Best suggestion for middle pickup? Three pickup LP

[bosnialove]

This is how my guitar looks now and how it's gonna look within a month or so:

So as you can see, I'm gonna add a extra pup in the middle.

Neck pickup: Seymour Duncan Antiqity neck
Bridge pickup: Seymour Duncan Antiqity bridge

My first thougt was placing a DiMarzio SuperDistortion (bridge) in the middle.

The guitar will be wired like this:
1 tone pot + 1 volume pot for the SD Antiqity neck and bridge together
1 tone pot + 1 volume pot for the middle pickup

So would it be a good idea to place a DiMarzio SuperDistortion bridge pup in the middle?

Or do you guys have a better suggestion for a pickup in the middle?

Thanks in advance!

 

[Indyclone]

The only place I'd put a SuperDistortion would be the bridge.

If I had your setup I'd add a Phat Cat or other P90 type..


I'd also want to be able to control each pickup seperately. 3 volumes and 1 tone. or at least make the bridge/middle volume a push-pull so that I could turn the middle pup off.


But that's me... I'm sure that you're different than me.

 

[bosnialove]

Hmmm... I actually also think a 3 volume and 1 tone setting would be better..

But I would like a humbucker in the middle only, so a Phat Cat isn't gonna be the one.

But, - is it actually possible if you / does it sound good when you - put a bridge humbucker in the middle position?

 

[LtKojak]

So as you can see, I'm gonna add a extra pup in the middle.

Or do you guys have a better suggestion?

Yes. DON'T DO IT!

You don't get a really usable tone, not from the middle alone, not together with either the neck and/or bridge p'up.

Been there, done that, never again.

HTH,

 

[bosnialove]

Hmmm.. Could you tell me more about it?


... Other options: SD Alnico II Pro Slash, SD Pearly Gates, DiMarzio 36th. Ann. PAF Pro

 

[axepilot]

Hmmm.. Could you tell me more about it?


... Other options: SD Alnico II Pro Slash, SD Pearly Gates, DiMarzio 36th. Ann. PAF Pro

Bosnia,

No offense meant, but are you doing this more for looks or sounds?

The middle pickup makes picking the guitar a real pain in the a$$, and it really doesn't add much to the guitar's sound. It will also be a major mod with the routing required.

I think your Les Paul looks awesome as it is, and you have some great hardware on it. Are you willing to chance this with all of the wood cutting needed for this mod?

 

[River]

In addition to Kojak's and axepilot's input, which is (always) valuable, I gotta say it: that uncovered middle pickup looks like hell.

 

[bosnialove]

Yes, you've got a very good point there.

The truth is: 50% for the looks and 50% for the sounds!

Don't kill me! But.. I think a LP looks kinda boring with only two pickups..

A other reason is that I really would like a SuperDistortion in my guitar.

The problem: the dude who sold me the Antiqity's has told me if I place the SuperDistortion in the middle position, there would be a huge difference in volume or tone, so he told me not to do it because the SuperDistortion is a high output pup and the Antiqity's are low output pups.

I play very often on a three pickup SG, no problems at all. But since i still have be able to pick, the SuperDistortion will be lowered down a little bit.

River, I've seen it in real life, double cream doesn't looks that bad, but black uncovered ones do look really ugly!

 

[axepilot]

Yes, you've got a very good point there.

The truth is: 50% for the looks and 50% for the sounds!

Don't kill me! But.. I think a LP looks kinda boring with only two pickups..

A other reason is that I really would like a SuperDistortion in my guitar.

The problem: the dude who sold me the Antiqity's has told me if I place the SuperDistortion in the middle position, there would be a huge difference in volume or tone, so he told me not to do it because the SuperDistortion is a high output pup and the Antiqity's are low output pups.

I play very often on a three pickup SG, no problems at all. But since i still have be able to pick, the SuperDistortion will be lowered down a little bit.

River, I've seen it in real life, double cream doesn't looks that bad, but black uncovered ones do look really ugly!

It's your guitar, Bosnia, and you can do what you want to with it. As far as looks go, I love it as it is.

Just my take: If you want to drop in a Super Distortion, put it in the bridge position and rock on. If you want some versatility, put in some push/pull pots and split the coils. I cringe thinking about plunging a router into that top.

 

[Evil Mopars]

I've also been curious about this question for a long time for my own 3 pickup Epi Les Paul. I think it's going to take alot of experimenting with some custom wound pickups in order to find one that will play well with the bridge and/or the neck. As well as sound good on it's own. I think it's possible but it's going to take more time than most people are willing to give.

 

[bosnialove]

Wait, what does router and routing mean?

I'll experimentate: if the SuperD. doesn't sound good, I'll buy a Phat Cat.

 

[axepilot]

Wait, what does router and routing mean?

That means taking a cutting bit and boring the hole into your top for the pickup to sit in. It also means drilling through the wood to route the wires to the pickup selector and control cavity.

It means major wood cutting, and it needs to be done by someone who knows what they're doing. I truly hope you find someone you can trust to do this.........

 

[bosnialove]

That means taking a cutting bit and boring the hole into your top for the pickup to sit in. It also means drilling through the wood to route the wires to the pickup selector and control cavity.

It means major wood cutting, and it needs to be done by someone who knows what they're doing. I truly hope you find someone you can trust to do this.........

Ohhhh yeah, that wiring route is already done in the Gibson Factory:

They only need to bore the hole for the pickup. And with 'they' I mean the guitar luthier here where I live. OH HELL NO! I AIN'T DOING THIS BY MYSELF! I can't even solder, haha. They've done this before and I've asked them a month ago to change the pickups, remove the PCB, change and upgrade all the wiring and solder everything in the control cavity for me. Ofcourse I've paid them for that. And I'm very happy with it!

Answer from DiMarzio Inc:
It is impossible to be certain in advance if a Super will be a good choice. The Super will be warmer-sounding than the Antiquities. How well it balances with them in terms of power will depend entirely on how far away it is adjusted from the strings.

DiMarzio Inc.

So I basicly only need to lower the pickup to get him matched with the Antiqity's? I guess..

 

[axepilot]

That's a ballsy mod, man.

I definitely would like to know how this turns out.

 

[bosnialove]

Uhmm.. Sorry, haha but I don't quite understand you man.

Looks like they only have the bore the pickup hole right?

And about the tone changes: I don't think you would hear it. But for example, look how hollow those Cloud 9 LP's are and they still sound great.

 

[bosnialove]

Maybe I've changed my mind: maybe a DiMarzio 36th Ann. PAF DP103 would be a better option in the middle position? That one is suitable for either neck or bridge and has low output: only 250. I think this one would be a better combination with the other pickups. I don't want the SuperD. to overpower the Antiqities. That sure ain't gonna happen with the 36 Ann. PAF.

EDIT: MEssage from DiMarzio Inc.

I thought the purpose of choosing a high-output pickup like a Super Distortion was to be able to adjust it further from the strings than the neck and bridge pickups are adjusted. Using a pickup like a DP103 in the middle will defeat this purpose. It makes sense to use a powerful pickup in the middle. Besides the Super, you might also look at models like the Steve Morse bridge model or the Super 2, which might work well for more versatile sounds.

DiMarzio Inc.