Why is the middle position so hated/useless?

[Yr Blues]

It always sounded … like … weird.

 

[cap10kirk]

Middle position on what guitar? The middle position on a Tele is great. The middle position on a Strat is my favorite position.

 

['63-Strat]

The middle of position on all my guitars is not useless at all.

 

[NSDQRKR]

Jimmy Page did not agree with you

 

[monkeybrains]

Middle is my favourite on strat and les paul

 

[RLD]

Maybe you need more treble?

 

[JLR]

Not when used right on a LP. Great semi-clean setting is bridge 5-6, neck 4-5. For dirt bridge 8-10, neck 6. 50's wiring makes the difference with a good tube amp with proper speakers for the amp. Middle on strat is great for clean bright and tight rythem.

 

[Rod]

Jimmy Page did not agree with you

And I do not agree with you…

 

[Simto]

One of my favourite tones is the middle position on a dual pickup guitar. I think the problem that can come from it is that position can sometimes have a "resonance peak" at a hz that can sound bad and in worst case be so piercing it hurts your ears a bit.

 

[Jayyj]

Hey, what?

Don't loads of people like the middle position? Who hates it? I feel out of the loop here.

I don't use the middle position on Gibsons a huge amount but on Rickenbackers it's pretty much my default, just go to the middle position then fine tune the tone with the blend knob.

 

[Serious Poo]

What a funny thread.

Middle position is wonderful for full, chimey, clear rhythm sounds. I use it on several of my guitars, it sounds especially nice w/ P90's.

 

[JosephZ]

The middle position on duel HB guitars is the best position in my opinion. Glorious tones are possible there.

On a Strat specifically it’s a weird middle ground that doesn’t do anything particularly well except pick up some little idiosyncrasies that most players are not comfortable being picked up.

It’s most associated with Jerry Garcia and early Jerry recordings are a good example of the kinds of tones a Stratocaster middle position produces. It’s a very honest revealing tone, too much so for some players and even some styles. It’s a cool option but not a sonic space I like to live in personally. But I can definitely understand the appeal of the SSS middle position for those that do enjoy it.

 

[itstooloudMike]

The middle position on an ES-335 is where the money is. And my Ric lives on the middle position. The premise of this thread is erroneous.

 

[Yr Blues]

The middle position on duel HB guitars is the best position in my opinion. Glorious tones are possible there.

On a Strat specifically it’s a weird middle ground that doesn’t do anything particularly well except pick up some little idiosyncrasies that most players are not comfortable being picked up.

It’s most associated with Jerry Garcia and early Jerry recordings are a good example of the kinds of tones a Stratocaster middle position produces. It’s a very honest revealing tone, too much so for some players and even some styles. It’s a cool option but not a sonic space I like to live in personally. But I can definitely understand the appeal of the SSS middle position for those that do enjoy it.

I dunno. It sounds weak for some reason. I play Strat-style guitars. It's like the middle child. Everyone talks about bridge and neck but rarely middle.

 

[Gasp100]

It always sounded … like … weird.

I used it often on my Tele's with a bit of light gain from Greer Lightspeed for country/modern country, it's great!

 

[saltbird]

The middle position on two-pickup guitars is amazing but I've learned that on some guitars, it really has to be "dialed in."

What I mean by that is you set the height of either the bridge pickup or the neck pickup (depending on which one you use more) to where it sounds best, then set the height of the other pickup while in the middle position to find that sweet spot where they both sound amazing together.

JD Simo introduced me to this approach, specifically in regards to SH Telecasters, but I've found that it also translates well to other two-pickup configurations.

 

[budg]

Middle position on all my electrics are great, but especially my Strats. Roll off the tone a bit and throw on some overdrive and play some nice chunky power chords. Glorious.

 

[MoosBros]

I probably used the middle position on the strat years ago, but it's been that long ago since it's been my #1. It was was replaced with a guitar that had 3 volumes, and master tone control, no switch. The last while I've pretty much liked playing an Epiphone 335 with one volume, one tone control, and a switch. I'll use the middle sometimes.

 

[Humble Texan Fan]

It always sounded … like … weird.

I think it depends on what you use it for. I know a lot of guitarists that basically never use it on its own but in combo with one of the other two.

What's funny with the middle pickup is that it's the bassier of the three why you may want to go with a really bright pickup here or, like EJ, remove the tone from it. EJ's approach obviously avoids engaging two tone circuits simultaneously in pos 2 and 4.

 

[batsbrew]

I use middle on tele all the time.


Same for 2 and 4 on strat