Pickup selector switch positions, how do you use them?

Codinho · December 26th, 2009, 04:07 PM

I typically use the bridge for vintage rock and country, or soloing when I want to cut through the mix. I use the neck for a clean bluesy sound and the middle when the I feel the neck is too bassy and the bridge is too trebly. I have a forth position that puts them in series that I use when playing hard rock with a lot of distortion. How do you like to use them.

Cowboydan · December 27th, 2009, 08:19 AM

I have been using the middle position the most lately. I love that tone, it's full, rich, and hum canceling. I don't know why it doesn't sound more like a humbucker in that position, but it's tele all the way. Perhaps someone can explain that more to me. The bridge pickup certainly cuts through the mix, but now I like the nmiddle position for rythm and lead.

xjazzy · December 27th, 2009, 09:03 AM

For it to sound more like an humbucker you need to use both pickups e series and not in parallel like the standard tele wiring.
Get a 4-way switch and you'll have a more bucker-like sound in the extra position.

cowardm · December 27th, 2009, 10:01 AM

I have the four way. For a while the fourth position was really too boomy, but for some reason (maybe it was a pickup height issue) it has sounded really good lately with loads of distortion. I got a nice version of Amazing Grace (in drop D) I do with it because it's so heavy.

Jack · December 27th, 2009, 03:52 PM

I know allot of folks consider the bridge PU best for lead, but I use it most of the time for just about everything and like it best on every Tele I've played.

The middle position has an acoustic flavor to it, but there's always seems to be a little treble spike that I have a hard time dialing out and I find it to sound thin compared to each PU used alone. I want to try a 4 way selector to see how things go with the series connection.

Most of the Tele neck PU's I've tried haven't been that great. IMO it's hard to get a god Tele neck PU. The Nocasters I'm using now and the SD mini that's used in the Hot Rod RI Tele's are my favorites. I use the neck when looking for a deeper and softer sound. Normally used clean or with just a little break-up and I keep it set pretty low.

AngelStrummer · December 27th, 2009, 04:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jack

IMO it's hard to get a good Tele neck PU.

Your opinion is likely shared shared by many a Tele player, including me, until I discovered the TT neck PU from the Baja Telecaster...

cwcowell · December 27th, 2009, 04:59 PM

I only ever use the middle position.

The bridge hurts my ears and picks up too much finger noise. The neck sounds sort of flutey, like when you blow across the top of an empty bottle (a sound I don't really like). The middle position is balanced and useful for just about any type of music, clean or dirty.

However, it's very hard to generalize. Different Tele models sound different. Different examples of the same model sound different. Strings sound different. Amps sound different. Fingers sound different than picks. Etc.

Teleglide · December 27th, 2009, 05:14 PM

I use the bridge pickup most of the time for rock or country. If it's a Western Swing tune I often use the middle. If I'm playing jazz I use the neck pickup.

Sometimes I go for an entire night without ever leaving the bidge pickup. I'm always adjusting the tone knob in the last 20% of its range.

December 26th, 2009, 04:07 PM	#1 (permalink)
Codinho Tele-Meister Join Date: May 2009 Location: Naples, Florida Age: 39 Posts: 413	Pickup selector switch positions, how do you use them? I typically use the bridge for vintage rock and country, or soloing when I want to cut through the mix. I use the neck for a clean bluesy sound and the middle when the I feel the neck is too bassy and the bridge is too trebly. I have a forth position that puts them in series that I use when playing hard rock with a lot of distortion. How do you like to use them.

December 27th, 2009, 09:03 AM	#3 (permalink)
xjazzy Friend of Leo's Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Portugal Age: 30 Posts: 2,536 6 Photos	For it to sound more like an humbucker you need to use both pickups e series and not in parallel like the standard tele wiring. Get a 4-way switch and you'll have a more bucker-like sound in the extra position. __________________ Still got the Twang! myspace.com/jpmartins

December 27th, 2009, 10:01 AM	#4 (permalink)
cowardm Tele-Meister Join Date: Nov 2009 Location: Minneapolis, MN Age: 24 Posts: 287	I have the four way. For a while the fourth position was really too boomy, but for some reason (maybe it was a pickup height issue) it has sounded really good lately with loads of distortion. I got a nice version of Amazing Grace (in drop D) I do with it because it's so heavy. __________________ -------------- Michael

December 27th, 2009, 03:52 PM	#5 (permalink)
Jack Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Corpus Christi, Texas Age: 53 Posts: 287	I know allot of folks consider the bridge PU best for lead, but I use it most of the time for just about everything and like it best on every Tele I've played. The middle position has an acoustic flavor to it, but there's always seems to be a little treble spike that I have a hard time dialing out and I find it to sound thin compared to each PU used alone. I want to try a 4 way selector to see how things go with the series connection. Most of the Tele neck PU's I've tried haven't been that great. IMO it's hard to get a god Tele neck PU. The Nocasters I'm using now and the SD mini that's used in the Hot Rod RI Tele's are my favorites. I use the neck when looking for a deeper and softer sound. Normally used clean or with just a little break-up and I keep it set pretty low. __________________ Gear: Fender AS Tele, Fender AS strat, Vox AC15-C1.

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December 27th, 2009, 08:19 AM	#2 (permalink)
Cowboydan TDPRI Member Join Date: Jun 2009 Location: Baton Rouge, LA Age: 57 Posts: 33	I have been using the middle position the most lately. I love that tone, it's full, rich, and hum canceling. I don't know why it doesn't sound more like a humbucker in that position, but it's tele all the way. Perhaps someone can explain that more to me. The bridge pickup certainly cuts through the mix, but now I like the nmiddle position for rythm and lead.

December 27th, 2009, 04:59 PM	#7 (permalink)
cwcowell Tele-Meister Join Date: Oct 2007 Location: Cascadia Age: 40 Posts: 172	I only ever use the middle position. The bridge hurts my ears and picks up too much finger noise. The neck sounds sort of flutey, like when you blow across the top of an empty bottle (a sound I don't really like). The middle position is balanced and useful for just about any type of music, clean or dirty. However, it's very hard to generalize. Different Tele models sound different. Different examples of the same model sound different. Strings sound different. Amps sound different. Fingers sound different than picks. Etc.

December 27th, 2009, 05:14 PM	#8 (permalink)
Teleglide Tele-Meister Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: Vermont Posts: 454	I use the bridge pickup most of the time for rock or country. If it's a Western Swing tune I often use the middle. If I'm playing jazz I use the neck pickup. Sometimes I go for an entire night without ever leaving the bidge pickup. I'm always adjusting the tone knob in the last 20% of its range.

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