While this response may seem to be brash and somewhat condescending, it is not directed at anyone in particular, especially you
bobpittman. You did the favor of asking the question and prompting me to think aboot it and respond.
Rather, it is a response in general to a question oft asked, as to which I have never understood why.
What does "thin" mean? Not enough bass?
Does it become "thin" once a volume is turned down a little bit?
Yep, cuz' it ain't a pot, but a rheostat now.
This is a question that many have asked and I've until now neglected to counter with
why?In the
middle position, both of the pickups are
supposed to be on to some degree. Otherwise, it would be called the
neck or
bridge position. Now, to be fair, there is indeed merit in having only the bridge or neck selected at a reduced volume level for remote amp control.
So, either the initial/regular way of wiring with inter-coupled (this was just an opportunity to use
inter-coupled in a sentence) is actually OK (cuz' if'n one pickup volume was turned down enough to affect the other pickup in the middle position, that there pickup position would be called (nearly) off and moot in the position specific thereto.
If the usual way of rewiring to eliminate inter-coupling is too "thin" (depending on the definition thereof), there may be ways of padding the volume pots with bypass caps to effect treble preservation like the, uh, well known treble preservation mod for volume controls.
If the two-terminal (removed grounding/rheostat) mode is better, then use it since all the way off is not of use/needed in the middle position (by my definition of middle as in both to some degree), nor in the position specific to that control/pickup (as in nearly off and moot).
Now, getting back to the initial/normal way of LP wiring (the wiper's go to the selector), if one can find a value of resistance attached in series to the normally grounded lug of each volume pot that effects the minimum level desired vs the maximum inter-coupling desired, one can effect the best of both worlds (well all three if'n yer not on a tone diet).
In a related vein, some oft indicate that their tone controls have too much effect when turned all the way down. Fender have even gone so far as to """""invent""""" the GreaseBucket tone control to alleviate such tonal debauchery (it basically has a 5 to 10 K resistor in series with the tone pot ground lug). However, after much research and petition to the potentates of potentiometers, I have been informed that one is free to set them at any position so desired, even those not at the extremes of rotational possibility.
If such end of rotational travel effect limitation IS needed for easy performance registration of said controls, then the use of such padding resistors may well be in order.
While the LP style of controls does have three selectable positions, there are at best only two mutually exclusive modes possible. One can set the level and tone of either pickup or one can set the level and tone of one pickup and the middle blend. Only if really lucky, can one find true happiness with all three positions.
When I need more flexibility in one tune, I use either my Godin 3-voice guitar with my VG-88, or my Variax.
Hmmm, an interesting "opportunity" has occurred to me. If the three-pickup LP selector switch is used with two pickups, which is equivalent to the pretentious DPDT ON-ON-ON/DPDT Center-ON/SP3T Center-ON switch
www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/I-1228.htmlthen, when placed in either end position, an additional circuit selection effect can be realized. As to exactly what that might be.....? I'll have to knoodle a bit.
....here's a thought.
Presumed
1. Not used/full-on bridge
2. Output jack
3. Neck pot output
4. Bridge pot output
5. Output jack
6. Not used/full-on neck
If that there unused terminal on each end of the aforementioned switch is connected directly to the output of the other pickup, a full-on effect (as in bypasses the volume pot unless turned way down) can occur. Conversely, if this is connected to the top tone pot lug, when the tone pot is at "10" (I really don't care/want to hear if'n yers "go to 11" unk) a full-on effect will occur. This will work best with the rheostat mode as no inter-coupling will occur. And, if the tone pot method is used, it will function as a volume pot at the beginning of its travel and a tone pot thereafter.