3-pickup Ric's

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:28 am

Hey everyone, I tried a 370 6-string this weekend. It had a really nice sound, when I toggle the pick-up switch upward, you get the neck and middle pick-up, which produces a very beefy, full, warm chime. In the middle position, I did not notice as much distinction from the standard two-pickup model. I would have bought it, but I talked myself out of it, convincing myself that my SG gave a similar sound to the 370 in the upper position. What are other's thoughts on 330/360 versus 340/370 ?

bill_yantz · Post by **bill_yantz** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 5:49 am

Steve, I played a '67 375 lately (a few times) and I like the up and middle position. But, on the down position (bridge PU) it was really thin and unuseable by itself. It reminded me of the my 325C58, similar. I was wondering if it's possible to wire the guitar so that the down position engages both middle and the bridge pickups, thus "fattening" the sound? In other words, the middle pickup is active in all three positions. Is it possible to do that and has anyone ever done it?

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:09 am

Every 330 that I get, I add a third pick up. It adds definition, as well as the neck/mid combination that Steve mentions. When you get used to it, you just can't go back to two pickup gtrs. I never use the bridge pickup on its own, but use the blend control to control the amount of bottom end in the sound.

You can wire them up however you want Bill.

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:15 am

I think you can wire the 5th knob to be a volume for the middle PU, but you still wouldn't have independent tone controls for all three. I think you need to control, more accurately, the position of your hand, when playing a 340/370 style. Hmmm, this is very confusing ...

iamthebassman · Post by **iamthebassman** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 6:48 am

I love my 340LH

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:00 am

Steve...the McGuinn has a volume for each pick up, plus a master volume. It has no actual tone controls at all, save for the rotary switch offering different combinations of compressor & voicing.

Likewise Ronn...

atomic_punk · Post by **atomic_punk** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:20 am

WOW....nice flame on that one, Anthony...I'm glad that one went out as a MG!

chefothefuture · Post by **chefothefuture** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:21 am

Three PUs just looks cooler! And when it looks that good, who cares what it sounds like!

Nice wood on that 345 Tony!

jingle_jangle · Post by **jingle_jangle** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:31 am

Spectacular, Tony. You've just derailed this thread ito the sound of heavy breathing...

As I've mentioned, I've rewired my 325 with just volume knobs, leaving the bass rolloff (otherwise known as "tone controls") to the amp. It's wired so that the selector switch selects the usual combination of front and/or rear pickups. This switch is then wired through one of the volume pots. The middle pickup is always selected, with the option of turning it to any level using its own dedicated volume control.

This little guy has the best range of tones of any Rick I own, with two pots, one switch, and no caps.

melibreits · Post by **melibreits** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:14 am

Heavy breathing....Yeah, that's for sure! What a beautful guitar, Tony! Love the Bigsby and the two-tone pickguard, not to mention the incredible flamed maple.... STUNNING.

ozover50 · Post by **ozover50** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:25 am

Yep! It's a cracker all right.... everything about it is delightful, Tony.

winston · Post by **winston** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 11:23 am

Tony,

I am normally not fond of MG but I would most probably buy that guitar. That is just beautiful.

longhouse · Post by **longhouse** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 7:28 pm

In short, I play my 3 pickup Ric more than the 2. The middle pickup NEVER gets in my way. I love it. Love it. Love it.

tony_carey · Post by **tony_carey** » Mon Dec 05, 2005 9:37 pm

I agree Noel.

When I saw that gtr, I realised that although fireglo is the best, MG isn't far behind!

Luckily, it plays & sounds as good as it looks & is gradualy becoming my no 1 player.

BTW, glad you all like it & thanks for the comments.....

(for Paul)

steverok · Post by **steverok** » Tue Dec 06, 2005 5:06 am

I love mapleglo, it always looks good :

I don't really like the look of three high-gains, but three toasters looks cool. However, I would rather have the more powerful pick-ups on my 6-string. Hmmm, a 340 (which color?) with toasters, wound to a higher impedance ... I ... I ... I just can't get another

This forum is madness !!!