Three humbuckers on an electric guitar offer a number of advantages over single and double humbucker guitars.
Advantages:
- Greater tonal versatility: Three humbuckers give the player a wider range of tonal options, from bright and clear to warm and full. This is because each humbucker has its own unique characteristics, and the player can combine them in different ways to create a variety of sounds.
- More power and sustain: Humbuckers are known for their powerful sound and long sustain. Three humbuckers provide even more power and sustain, making them ideal for heavier genres such as rock and metal.
- More unique sound: Three humbuckers can give an electric guitar a more unique and distinctive sound. This is because the combination of three humbuckers is less common than single or double humbucker guitars.
Disadvantages:
- Can be more expensive: Three humbucker guitars are typically more expensive than single and double humbucker guitars. This is because they require more materials and labor to manufacture.
- Can be heavier: Three humbucker guitars can be heavier than single and double humbucker guitars. This is because they have more pickups and other components.
- Can be more complex to wire: Three humbucker guitars can be more complex to wire than single and double humbucker guitars. This is because there are more pickups to connect.
How to use three humbuckers
There are a number of ways to use three humbuckers on an electric guitar. Here are a few examples:
- Use the bridge humbucker for lead playing and the neck humbucker for rhythm playing: This is a common configuration for rock and metal guitarists. The bridge humbucker provides a bright, clear sound with excellent articulation, which is ideal for lead playing. The neck humbucker provides a warmer, fuller sound, which is ideal for rhythm playing.
- Use the middle humbucker for a scooped sound: The middle humbucker is often used to create a scooped sound, which is a sound with reduced mids and boosted highs and lows. This sound is popular for genres such as funk and metal.
- Use all three humbuckers together for a full, powerful sound: This is a good option for genres such as hard rock and metal. It can also be used for other genres, such as blues and jazz, to create a unique and distinctive sound.
Which guitarists use three humbuckers?
A number of well-known guitarists use three humbuckers on their guitars. Here are a few examples:
- Kirk Hammett of Metallica uses a Gibson Explorer with three humbuckers.
- Dimebag Darrell of Pantera used a Dean ML with three humbuckers.
- Gary Moore used a Gibson Les Paul Custom with three humbuckers.
- Peter Green of Fleetwood Mac used a Gibson Les Paul with three humbuckers.
- Zakk Wylde of Ozzy Osbourne and Black Label Society uses a Gibson Les Paul Custom with three humbuckers.
These examples show that three humbuckers are used by a variety of guitarists across a range of genres.
Three humbuckers on an electric guitar offer a number of advantages, including greater tonal versatility, more power and sustain, and a more unique sound. However, they can also be more expensive, heavier, and more complex to wire.
Whether or not three humbuckers are right for you depends on your individual needs and preferences. If you are looking for a guitar with a wide range of tonal options, power, and sustain, then a three humbucker guitar may be a good choice for you.
