Bare Knuckle Pickups Forum

Forum Ringside => Guitars, Amps and Effects => Topic started by: hunter on May 31, 2008, 01:44:22 PM

Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on May 31, 2008, 01:44:22 PM: What do you guys think?

I actually just bought an Edwards 3 PU off-white LP Custom...

(http://i87.photobucket.com/albums/k129/mustang_axeslinger/lot22/DT154EdwardsLPC/5.jpg)
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Horlicks on May 31, 2008, 01:48:17 PM: They look pretty bad IMO and to be honest who needs 3 H-buckers?
Isn't the magnet pull meant to be bad for the sustain and tone as well?

EDIT: That actually looks pretty awesome, not a fan of the Jimmy Page signatures or anything though
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on May 31, 2008, 01:50:52 PM: Hmmm, does Tim wind any "middle humbuckers"?
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Philly Q on May 31, 2008, 02:22:26 PM: I think they look magnificent, especially Peter Frampton's black one with cream and gold parts.

I would never in a million years buy one though, I think the middle pickup really gets in the way and I'm not convinced it adds any useful sounds. Sorry.

Having said that, I almost bought one of these once, but the neck was like a toothpick (fortunately, saved me a lot of money):

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/1991_30th_Anniversary_SG_Custom_8.jpg)
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: nfe on May 31, 2008, 02:24:44 PM: I think they look pretty horrid, plus, I am completely incapable of playing the things without catching my pick on the middle humbucker every two seconds.
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on May 31, 2008, 02:34:15 PM: Quote from: Philly Q
I think they look magnificent, especially Peter Frampton's black one with cream and gold parts.

I would never in a million years buy one though, I think the middle pickup really gets in the way and I'm not convinced it adds any useful sounds. Sorry.

Having said that, I almost bought one of these once, but the neck was like a toothpick (fortunately, saved me a lot of money):

(http://i129.photobucket.com/albums/p216/phillyq/1991_30th_Anniversary_SG_Custom_8.jpg)

Huh that SG is pretty fantastic! Guess that's another level. Those HBs are In the way! Hummm, why do I always do these impulse purchases?

I actually wanted to get some more SGs, not Les Pauls...
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: WezV on May 31, 2008, 02:37:53 PM: i used to really like the look... now i struggle with it

i think its because i see no practical reason for having 3 humbuckers... not the way gibson wire them anyway.

they go bridge, bridge/middle, neck

That means you lose the bridge/neck combo which i particularly like and you dont even get the advantage of the middle by itself
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Philly Q on May 31, 2008, 02:40:41 PM: Quote from: hunter
Hmmm, does Tim wind any "middle humbuckers"?

It would be quite cool to put a MQ in the middle position. Even better if you could have a 5-way Strat switch to split the humbuckers in positions 2 and 4 - a bit tricky on a Les Paul though...
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: FELINEGUITARS on May 31, 2008, 03:40:38 PM: Cool I think , but I don't get on with them from a playing point of view.
The middle pickup gets in the way
(http://bp2.blogger.com/_BYX14125JUQ/RjGr_bH28OI/AAAAAAAABJ4/dTXRKAUu2-Y/s400/Ace_Frehley.jpg)

And not all of them smoke from the neck pickup!
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: _tom_ on May 31, 2008, 03:54:16 PM: I voted the top answer but now I see the picture, its not too bad actually. Thing is I've never really found much of a use for the middle pickup (plus like Philly says I think they get in the way). Maybe a MQ in the middle would provide some useful tones, if the neck and bridge are humbuckers it coudl be quite versatile?
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: noodleplugerine on May 31, 2008, 04:17:26 PM: They look gorgeous!!!
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Catalyst77 on May 31, 2008, 04:35:31 PM: I have three in my greco les paul custom, two rebell yells and an emerald in the middle.

I can tell you it really is worth it. I can split all three and bring in the middle pickup on its own or combine it with either or both of the singe coils; there are some really varied tones in there.

Although it is true if your technique isnt spot on (and mines not!) then the middle pickup does get in the way, i do catch it with the pick on occasions.
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: dave_mc on May 31, 2008, 04:49:45 PM: is that second-hand? i wasn't aware of any 3-pickup edwardses in the current catalogue...

to answer the question, i haven't quite decided whether i like them or not... big change for me... :lol:
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Will on May 31, 2008, 04:53:46 PM: ooooooooooo - I like...
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Jonny on May 31, 2008, 05:09:11 PM: I like 3PU LPs but not 3PU SGs
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on May 31, 2008, 05:13:19 PM: Really like the idea of a Stormy Monday in the middle.

You know the Chris Henderson wiring is quite cool, middle pickup via push pull and no tone or volume for the middle. I.e. if you turn both volumes down and activate the push-pull, you have the middle alone, or otherwise any combination you like.

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/schem08/chrishenderson.pdf
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Philly Q on May 31, 2008, 05:28:37 PM: Quote from: hunter
You know the Chris Henderson wiring is quite cool, middle pickup via push pull and no tone or volume for the middle. I.e. if you turn both volumes down and activate the push-pull, you have the middle alone, or otherwise any combination you like.

http://www.prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/schem08/chrishenderson.pdf

Sounds simple enough... so long as you haven't had a drink :wink: .

It must be a bit tricky to switch from, say, neck+middle to solo bridge in a hurry. And I'd have thought the lack of a volume control for the middle pickup would limit the usefulness of the combined settings a bit.
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: ilÿti on May 31, 2008, 09:26:13 PM: Quote from: WezV
That means you lose the bridge/neck combo which i particularly like and you dont even get the advantage of the middle by itself

What he said. I would not sacrifice the bridge+neck position in any guitar. Same reason I hate that 5-way coil splitting nonsense.
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: _tom_ on May 31, 2008, 09:55:38 PM: Yeah, the bridge/neck sound on my LP w/Mules is amazing, one of my favourite tones :)
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Philly Q on May 31, 2008, 10:04:01 PM: Quote from: ilyti
I would not sacrifice the bridge+neck position in any guitar. Same reason I hate that 5-way coil splitting nonsense.

With a 5-way "super" switch and a pair of humbuckers you can have bridge, bridge+neck and neck in positions 1, 3 and 5, then coil-split options in positions 2 and 4. Easy to use, no push-pulls.

You can't do the Tom Morello toggle-switch thing, but you could add a killswitch I guess. And I only know how to wire it with shared volume and tone controls, but it might be possible to have separate controls like a Les Paul - I don't understand the switch well enough to work it out.

(Edit: I forgot this thread is about 3-humbucker guitars; I'm talking about 2 :oops: )
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Ratrod on June 01, 2008, 10:41:24 AM: I like 'em. I really liked the Page version posted a while ago. With Bigsby and a six way switch.

The only problems I have with them is the weight, the complexity and I hate tension bars on Bigsby's.
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: gwEm on June 01, 2008, 11:48:23 PM: i'm certain they sound cool... but they look really awful IMO - over pimped!
Title: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: gwEm on June 01, 2008, 11:49:24 PM: maybe in black custom with covered neck and bridge... black uncovered middle - a sort of disguise.
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on August 17, 2008, 11:27:20 AM: Hey there, here are some clips and vids I did with whitey:

Clip 1: Dry Riffing
http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/puresodanovintage.mp3

Clip 2: Empty Rooms Solo with Effects
http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/emptyrooms.mp3

Vid 1/2: U2 - One Tutorial
http://www.vanderbilly.com/Guitar-Lesson-U2+-+One+-+Pt.1,7242,1.html

Here is a pic I did this morning:
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: badgermark on August 17, 2008, 11:51:45 AM: I like them. Really want to try one out one day, possibly the black and gold version, white is a bit too bling for me. How does the middle position sound hunter? Compared to a normal LP anyway.
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: noodleplugerine on August 17, 2008, 12:11:48 PM: Quote from: hunter on August 17, 2008, 11:27:20 AM

Hey there, here are some clips and vids I did with whitey:

Clip 1: Dry Riffing
http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/puresodanovintage.mp3

Clip 2: Empty Rooms Solo with Effects
http://www.klangforschungszentrum.de/temp/emptyrooms.mp3

Vid 1/2: U2 - One Tutorial
http://www.vanderbilly.com/Guitar-Lesson-U2+-+One+-+Pt.1,7242,1.html

Here is a pic I did this morning:

LOVING that riff tone - Thick, creamy, just how I like it.

Did you change the pups in the end?

Great playing in the Empty Room solo btw - You have some hellishly good tone. What were you playing through?
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on August 17, 2008, 01:19:30 PM: Quote from: noodleplugerine on August 17, 2008, 12:11:48 PM

What were you playing through?

Thanks, I like it loads, too 8)

This was through an Axe FX Ultra into a Carvin DCM1000 SS amp into my Heritage 2x12 Cab with a G12H and a V30 mic'ed with an SM57.

On the Axe FX I am using a Soldano amp model with a Plexi tone stack. You can luckily do this kind of stuff on the Axe. The Soldano with its default tone stack sounds a tad boring as the model (not in real surely).
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: HTH AMPS on August 17, 2008, 01:43:02 PM: I really like the 3-p/up look (especially with a bigsby) but the middle p/up gets in the way.

I'm not convinced that the bridge/middle tone is very usefull either, I'd much prefer the middle by itself.
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: hunter on August 17, 2008, 04:02:53 PM: Quote from: HEAVIER THAN HELL on August 17, 2008, 01:43:02 PM
I really like the 3-p/up look (especially with a bigsby) but the middle p/up gets in the way.

I'm not convinced that the bridge/middle tone is very usefull either, I'd much prefer the middle by itself.

The way I pick it's not at all in the way. I love the sound of the combo bridge/middle, it really does some great stuff to the tone, check the solo bit (just before the middle of the video) on my tutorial here that's made with that combination:
http://www.vanderbilly.com/Guitar-Lesson-Alice+in+Chains+-+Would,7246,1.html
Title: Re: 3 PU Les Pauls, are they cool?
Post by: Sifu Ben on August 17, 2008, 04:50:57 PM: I think they look cool, and my picking style doesn't cause problems. The Gibson wiring is stupid though (although I thought it was middle and neck together). Maybe sacrifice a tone control and have it as a volume for the middle, or use a Rothwell Neck Adder to increase your combination options.