Clapton has played nearly whole concerts without changing from the mid pup position. It is one of my fav sounds from a strat.

@sonicobsessions947

Жыл бұрын

Albert hammond from the strokes literally had his strat wired where its the middle pickup whatever switch position it is.

@richardpierce7819

Жыл бұрын

You have to remember Clapton also has his strat custom wired, that said he does use the middle pup quite a lot. I use my middle pup a lot because I like the tone.

@stevenhazlewood398

Жыл бұрын

Exactly, this is what I came here to say!

@zillmer448

Жыл бұрын

i actually falled in love with the middle position when i was learning how to play key to the highway from the derek & the dominos album, layla

@CHlEFFIN

3 ай бұрын

@@zillmer448great song brother

Middle pickup is so underated. However, Clapton and even John Mayer use it all the time. It's really good with overdrives especially when you stack overdrives. Very balanced between neck tones and bridge tones.

@youropionmattersnot

Жыл бұрын

Highly recommend any strat owner getting a "Gilmour" switch installed that activates the neck pickup on demand. All three activated as well as the bridge and neck together are the tones you hear all the time on records yet never can quite get. Essentially, it is a 7 position switch. Trust me. Do it.

@justraaay

Жыл бұрын

@@youropionmattersnot I have one and while I play with the bridge + neck a lot, I really haven’t played all 3 pickups and I really think I should. Can you think of any examples of songs that use all 3? Or any sort of reference songs that have a similar sound?

@PureMagma

Жыл бұрын

That tone... 🔥💞🏆🤯

@yaniv-nos-tubes

Жыл бұрын

@@justraaay you won't find any. i have that option and i never use it. it sounds like a very bad acoustic electric, like plastic.

@vatzguitars

Жыл бұрын

Couldn’t have said it better! This is the exact concept in my Matador model. A single pickup in the middle position. Simplicity meets versatility! 👍

Strats are so smooth and versatile. They've stood the test of time for so long, and there's still so much to do with it. Cheers Rhett.

@narvul

Жыл бұрын

Give me a Tele any day.

@jimferris9447

Жыл бұрын

@@narvul - I prefer Telecasters too. Or at least songs played on Teles.

@glenkepic3208

Жыл бұрын

One of my fave comments i read years ago (Lowell George?) was I can make a Strat sound like a Les Paul but i can't make a Les Paul sound like a Strat. Leo and crew got it right the first time.

@123Andersonev

Жыл бұрын

@@jimferris9447 rather have a strat if you want a guitar that won't dig into your ribs though.

@coppulor6500

Жыл бұрын

@@glenkepic3208 omg yes! strats and similar guitars rule! Love the HSS config with a stacked tone pot to get the quack in the 2nd position. or coil tap/splitter? not an expert in the area of electronics but Strats are so freaking versatile.

Jerry Garcia is well known for using the strat middle pickup, listen to anything from the Europe 72 tour, his modded strat middle pickup is all over those albums

@ER-yq1lc

Жыл бұрын

His best tones were Alligator on the middle pickup. I play a hard tail strat with a flat pole 50's pickup in the middle position and it gets that sound. Also after years of hating strat bridge pickups I found a simple solution, hook up the bridge pickup to one of the tone pots. In a stock strat they're wide open, one wire swap and the ice pick is gone. Like Rhett says most strat player never use the middle, which also means they aren't using the middle's tone control either!

@tlister67

Жыл бұрын

My fav Jerry sound too and the easiest path to cope those plucky tones. There really are few middle position pickup guitars out there.

@metrokosmiko

Жыл бұрын

That is the tone that got me playing strats. I'm a strat guy through and through, and a middle pickup guy at that.

@ClayAllred

Жыл бұрын

Came here to say this!!

I was messing with my strat recently and realized the middle position (which I’d barely ever used), sounds great with big open chords and arpeggios. It’s like the Strat’s take on an acoustic guitar and I’m here for it.

Finally, someone realizes what I've been enjoying for the past few years. The sound is clear and crisp and can be punchy with volume up when wanted. Thank you Rhett for mentioning this very usable and complimenting option.

Doug Martsch of Built to Spill is one of the first players that comes to mind when mentioning middle pickup on a Strat, “Carry The Zero” is the perfect example.

@naterogers8703

Жыл бұрын

You beat me to it!

@ryanwilliams8420

Жыл бұрын

I think he only plays on that middle pu.

@zeke--

Жыл бұрын

He's the first person that comes to my mind as well. Doug has said in interviews that his strat's are wired so only the middle pickup is functional. this in combination with his fender bassman is literally orgasmic 🤣 "Living Zoo" is prob. my favorite example of his "sound"

@Vincent-yv9ng

Жыл бұрын

It's just great sound for fuzzed-out indie rock. Marissa Paternoster of Screaming Females is another example of that.

@thegoodguy44

Жыл бұрын

‘Perfect from now on’ one of the most epic albums ever !

I use the middle pickup probably 80% of the time strats, and I've never understood why people didn't do the same. They are great for R&B and pop

@ThePafus

Жыл бұрын

Very true ! Specially in a live context moreover.

Robin Trower has stated in many interviews how he uses the middle pickup quite a bit. Hendrix used it a lot also, listen to Band of Gypsys live. It’s no secret it’s a great tone.

Another great video Rhett! I love using the 2 and 4 positions where the middle blends with the bridge or neck more than the middle by itself. All depends on amp/cab and overall tone you're going for!

The middle pickup has become my favorite for the reasons you mentioned. It's a good balance and still very Straty.

@vatzguitars

Жыл бұрын

Yes, middle pickup for the win 🥇 check out my Matador model. I go all in on the middle pickup!

If anyone wants to get the brittle and the shrill out of the bridge pickup sound, experiment with the tone knob. Some more modern strats have the 2nd tone knob control the bridge pickup as well. Mine does. If I roll it off to about 5-7, I dial out some of the harsh shrill, dial in a bit of warmth, but still keep the bright and crunchy. Sounds nice.

@ohalpin

Жыл бұрын

Just wired the tone pot to the bridge there recently, makes a big difference!

@fuzzysurf1083

Жыл бұрын

I totally agree. It took me way too long to figure it out but rolling off the tone knob has made all the difference in getting rid of the bridge harshness. But, like you say, you still keep the brightness. Amen to using the tone knob!

@yaniv-nos-tubes

Жыл бұрын

if you want to solve the problem for good without messing with the knobs every time you want to play a solo. get a stra bro 90 for the bridge .it's a single coil sized p 90 made by seymour duncan for the strat with tons of low mids. nothing sharp, harsh or thin. a single coil at the bridge was always a bad idea, only jeff beck got away with it and john suhr commented that he used "dark sounding pickups". single coils are not good for drive there are other options out there.

@johanneschristopherstahle3395

Жыл бұрын

I rarely use the bridge pickup on my Strat. But when I do I want to have that bite. I almost never use my tone knobs anyway. If I need a darker sound I use different pickup, picking position, mute the strings... Or use a different guitar.

@A_Noid

Жыл бұрын

Pretty much all modern strats have the second tone pot for the bridge and the other one for both middle and neck.

Been playing over 50 years and just got my first one, a G&L Tribute. Love it, so much fun! Fun having with all the possibilities. I found working on pickup height very important. Your right about neck tending to be muddy. Have to agree on the middle. Love the way a strat fits my body. Good episode!

@denmar355

Жыл бұрын

You’ve got some great tone controls on your G&L. Quite different than Fender tone control.

@roaddog7542

Жыл бұрын

Playing 42 years and bought a used 2011 G&L Tribute a couple years ago. Natural swamp ash body with a hot rail at the bridge and Fender noiseless pickup at the neck along with Fender locking tuners the previous owner installed. I've owned MIA and MIM Strats but never loved them like this import with the mods for a fraction of the price.

One of my favourite sounds is position 2, tone at about 3, and tons of gain, it sounds like a cocked wah and I love it

@liamjenkins244

Жыл бұрын

I do a similar thing, but my tone knob controls my bridge pickup, so the bright middle pickup & the dull bridge pickup cancel eachother out & do a really cool thing

Very well done Rhett. Thanks for the post.

Just want to say that Rhett you are amazing and really appreciate your YT videos.

Couple of my strats do not have the tone control connected to the bridge - rewired and took it away from the middle position put it to the bridge and definitely made a huge difference for a lead tone... Very smooth, round and great sustain when complimented with a great overdrive

Interesting that Clapton mainly used the middle pickup on a single strat for most of the show when I saw him in 2021. Sounded great

Love your channel, love your guitar "gun for hire" work with others... but lord almighty, I do love it when you just groove out on a jam like this intro. Killin' it, bruh... absolutely killing it.

Me Too !!! I love the strat middle position. You said very well it still retains some nice attack and it has a good balance of bridge brightness and neck warmth. No other guitar sounds alike. Thank you Rhett 👍

I love the middle position, especially for clean settings and I play it even more than 2 or 4 at times. Agree with your criticism of bridge tones sounding too brittle and harsh for some purposes. l modded my Strat to have a global tone knob instead of separate ones for the bridge and neck -- that way I can get some mellow tones out of the middle position too by rolling back the tone, the simplified circuit leads to a clearer tone and overall it just makes more sense to me.

Always loved the middle pickup on my Strat, was almost shamed out of using it by Scott Grove saying it was stupid and no one serious was using it. Crazy. It’s a great balance between the too-dark neck and the too-brittle bridge.

@marpsr

Жыл бұрын

I almost never use the 2 and 4 positions

@garycoates4987

Жыл бұрын

I don't think Scott Grove is the best source for advice, he's kinda hardwired that his way is THE way . He has a lot of knowledge but he filters his knowledge through his opinions.

@garycoates4987

Жыл бұрын

​@@marpsr me neither,, I really don't like the "quacky" tones

@toddhatfield5329

Жыл бұрын

Who?

@marpsr

Жыл бұрын

@@garycoates4987 I like those quacky tones in the hands of the greats, but in my hands they just don’t sound right. I like two single coil pickups better in series, which a standard Strat won’t do.

I love the middle pickup and I like that you're spreading the message too :)

Cool video Rhett! I've been using the middle pickup on my Strat a lot over the past several years. I find it really versatile, whether with clean or overdriven tones. You also mentioned about the bridge pickup being harsh and tough to use for some things; I agree, so I had a mod done to my Strat where I now have only one tone and the volume is where the other (closest to the strings) tone used to be. The remaining tone control controls all 3 pickups, which has given my bridge pickup a whole new lease on life. Far more usable! The whole thing started because I was so used to my Music Man EVH having the volume control farther away from my right hand (which I prefer). The discussion with the tech went from there to the tone controls and pickups. Now my Strat is amazing!

Albert Hammond Jr uses the middle pickup in both the Strokes and his solo work to great effect. It's my favorite strat sound.

@Jmans247massathon

Жыл бұрын

He rigged his switch up so the bottom position is just the middle pickup so he can't knock it out of place.

Hey Rhett that looks like a classic vibe not an affinity. Great guitar that punches above its weight class.

@mindcontrol67

Жыл бұрын

Yep looks like a classic vibe.

@timothymcgregor9249

Жыл бұрын

it's a classic vibe! =)

@megustaguitarguy

Жыл бұрын

yup its a 60s classic vibe

Damn!!! Your intro jams are so good!!!🔥🔥🔥

Hey Rhett, nice intro! Can see some good Posen influences there :) Thanks for all your videos.

That snare drum sound 🔥

@AdrianGonzalez1130

Жыл бұрын

Something about a deep snare, man

I'm starting to see some serious mojo from Rhett. Rythm, tone, timing, feel all coming together. I think you may need a cool rim hat and a music tattoo on a fore arm to complete the look. Rhett got rythm!

@waynehicks1969

Жыл бұрын

I agree, He is getting better.

@jeremythornton433

Жыл бұрын

Everything but the tattoo.

I've been discovering my strat middle pickup those days too and it is indeed amazing ! With some slapback delay and spring reverb you get awesome surf sounds! Great video as alwas Rhett, thank you !!

Hi! I used to use that position every time that i was playing arpeggios. Great sounding position. Keep up the good content!

I had Lindy Fralin build my pick up set for my custom Strat, and he used a vintage Strat pick up in the neck, a pure PAF humbucker for the bridge, and a Texas Special pickup for the middle. So I use my middle pick up a lot. It sounds fantastic.

@joateon

Жыл бұрын

Thank sounds like exactly what I want. The Fralin Texas special pickup sounds like a Tele bridge pickup to me. So putting that in the middle of a Strat with a humbucker in the bridge would give me my three favorite pickup sounds in one guitar. Epic

@IamMusicNerd

Жыл бұрын

@@joateon Exactly. The Fralin Texas special, when put in the middle or bridge position, gives a slightly Tele vibe that is just awesome.

The same goes for the mid position on guitars whether it's with P90s or humbuckers on Gibson Les Paul's, ES 335's SG's and others. I found that much of the guitar parts on the records from the 60's and 70's used the mid position. They really have a different kind of expression as far as tones go.

I'm currently rebuilding and upgrading my first Squier Strat that hasn't been playable in 20 years. Can't wait to hear those Lace Sensors. Thanks for the tips, hoping to finally do the Strat thing!

Really Inciteful video, didn't know there was so much there I've never even thought about. I'm thinking this is a Robin Thrower Move, but you are right on the Money about that " Sound". Digging out my Bridge of Sighs LP, for tonight, so thanks for steering me back with an old Favorite. Rhett...you just Rock!

My main guitar has one p90 in the middle and it is all I need. I love it. It is crazy versatile!

@yaniv-nos-tubes

Жыл бұрын

it is the best tone that no one knows of, you see so many superstrats with 2 humbuckers and nothing in the middle such a waste.

@vatzguitars

Жыл бұрын

@@yaniv-nos-tubes i would have to agree. After building my design I didn’t realize how much I would love it. I constantly come back to it. It just has everything I want and need, and with it being a single pickup guitar it is truly the place where simplicity meets versatility!

Sounds great, guys! Jimmie Vaughan is one player that uses the middle pup quite a bit.

I'm so glad somebody finally talked about position 3. I've been thinking about getting a Strat for a long time but I never really enjoyed listening to the 1 2 and 3 positions, and a Tele always did the neck position better in my opinion. But I've been listening to one guitar player on KZread quite a lot lately who tends to use position 3 a lot and it sounded exactly how I wanted it to sound. absolutely love it.

Spot on Rhett , this video is the kick in the pants I needed . I'm definitely going to start using the middle pickup !

I have all my Strats (5 of them) wired to a configuration that gives me two more than standard settings; bridge and neck as well as all three plus master tone. The Neck/Bridge setting is close to but slightly different than Middle. All three is just something else entirely. This is what I like about the Stratocaster; it's utter versatility.

@error8418

Жыл бұрын

Adding a push-pull (or push-push) pot to activate the neck pickup regardless of the switch position is an easy and super useful mod.

My strat has a bunch of mods, but the one relevant here is removing the tone pot from the middle pickup and putting it on the bridge. I usually use neck and bridge, or position 2 and 4 in series (which is the main thing that my strat does that's special) for leads, and then go to that middle pickup and roll my volume back to get a rhythm sound. It has some thump, it has some sparkle, and with the volume knob rolled off a bit it thickens nicely and just works for a rhythm sound. I feel like on a lot of older budget strats, such as my first guitar, the middle pickup lacked that magic due to the poor quality of the pickups. I have some seymour duncans in my current strat and I have to agree with Rhett that it's one of the best strat sounds out there

Definitely food for thought, thanks for sharing!

Rhett,, u have THE most interesting vids! I’m 69 and have learned so much that I skipped over. My one man band has benefited greatly with yur informative vids! Keep em’ coming! I’m a fan!

In my early years playing guitar and learning on a Strat I felt like positions 2 and 4 were so cool because it was instantly in the ball park of Stevie and Jimi and John but the better I got the more I prefer the neck and middle because I was able to play more dynamically and get my tone that way rather than relying on the instant pretty effect of 2 and 4. Just my two cents. Every position is great on a strat

I respect and understand your view and perception of the different sounds you can get from a strat. And if you like the middle pickup sound, thats wonderful. Still, I think you’re missing out the versatility and dynamics of the sounds that you really can get out of it. Personally, I love the ability to choose the sound that serves the actual song I’m playing the best. Like you I, love the middle pickup by it self, but in some songs it’s just too anonymous and generic. And it’s hard to determine what guitar that´s being used. I love it when you can hear the characteristics of a certain guitar. As opposed to something that just sounds - guitar. Anyway, love your work and your willing to share your knowledge and thoughts about this wonderful instrument.

I was in fact sleeping on this position until this video, and for the past few months I've been using it a TON. Directly changed my playing for the better, thank you Rhett!

Thanks for sharing the information Rhett! I always use the neck or bridge (HSS) humbucker… I just recorded a track with the middle pick up after watching your video, and the Stratocaster cuts through the mix beautifully!

Always loved the middle pickup-really captures the sound of the wood and is perfectly balanced. Well done, Rhett.

2 and 4 positions are NOT out of phase - they are in phase, in parallel. Wire them in series and you won't worry about them sounding weak. Other than that, I fully agree - third position is a banger on a good strat.

@johnmatthewtennant

Жыл бұрын

Yep! They are reverse wind reverse polarity which puts the guitar signal in phase, and the hum out of phase for noise cancellation

@curtisburns

Жыл бұрын

Strats sound WAAAAY better when the middle pickup is nonrwrp.

@daveg5340

Жыл бұрын

The middle pickup is reversed so that they are out of phase, even if wired in parallel.

@__Rob

Жыл бұрын

I don't understand any of that...but my strat sounds pretty quacky and out of phase in position 2. But *not in position 4, that is actually my fav position by a mile, it's sound sort of like the neck but with more clarity and presence. I'm not sure why the 2 post sounds out of phase while the 4 doesn't.

Cool vid. I gravitated to the middle pup when I started playing Strats. Definitely underrated and underused IMO

I’m a long time Strat player and I never understood why people didn’t like the middle. I’ve been playing that pickup for years and it always gives me what I need. Enjoyed the video as always!

The Strat has MANY great sounds. THAT (…and amazing ergonomics) is what makes it such a great guitar.

I recently rewired mine to a 3 position switch as I always found 2 and 4 useless for my style. Unbelievable how hard it was to find a reference for this or a diagram. I did find one with a vid using tone 2 as a blend control for the middle to N/B. After messing with different caps and PU heights I am very pleased with the results. Kinda have the best of 3 and 5 position switches with no volume loss, bonus having all three at once too! Thanks Rhett, always look forward to your knowledge.

thank you for spreading the word about position 3! way too under appreciated!

Yes! Totally agree! The middle p'up is where mine rests most of the time. Most players sleep on it, and I rarely ever use the 4th position.

Agree. The middle pickup on my Modern Eagle V is one of my favorite sounds ever, and I love the middle pickup on my Strat as well.

@joateon

Жыл бұрын

Oh man, the Modern Eagle V is amazing, and nobody talks about that middle single coil. It’s so good.

@vatzguitars

Жыл бұрын

I designed a guitar with a P90 in the middle position and it is amazing. So versatile for being a single pickup guitar!

Very enjoyable demonstration. And a bit eye opening. Last year I bought an Ultra HSS Strat from Fender, as no one else had this guitar in stock at the time. However, One Fender 12 string and Twin Reverb Tonemaster last year and a '65 Super Reverb Reissue this year from Sweetwater. They are excellent to do business with. Thanks for posting this.

I'm pretty sure that's a classic vibe either way great video

You made some good useful points !

Thanks for showing this. The Strat is my favorite guitar and still I have yet to play much in the third position. Will try tonight!

i installed a 10-way freeway switch and after watching this video i went and tried all 10 positions. And have to say the middle pickup does have a very clear tone. Cleaner than any other position! I think I'm gonna spend more time there for a while thanks!

I agree! The middle pick-up is a well rounded sound and packs a punch when used with overdrive or distortion.

Hi Rhett, amazing video! You've touched a very interesting subject here. I've recently started playing on the middle pup alone on my Strats and it's really cool messing around with the tone knob and shaping the sound, it just has lots of character. As for positions, recently recreated a Gilmour Strat with a used MIM I found, and playing all three pups together just gives you Super Duck, it's really fun (not so much neck and bridge, but kinda sounds like you've got a Phaser on). Also, loving the fact that you used a Squier Affinity Strat as my very first S-type guitar was one of those (still have it, not getting rid of it!).

I like the bridge pickup in my Player Strat as well as all the other positions you mentioned. Also I ended up with two Player HSS versions and they are my favorite Strats. Bridge HB sounds great and powerful and in pos 4 it splits the coils so you still get the fantastic blend of the others. And the second tone knob only controls the bridge pickup, genius!!

I LOVE the middle pickup on a Strat. Great vid

YES!! finally someone talks about the middle pickup of the strat 💚 I use it because it has a middle tone (literally) between the bass and treble, and I use the tone knob of the middle pickup around 8 or 9

@emiliocurbelo8891

Жыл бұрын

yes!, strat middle pickup at tone 8 is goldilocks.🎸

Well put, Rhett. I concur.

Good video; I use the middle pickup all the time- great sound. It's probably my most used position.

I totally agree ! Middle position on my strat is my go-to sound when I pick it. I play a lot of funk music, often associated to position 2 and 4, I've tried those of course, but always back to the fuller sounding middle position. Overdriven tones are also amazing on that pickup. I love it !

Love the middle position, it's all over the record I'm working on. Great minds Rhett

I REALLY needed to see this vid!! Favored pos. 3 pretty much from the beginning of my realationship with my strat... always found myself wrestling with 2 & 4 because it just never seemed to do what I wanted. Now that I know there is nothing wrong with me and in fact, do NOT need therapy, I can be at peace with my beloved guitar, and enjoy it more!

My wife bought me an Affinity Strat for Christmas. It’s now my number one guitar. I LOVE it!

Finally some middle pup love! I have one particular Strat with Alnico 2’s and a little underpowered but that’s the beauty of it. You can really dig into it. Better to drive a slow car fast than a fast car slow. Would enjoy seeing a little more on the middle pup buddy!

Great vid Rhett. One of the reasons I chose a Silver Sky over a custom shop strat, was my preference for the bridge pick up sound.

Well done, great video! It's about time someone stood up for the middle pickup! It's my default choice for all the reasons you highlight. I have never understood why so many players diss/dismiss it. After that it's neck+middle (mostly for rhythm) and neck (mostly for lead). I rarely use middle+bridge and bridge virtually never (too thin and brittle). Would rather have a humbucker in bridge position. By the way, I have never come to terms with Strat pickup numbering: neck as position 1 and bridge, position 5 seems more logical to me, but I guess that's a whole other debate!

Rhett. Love the Tempos riff. I actually tried to learn that riff when I first started playing electric guitar..... That was awesome

@GaryBeason

Жыл бұрын

That intro riff? What song is that? Great little groove.

oh such a nice intro, congrats Rhett. Strat are so good, I personally prefer the SG and LP, but always wondered why Eric Clapton, Jimmy Hendrix and SRV, preferred the Strat. And I agree 100%, in my case, I prefer the middle and the neck in a strat instead of the 2 and 4 positions, but really hate bumping with the vol, 🤣🤣🤣. Cheers.

So glad to hear someone sing praise for the red-headed stepchild of the Strat pickups. I've always loved the middle pickup on the Strat and like you Rhett never been a fan of the in-betweens.

Yeah you're right I never use it, in fact I lower it to be flush with pick guard so it doesn't get in my way when I'm picking. But, I may have to explore that pup again... Great video as always!

Thanks for yours vids, always setting goos points!! What do you think about after market pickups? Lollars and Throbaks?? 👏🏼👍🤟🏼

@rhettshull first off thank god someone with a voice is putting this out there, I’ve been an advocate of middle position on the strat for years, but like you say - it’s the cliches that everyone goes to. Don’t get me wrong I love those sounds but that middle pick-up is just as you described. For anyone wanting proof then all you need do is listen to David gilmour who was a heavy user of that middle position, can’t argue with that tone 😂. I can’t recommend it highly enough and you’ve all just heard it here on a budget line squire strat and it sounded amazing. Keep up the great videos man and hoping to get to see you love when you’re next in the U.K. (ps any plays to come play in Scotland??)

Thanks, you helped me decide that it is a good idea to put a Strat pickup in-between the other steel bridge and the goldfoil neck pickup on my Coodercaster (Ikeacaster).

Hello! Great video! I also love the middle pickup of my strat. It seems to me that you are not playing a squire affinity but a classic vibe… in the 5 level of strat video you said you played a classic vibe if I remember well. Nevertheless great video like I said. Continue the great job.

I agree. I've been gigging with a Squire Affinity for 2 yrs ( $100 pawn shop find ) I use the middle pu for rhythm 90%, neck for solo. Underrated guitars.

Strats are great and pretty much mandatory equipment for the serious electric guitarist, and all positions have their sonic strong suit and "best used for" application. Jeff Beck puts on a clinic of strat switch flippery conjuring a wide array of vibes and tones every time he picked up a strat. One last little note - a really great fix for the bridge position excessive treble issue is to switch the tone control pot from the middle to the bridge pickup and it's super easy to do, as it only requires moving one wire from the 5 way switch from the middle pickup terminal to the bridge pickup terminal. By doing this now you can take some of the treble away with the tone control, and even achieve a rather meaty humbucker type tone which would be impossible with the previous tone control arrangement, and as well there is a sort of unexpected bonus by the fact that removing the tone control from the middle pickup it adds just a little bit of high-end brightness to the middle pickup that makes the in-between positions sound a bit more chimey spanky clucky and funkier to my ear, and the best part is that you dont have to buy anything, just move one wire that's all. People have asked me numerous times "How are you getting that humbucker sound out of a single coil bridge pickup ?" ... that's how. I've done this mod for a few friends and the repeat comment is "I don't know why Fender doesn't wire them like that, as moving that one wire just makes it sound better, more diverse without losing any traditional sounds..." Check this easy mod out, I believe you will be pleasantly surprised, and if you didn't care for that, move the one wire back. Enjoy !

Great video. I think the middle pickup fills the same role in a Strat as the bridge does on a Tele or even a Les Paul but you're right, most people stick to the in-between settings and the neck which tends to make them seem cliche. I think the best example of the Strat middle pickup sound is Clapton on the Derek & The Dominoes record. Sounds to me like he used it a lot on a lot of his rhythm parts.

I love the middle pickup on a strat for strumming open chords. It always sounds so full and full of life. Every time i pick up a strat, I switch it to the middle and play an open G chord. Great way to test out the instrument.

tyvm for explaining this !

Been using it for years - it’s my favorite position on the strat and a big reason why I play them!

I was going to ask if it was stick but you answered, nice sounding for not much cash. Heard the Squire Jazzmaster, that sounded good too. Love your vids.

You just taught me something about the guitar I've been playing for 20 years. Thank you.

Playing The Meters on the 3 position, outstanding!

Jerry Garcia loved the middle position in the strat. Built it into his later guitars and played it most often

Great video ! Robin Trower uses the middle pickup and never goes near the bridge pickup . Neck pickup my favourite but I also have Deluxe HSS and the humbucker on the bridge is great !!

I love the middle pick up on my strat. I use Neck and the middle pick up almost always..... I´m with you bro.

thanks Rhett , never used the middle pick up all that much before, but with higher gain it's truly sing. Using now the Benson Chimera plugin , sounds amazing

killer video!

I definitely think you are right. I don't currently have a strat, but when I did; It was usually on the middle pick up. I found the sound very pleasing for some reason.

Right on Rhett. :) I use it all the time, roll some tone off/on and you can have some serious tonal versatility.