3 'buckers, muddy tone = asking for help

[gamesandy135]

Hey all, hope someone out there can help me on this.

So I have/had an SG with 3 humbuckers, when I played it I was underwhelmed as the tone was muddy, ill-defined and everything that I don't like.
I thought that changing the middle pickup for a P90 might sweeten this up a little but, when I done this, it was much the same thing.

So after more research into the matter, it appears that it's probably how it's wired.

Currently it's wired so that each p'up has it's own volume with one master tone control. Switch Middle position activates all three pickups, switch Neck = Middle + Neck, switch Bridge = Middle + Bridge.

I've seen and heard 3 p'up LPs/SGs that sound gorgeous, we all have.  So I was wondering if anyone knew what the best options were, and your own experiences and experiments.

It's such a shame because, I love the SG, but I can't get the sound that I do from my 2 'bucker LPs/SGs with it, nowhere close, so it doesn't get used.
Thanks for any help guys.

[Twinfan]

Hmm.  You're always running at least two pickups, no wonder it sounds fat!  Especially if you have a P90 in the middle!

I'd try wiring it how I think the vintage SGs are wired:

Bridge = bridge only
Middle = bridge and middle
Neck = neck only

[gamesandy135]

Hey thanks Twinfan.

It never even occurred to me, it seems so obvious now that you've said it.  I'm gonna try to find a wiring diagram and hopefully give it a shot tonight/tomorrow.

I'll let you know how it goes.

[Twinfan]

Best of luck - let us know how you get on  :)

This diagram lets you wire it up as a standard 2 pickup model, with a volume pot for the middle pickup which lets you blend it in wherever you want.  Might be useful?

http://www.guitarelectronics.com/product/WDUHHH3T2201

Or this is the original Gibson wiring diagram with two volumes and two tones, with the middle pickup added "wide open" when the toggle is in the centre:

http://www.gibson.com/Files/schematics/lpafwiring.gif