Most Versitile Pickup Configuration

[Chiogtr4x]

I'm a traditional, 3 single coil w/ 5 way switch Stratocaster player.

And over a lot of time, I ve just figured out how to play everything I play ( or 'close enough') with that configuration. Add an OD and between the clean and dirty, there are a lot of options.

But I also am absolutely tickled by my Epi SG ( as mainly a Fender guitar player), that has coil-taps on each humbucker. ( 2 Vol., 2 Tone).
I can do all kinds of fun stuff with these controls, and very easily

 

[KC]

Classic Les Paul / humbucker tone -- on a tele. Just saying.

For me it's a Strat with a good bridge pickup, which for me lately is a Music Man Cutlass. I can get some good spanky tele tones out of this thing in addition to the usual Strat sounds.

 

[Ricky D.]

I’m not smart enough to handle a lot of switches during a gig. A Tele or a LP with a three way would be my choice. Get the melody, the words, and the hooks right. All you need.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Been starting to rehearse with a new 'classic rock' and R&B cover band. We do some Allmans, JJ Cale, ZZ Top, SRV, Cream, BB King, Creedance, Some Otis Redding...Etc.

Basic roadhouse cover band

I am wondering whats the one guitar to take to the gig/rehearsal to rule them all.

What say some of you old salty cover band veterans?

Really, whatever you got. (The real meaning behind “The tone is in your fingers”, imo.)

 

[Obsessed]

The most versatile guitar that I ever played … by far, was the Vox SDC-55. It was not what I was looking for at the time, but they had to kick me out of the store well after they were closed, because I just could not put it down.

 

[Timbresmith1]

Another funny-

I have a Les Paul. I love it. Awesome guitar. It came from the factory with four push/pull pots. Coil splitting, phasing, you name it, it does everything.

I have never pushed or pulled one of those knobs in a live gig situation.

Bingo

 

[Califiddler]

2 humbuckers, each with independent coil spitting. Eight pickup settings.

 

[Cyberi4n]

HH a La Les Paul, but with the added twist of a coil-split on both gets my vote. The separate volume and tone for each pickup as well as the ability to run each/either in Single Coil mode to me gives me the most tonal options of all.

 

[DavidP]

As @Ajs91 noted, you need to add this option:

Ok, not a true BM model, but I can easily cover a whole night with this modded Am Std Tele . It's my 'Swiss army knife' guitar!

 

[Deaf Eddie]

What - no HHH?

 

[tubejockey]

A well voiced set of tone controls is your best friend. With HH, I like a PTB setup. The difference between single coil and humbucker tones is not as wide as we tend to think. Just look at Redd's playing above. You do have to select your tone caps carefully, but it can be done.

 

[jfgesquire]

As @Ajs91 noted, you need to add this option:
View attachment 934226
Ok, not a true BM model, but I can easily cover a whole night with this modded Am Std Tele . It's my 'Swiss army knife' guitar!

My vote.

Squier made something off the shelf very similar... Vintage Modified SSH.

I further modified it by completely redoing the control plate. One mini toggle for each pickup = every pickup combo.

 

[Willie Johnson]

Thinking about doing up my Super Sonic with Lace Sensor duallys and a push-pull for single or dual coils.

 

[JL_LI]

An extended cab, 21” wheels, and big a$$ tires. See the Frontier/Tacoma thread.

 

[thegaijin]

I voted HSS as most versatile, but didn’t find it most playable. I had a HSS tele once (a la Brent Mason) but pulled out the middle pickup. Felt like it was in the way. That guitar now has a mini HB in the neck and a Single coil in the bridge and I’ve never found it lacking. Gonna go play it now.

 

[2HBStrat]

Classic Les Paul / humbucker tone -- on a tele. Just saying.

For me it's a Strat with a good bridge pickup, which for me lately is a Music Man Cutlass. I can get some good spanky tele tones out of this thing in addition to the usual Strat sounds.

That doesn't sound anything like a Les Paul to me.

And on a different note...isn't he taking considerable liberties with the songs melody?

 

[backalleyblues]

If it HAD to be one guitar, then S/S/S all the way for me, I can cover far more ground with that than anything else.

That said, I have a Lester with the switches in it, and I do use them-La Grange starts with the tapped bridge in the intro, then full humbucker for the main part of the song. Both pickups tapped for a semi quacky strat-phase switch for funk rhythm, etc. Lots can be done with that setup...

Another setup I use is the 5 way Bill Laweence half out of phase wiring on one of my teles- reasonable quack out of that guitar when needed...

Franc Robert

 

[Maguchi]

Been starting to rehearse with a new 'classic rock' and R&B cover band. We do some Allmans, JJ Cale, ZZ Top, SRV, Cream, BB King, Creedance, Some Otis Redding...Etc.

Basic roadhouse cover band

I am wondering whats the one guitar to take to the gig/rehearsal to rule them all.

What say some of you old salty cover band veterans?

Plain old unmodified Tele will work just fine.

 

[rickthescot]

 

[bcorig]

I own an HSS Strat, SS Tele a HH LP and HH Heritage 555.
Ever since “Get Back” I’ve been wondering about P90s