Are neck pickups usually quieter?

[Sailor Charon]

I dunno if it's a perception thing - less treble = less volume? - but the not-bridge pickups on my SG and Strat aren't as loud as the bridge pickup. Is this normal, and is there a way round it?
Also, how hard would it be to tweak an SG to fit a middle pickup - since there isn't a space to take one?

[Twinfan]

It's a slight perception thing, but also a pickup height thing.  Raise it to get more volume.  I always find the neck pickup tricky to balance with the bridge volume-wise without making it too "full" sounding.  A tend to have a slight volume drop in the neck for contrast and clarity.

[Philly Q]

If you put two identical pickups in a guitar, the neck pickup would be fatter, bassier, and louder - because there's more movement of the strings over the neck pickup.  

Most people prefer the bridge pickup to be as loud, or louder than, the neck, so neck pickups are usually underwound to compensate for the natural difference between the two positions.

If you find your bridge pickups too loud, they're probably a bit hotter than they need to be to match well with the neck pickups.  As Dave says, you could try lowering the bridge pickup or raising the neck pickup, it'll make a small difference.

As for your SG question, there should just be space for a third pickup - hence the SG Custom:

[Oli]

I don't know what it's like under the pickguard, but you may have to do some routing to fit it in... no one will see it though, so you could balls it up and no-one'll know ;)

[Twinfan]

Yep, you'll need to do some routing.  Not for the faint hearted...

[Philly Q]

Yep, you'll need to do some routing.  Not for the faint hearted...

You cant go too far wrong - as long as you use a template!   :twisted:

[Sailor Charon]

Thanks folks. I'm starting to wonder if there's any questions that can't be answered on here... :)

[indysmith]

the chicken came first...THE CHICKEN