software

What are your favorite switch position to use on your strat?
Which position for lead? Which for rhythm?

This is not an exhaustive list of combos.

But if there is not a config listed with series parallel switching that you love and absolutelycouldn't live without on your strat, then tell us about it.

I just thought it would be great to know how you guys handle your strats.

I use neck/middle for everything...rarely do I desperately need to switch to get any sound....but then again I play a lot of blues type stuff, so it works perfectly...I actually use the bridge position that everyone hates so much for some lead stuff...but mostly if I need a harder sound I go middle/bridge

I voted Middle/Neck, but I also use the Neck position a lot. Great for Rocking On!

I gotta go with neck bridge....

The middle pup by itself is the only position I don't use that much. Well, I could also live without all 3 pickups together even though it's nice for scratchy rhythm stuff.

I have a parallel/series switch for any combination of pickups that I use a lot. Bridge amp; neck in series has higher output, more bass, and lots of interesting harmonics (wc?) going on because of the distance between the pups. Neck amp; middle in series comes close to the tone of a neck humbucker for thick, sweet tone.

Chip

P.S. I didn't vote 'coz I couldn't choose just one. That's part of what makes Strats great IMHO.

I use positions 1-3 the most. 4 and 5 I only use on cleans.

Pos. 2 gives me a nice thick rythym sound with one tone on six and the other on 3-4.

Pos. 1 for a little extra cut and bite that the 2nd position doesn't have.

Pos. 3 when I want a compromised single sound that's brighter than the neck single but darker than the bridge single.

Overall I say position 2 gets the most of a workout!

Luke

As I watched the SRV Austin City Limits DVD I was suprised at how worked the tone/volume selector switch. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that but I was. I guess that is an aspect of my strat that I need to explore.

Do you guys make adjustments as much as SRV? Is Clapton like that?

I've been in love with the neck/middle notch position my whole life. It's just so dang funky! 2nd would be the neck position for that beautiful blues tone. I almost never use my middle by itself. I rarely used the bridge until I put the lil 59 in it, but now I'll throw a little dirt on the bridge for a great lead tone.

Mike


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadAs I watched the SRV Austin City Limits DVD I was suprised at how worked the tone/volume selector switch. I guess I shouldn't be surprised at that but I was. I guess that is an aspect of my strat that I need to explore.

Do you guys make adjustments as much as SRV? Is Clapton like that?

I saw a Carl Verheyen show and he switches his pickups like crazy. He does it in between phrases all the time. It gave him a tone of tonal variation in his playing more akin to what a classical player would do. I've played with the concept a bit, but it takes a lot of practice to make it a natural part of your playing and your axe has to be set up just right. I mostly stick to switching between the neck and neck/middle to get some stuff fatter and some stuff a liittle brighter. Definitely a technique worth working on!

Mike


Originally Posted by msawitzkeI've been in love with the neck/middle notch position my whole life. It's just so dang funky! 2nd would be the neck position for that beautiful blues tone. I almost never use my middle by itself. I rarely used the bridge until I put the lil 59 in it, but now I'll throw a little dirt on the bridge for a great lead tone.

Mike

Mr. msawitzke
do you play the lil' 59 split and combined with middle?

Mainly #4, but #4 amp; #2 get the most attention by me!

I don't favor any of the positions - I use all of them for various purposes. But I voted for the middle pickup alone, as I have been discovering that kind of tone lately.

Quack position 4

I voted neck and middle but, I like the neck and bridge just as much!! I wish I could have voted for both.

damn, i put bridge-mid. i wanted neck-mid.oops. sorry if that throws off the poll.

I'll count you for 2 positions!


Originally Posted by Guitar ToadMr. msawitzke
do you play the lil' 59 split and combined with middle?

Boy, I need a new screen name! What was I thinking?!?!?!

I've used them mixed, but I haven't wired it for split, yet. I fact, I'm not sure I really know what happens in that position on my axe right now. I need to get in there and mess around with the electronics and make sure I'm getting the most out of it.

Mike

It seems that strat players tend to favor the neck, combinations with the middle much more than the bridge alone. Which is different than for most Les Paul SG players? Who I have understood mostly favor the bridge 'cause of the usually muddy LP/SG neck pups.

Totally. The bridge stuff just ain't quite as happening. It has its place, but it isn't nearly as pleasing, to me, as the neck position. I guess its obvious since I put a lil 59 in to cop some gibson kinda tones on the bridge...


Originally Posted by msawitzkeTotally. The bridge stuff just ain't quite as happening. It has its place, but it isn't nearly as pleasing, to me, as the neck position. I guess its obvious since I put a lil 59 in to cop some gibson kinda tones on the bridge...

I have wanted to try the Lil '59 in mine, but whenever I've posted questions the responses that I get are quot; O well it doesn't mix well with the middle and it isn't strat vintagey enoughquot;. SO, I'm like ok if I still have the neck, plus neck and middle, I still will have a three great no foolin' strat sounds and with a Lil '59 and get bit of a LP quality from the bridge. Sounds like a best of both worlds arrangement

I guess a guy just has to sort through all the great (I really don't mean to be sarcastic here, because there is a lot of good/great advice that I'm proabably not going to use) advice and find what works for your or me, whatever the case may be!

What other hotter pups have you tried in the bridge? Lil Screamin' Demon, TwangBanger, JB Jr, Cool Rails?