod version?

Thanks

Pretty sure the middle position on your guitar gives you bridge + neck.My Nashville B-bender is a '99 and it's that way.If you want to be sure,take a small screwdriver,and with your guitar plugged in and the switch in the middle position,tap on any polepiece of the bridge and middle pickups,and anywhere on the chrome neck pickup cover.You'll hear a clearly audible click from each pickup that is on.Be reasonable about your amp volume when doing this test;the click is pretty loud.

[Raybob]

Originally Posted by Ormond

HC - I do not have the Hot Rod, just a 9 0r 10 year old (maybe older) sunburst American P/G with the three pickups and five way switch.

Would that middle upright position also be bridge + neck PU or is mine different than the HotRod version?

Thanks

If you're not sure, plug your guitar in, turn it up, put switch in mid position. Touch pickups with some metal object and you'll hear a pop sound on the live pickups. If it ends up center on but you want bridge and neck p/u's instead, get a Megaswitch at StuMac. If you know how to solder, they do come with instructions on various wirings of various pickup configurations.

[HC]

Originally Posted by Ormond

HC - I do not have the Hot Rod, just a 9 0r 10 year old (maybe older) sunburst American P/G with the three pickups and five way switch.

Would that middle upright position also be bridge + neck PU or is mine different than the HotRod version?

Thanks

Are you sure it's not a hotrod? Mine is a 99 model.
There was an American Standard P/G Tele but I think the Hotrod replaced it.
The standard had two pickups and a three way switch.
You probably have bridge+neck in the middle. But do the abovementioned test. :)

[Ormond]

To update this post - I did add 3rd neck and bridge Pu's (had to reverse the polarity of the middle strat PU) and both the new PU's blend nicely with the middle Pickup. And it is a bridge/neck config. in the upright position. Very useful. Very toneful. I will be leaving the Strat pickup in.