Any strat players mainly use the middle pup?

[Andrew Lamprecht]

I hear a lot of *****ing about it but I find it the most useable pup with a strat. In fact, when I had one it was the only pup I used. My guitar was always in the middle position.

[MetalManiac]

Thats bizzare. Ive never heard of such a thing. I DO like the middle position, and play it more than most other guys. As long as it isnt out of phase it sounds excellent with a great guitar and good amp. I'm a long time Strat guy FWIW. It CAN sound great with a good guitar and amp, but using it on a Strat as the *main postion? Thats a new one on me.

[Kam]

I always hated the middle pickup. But then, I'm a Tele player, so what the hell do I know.

[esandes]

I always hated the middle pickup. But then, I'm a Tele player, so what the hell do I know.

lol

actually, i find the middle pickup the most neutral sounding. the neck has more bass and the bridge has more treble bite. i use it quite often.

[ItsaBass]

The middle pickup is my "main" pickup for chords and rhythm when I play Strats. I set it up for crunchy, midrangey sound. The lead pickup is for wiry high end, and for keeping clarity under a lot of distortion. The neck pickup is for sweetness and "rounded" tones. When I use the in-between position (bridge and middle), I turn the tone on the middle all the way down.

I do, however, think that the middle pickup would sound better if it was moved back about an inch. To me, when stock, it sounds like a slightly more clear version of the neck pickup, and not enough llike a slightly beefier version of the bridge pickup, which is what I'd prefer.

[GuitarDoc]

I use the middle pup alot, but was always thinking that it just wasn't quite right. I never really gave it any thought until reading what ItsaBass just said...yeah, that's it!

I wish it sounded more like a beefier bridge pup than a clearer neck pup.

Good one.

[the guy who invented fire]

I use it a fair bit...more than most other strat players I know but I also use the neck and bridge a fair bit too...I almost never use the notch positions but I know I am nearly alone in that...

[Jay 77]

Here and there I will but not often. I think Robin Trower uses the middle a lot though.

[Andrew Lamprecht]

Here and there I will but not often. I think Robin Trower uses the middle a lot though.

I know he said he used it about 75% of the time... he was the only guy I could think of who used it a lot. I can think of a ton of neck pos. strat users though...

[TheLivingDead]

All the time!

In conjunction with my neck and bridge pups.

[Gearjoneser]

I'm mostly into the neck and bridge positions, with the notch positions used occasionally.
I have to admit that even though I play strats a lot, I sort of ignore the middle alone.

ItsaBass brings up an interesting idea.....putting the middle closer to the bridge or neck, or even better - a 4 pickup strat. It would be great to have a 7 way switch on a 4 pickup strat. I'm amazed it hasn't been popularized by anyone. We should create it here on the forum and popularize it ourselves.

[STRATDELUXER97]

I really like the Tex Mex pickups and I do find I use the middle pickup up more on that strat.

[Mincer]

My middle pickup is flush with the pickguard. I do use it, but only along with one of the other 2. It gets in the way of my pick. I do like the idea of moving it back an inch or so- kinda like the middle pickup on the Music Man Steve Morse Y2D.

[ImmortalSix]

I think the Strat middle pickup is the most recognizable sound out of all pickups in the world.

When you hear one note, you know exactly what it is.

[jcthejester13]

BLASPHEMY!!!

[JonnyG92]

I have a Squier Strat loaded with Hot Rails pups (N-N-B) and I find that the Middle pickup has the best crunch for whatever I try to use it for.
I thought I'd rip out some Smashing Pumpkins and Garbage on the rhythm pup when I bought the set, but ended up using the middle for Jet covers. Oh well. Anyways!
The Neck Hot Rails set in the middle sounds awesome! No joke.
(And yes, it IS a Squier. Sue me)

[oilpit]

This guy uses the middle pup almost exclusively...

[Guston7]

I'm amazed at the responses. I thought I was typical in my tendency to almost never use just the middle pickup alone. In fact, I base the decision of middle pickup model only on how well it notches w/the other p'ups. Maybe I need to spend some time exploring position 3 a bit more.

[jeremy]

i used to seldom use the middle pup but now i use it more than the two notch tones put together. i used to keep the middle pup low to get the best notch tones but ive moved away from that now and adjust the heights to get the best volume balance across all three individual pups and let the notch tones be whatever they are.

[ratherdashing]

I admit I rarely use it on its own, but that's only because I am totally in love with the tone of literally every other pickup setting so much that I can't help not use them. I like the middle tone; I just don't loooooove it. Does that make sense?