[Jim]

As many of you many know, I got my first strat yesterday (yea!). I've been an acoustic (no pickup) and gibson les paul (2 pickup) player before and now for the first time I'm a 3-pickup strat player...

I'm very used to playing dead center between the bridge and neck pickups on my Les Paul, and on the Strat, I find doing this causes my pick to catch on the plastic edge of the middle pickup. I need to adjust where I pick - but which is the more common side of the middle bridge to pick on - toward the bridge or toward the neck? I tried last night and between the neck and middle pickups seemed to work best, but does it matter and if so, which is most commonly used? Or does it depend on the sound desired?

This must sound like the world's stupidest question to a Strat player!

Thanks!
Jim

[nagukush]

Hey Jim

Congrats for your new Strat, Pal , Hope you're enjoying it already
Actually, I had a same question in my mind, but I didnt ask it, her on the forum, cause I dont play my electric very often now (after starting finger-picking). But I would sure like to know what the experts have to say about this.

I dont own a Strat, but I have an electric with similar pickup arrangment

Lots of Regards

Kush

[Bobaloo]

Sounds like your middle PUP might be a tad high for your particular picking style. You could tighten the screws on the middle pup lowering it in relation to the pickguard and putting some distance between it and your pick. This might tend to warm up the tone on that pup just a bit but you can play with it. You can also jack up your string height a tad but then this will change your fretting a bit.

Regarding where to pick - hey - I hope there is no secret rule book about this stuff, 'cause I am having a grand time making up my own as I go along. There IS a subtle or sometimes not so subtle difference in the out put depending on where you pick - find your own sweet spot for a particular configuration.

Have fun, hope I helped.

Bob

[Jim]

Thanks guys!

Time to experiment...

Jim

(Why was this thread moved? It's about playing, not fixing...)

[Lcjones]

in kentucky we say 'spearmint'

[slejhamer]

There is clearly something wrong with your Strat.

I suggest you send it to me for a few months' worth of testing. Hmmm, maybe a year's worth. I'll treat her gently and return her after I figure out what's wrong.




Have you considered holding the pick differently, with less pick showing? I know some people like to dig deep, but you may find you only need the tip.

[papadog65]

When I first began using my Firenza, the natural spot for me was between the middle and the neck pickups, a bit toward the neck. I had to lower the neck pickup because the tip of my pick was always hitting it. Now I play mostly fingerstyle, but I'm still in the same spot between those two pickups. Try whatever is comfortable.

[Andy S]

Jim,
I have a Dean Evo, an Ibanez AG85trd and a Strat. The first two are dual humbuckers. So I play the pick in the middle. On the strat, I tend to favor between the neck pickup & the middle pickup unless I'm trying to intentionally get a bit more bite or treble in the tone.

On the Clapton Strat, those are pretty much set up to spec at the factory in the U.S. I would think the pup height should be pretty much at optimal setting so , personally, I would not mess with that. Shoot for the spacing in between.

BUT!! I think I may have to agree with Slejhammer, something COULD very well be wrong and I can only be sure by playing it. So, you could send it to me for ....testing?

[Ultimate Garage Band]

I played humbuckers for over 25 years before I got my first Strat style guitar and I had the exact same problem. First I'd suggest you loosen the pickup adjustment screws and sink that dude down into the pickguard a bit more. 2nd, I guess I'm picking it more between the middle and neck pups, however, I do find the selector switch gets in the way from time to time.

[Jim]

Thanks for all the offers of taking my Strat for a while to be sure it's OK - I REALLY appreciate those!

The only real problem I have with the middle pup is doing an up-pick on the high E string - that's when I catch the edge of the middle pickup. But I was getting more used to playing it last night and was just naturally missing it - and I found I was playing more up towards the neck.

Jim

[Donovan]

I've been playing a 3pup strat copy and never had any trouble. Recently I switched to humbuckers and with all the space in the world I still manage to hit one of those pups sometimes So this stuff works in reverse as well... or maybe I'm just a clutz

[billbonic2001]

i think if you lower the pick up you might be fine, once again it depends on the sound you want, and what is more comfortable for you

[USGold]

I have tow different electric rigs, a LP style with dual humbuckers, I guess from years of accoustic playing I have no difficulty keeping my strum between them-in fact I chose the LP style on purpose to get that effing selector switch away from my down strokes--on My fender type knock off I am constantly bumping the switch and it drives me crazy, mine is only two fretted but i still fight that long switch handle.

[USGold]

I have tow different electric rigs, a LP style with dual humbuckers, I guess from years of accoustic playing I have no difficulty keeping my strum between them-in fact I chose the LP style on purpose to get that effing selector switch away from my down strokes--on My fender type knock off I am constantly bumping the switch and it drives me crazy, mine is only two pupped but i still fight that long switch handle.

[Jim]

I'm definitely getting comfy now between the middle and neck pups - and I also found myself over the middle one as long as I was playing on the mid to low strings - and I moved up toward the neck a bit for the high E which is where my problem happens. So, it's just a matter of getting used to it.

But I love the Strat! I named it Alberta, but my wife nicknamed it Birdie (from the 'berta' part of the name). I like birdie!

Jim