Three humbuckers: why?

More volume/power/extremity?

More tone variation/versatility?

So that your guitar can be all unique or something?

So that you can feel better about yourself, just as if you took up bodybuilding or bought a really really big pickup truck?

Why?

Well, I think you should think harder about the answer before you ask the question. Think about why people would want a humbucker. Anywho, here's my take on at least a part of your question.

It is very rare that you would find a guitar with 3 humbuckers that operate all at the same time, however I'm sure some people do wire their guitars this way. Humbuckers do put out more volume than a single coil at the same set volumes, so for example, someone may want a middle humbucker instead of a single because that person likes the sound of the middle pickup, but may want more chunk out of it.

There would be more tone variation if the pickups were wired for series/parallel, phased, or coil tapped, however if none of these are done then you would have the same amount of tones as any other 3 pickup guitar with the same amount of switches.

I agree. It would be for the same reason people have 2 SC and 1 Hum or 1 Hum 1 SC and 1 Hum. Tonal versitillity or however you spell that... anyways yeah I think that'll be my next purchase well a bit down the line anyways. Those Gibson Black Beauties sure look pretty. I'd love to have one hum for lead playing, one for bluesy rythyms and one for crunchy metal all in the same guitar. That'd be cool as hell. Then have a push/pull pot and have one of the hum's split into a single coil... :eek: man you just made me want a guitar with 3 humbuckers more than I knew I wanted one. But I think I'm getting as excessive as that guy who was building that 3 neck guitar. Oh well, I love guitars, what can I say.

Though this is a TINY factor, since a humbucker is higher in output, and has double the magnetical pull than a SC. Having 3 humbuckers can alter the actual string tone since 6 coils are constantly pulling on the strings. It may cause a more weaker sound out of the strings cause their are being pulled more.

...but of course, its very small and almost impossible to notice from the naked ear. ;)

So basically a lot of fancy wiring to make it live up to its potential?

I might want to do this someday. What exactly would I say to the tech who's doing the mods, or the luthier who's building it? Could I get a guitar with double buckers like an LP and have a third cavity routed in the middle? Or would I have to get something that was factory routed to have three of them? I know not much.

I know that the Epiphone Firebird comes with three humbuckers, but I'm not sure how much it costs. Personally, I think humbuckers sound like crap, even for heavy metal :p

If humbuckers sound crap for metal, do pigs fly?

Originally Posted by: alucard0941If humbuckers sound crap for metal, do pigs fly?

actually, i met one once.



but on topic, i played an epi SG with three humbuckers and i thought it sounded good. i wish they had put on a 5 way selector tho. that would have made it like the coolest SG ever.

Originally Posted by: alucard0941If humbuckers sound crap for metal, do pigs fly?

LOL I dunno what's wrong with me, I just don't like humbuckers... I prefer a bit of subtlety in my tone, even - no, especially in heavy metal. As Steve Vai so masterfully proved, it's perfectly possible to sound simultaneously subtle and heavy.

Originally Posted by: jiujitsu_jesusLOL I dunno what's wrong with me, I just don't like humbuckers

Don't let them convince you something's wrong with you just because you don't like humbuckers. You do that, they OWN you, man. And you don't want a guy like Akira ownin' you. :)

Originally Posted by: jiujitsu_jesusLOL I dunno what's wrong with me, I just don't like humbuckers... I prefer a bit of subtlety in my tone, even - no, especially in heavy metal. As Steve Vai so masterfully proved, it's perfectly possible to sound simultaneously subtle and heavy.

hey man you need to experience the latest thrash seymore/duncan interceptors! thrash on!

I had a go on some DiMarzios this afternoon, actually, and I quite liked them. I liked them even more when I split them into single-coils, of course :D .

haha. touche.

actually, I solo alot on the neck pickup Single Coiled. I absolutly LOVE the heavy, yet snappy, and warm it can be. When I play leads, I rarly use the bridge humbucker. I find it too overwhelming and powerfull :o

The SC on the neck makes a more clearer and tonally superior sound. When I play on the bridge, I love the pinch harmonics and tap, but the actual runs sound like giberish cause its really screechy

Originally Posted by: AkiraThat's like, the third compliment i've had in two days, what gives?

I don't know. Have you been workin' out?

Originally Posted by: earthman buckI don't know. Have you been workin' out?

I thought he did something with his hair.

Originally Posted by: alucard0941actually, I solo alot on the neck pickup Single Coiled. I absolutly LOVE the heavy, yet snappy, and warm it can be. When I play leads, I rarly use the bridge humbucker. I find it too overwhelming and powerfull :o

The SC on the neck makes a more clearer and tonally superior sound. When I play on the bridge, I love the pinch harmonics and tap, but the actual runs sound like giberish cause its really screechy

Yeah, the neck pickup on my SC is my favourite for lead, although the bridge can sound pretty cool with distortion and a phaser.

Originally Posted by: earthman_buckDon't let them convince you something's wrong with you just because you don't like humbuckers.

You just say that because YOU can't afford a guitar with MAN pickups :cool:

You just say that because YOU can't afford a guitar with MAN pickups

I just say that because I HATE YOU! :)