Jem single coil?

[rickcard71]

I only use it once in a while (rarely). How often do you Jemsters use the single coil? I never see Vai using it. Does anyone know what songs you can hear the single coil in Vai's songs?

Also, is it typical for a single coil to be noisey? They seem to be noisey on my VSBL & 15th FP. I would like to see Ibanez produce a Jem without a single coil in the future.

[David McCarroll]

S'funny this shows up at this time - I suspect the middle pickup is only there to give the strat "out of phase" sounds in positions 2 & 4 on the switch - I'm going to have a go at rewiring one of my JEMs so that the middle position on the switch gives me NECK/BRIDGE rather than middle on its own, so I get that sort of Gibson middle position sound instead

[leppermessiah]

Very very rarely indeed.
I find it to be a very thin sounding single coil that adds nothing to the tone of anything i play. I'll use positions 2 & 4 occasionally, but generally go with bridge or neck. On my RGT, which has an HH config, i use all 5 positions on the switch, i find it much more versatile because of the way that it's wired.
An HH jem with switching options like the RGT would be very cool.
Then again, nothing stopping me doing that anyway.

[Gex]

I love the single coil.

He doesnt use it by itself, I dont think. Its really just there for positions 2 and 4, which sound BEAUTIFUL for clean tones, and just all around-stratty tones.

Why on earth would you want a JEM without it? *scratches head*

[Pleuvra]

The single coil makes a JEM more versatile, and was certainly part of its appeal to me. I've never used it on its own before, though.

I'm sure Vai uses it on Alive in an Ultra World and maybe on The Ultra Zone, Tender Surrender and Sisters, but on in positions 2 and 4. There will be many other songs.

[markg5150]

I very rarely use it on my Jem - most of the time I have it screwed down so it doesn't get in the way of my picking

[Davey]

The single coil might not be the best, but it certainly adds to that tasty, tasty, clean sound on positions 2 and 4

[JESTER700]

Ya GOTTA have position 2 & 4! I use those all the time, but NEVER the single by itself.

[nightfiend14]

I think steve even uses a dummy single coil in some of the guitars so that shows you how little he uses it.

[rickcard71]

Originally Posted by Gex

I love the single coil.

He doesnt use it by itself, I dont think. Its really just there for positions 2 and 4, which sound BEAUTIFUL for clean tones, and just all around-stratty tones.

Why on earth would you want a JEM without it? *scratches head*

Why, because I usually use positions 1 and 5. I will have to pay attention to 2 and 4 with the clean.

[amanvai]

Steve Vai doesn't use a dummy coil for anything except for next to the sustainer in Flo, and Mojo. The sustainer isn't a humbucker, and he uses a sustainer and a dummy pickup next to it, but his middle pickup isn't a dummy. Its actually a versatile pickup, and even though he doesn't use it often, he does use it to decorate the tone, and all of you are right about the clean tones with it. they're really great.

[JESTER700]

Another option, if you're into modding, is to use a middle & split bridge combo in SERIES (the standard is parallel). This gives you a "ballsier" stratty combo sound that is one of my favorites. Kinda Ty Tabor-ish.

[mi2tom]

Originally Posted by markg5150

I very rarely use it on my Jem - most of the time I have it screwed down so it doesn't get in the way of my picking

yes me too... never used it at all .. wanted to take it out but just look plain ugly

[Robot Boy]

i like to use mine sometimes, its quite a 'different' sound. but yeah, mostly only in 2 and 4, like most people have been saying. vai uses it in those positions on songs like sisters.

[red5]

I have a 7vwh and I use the single coil a lot. Many people complain it is too thin in comparison to the humbuckers, which it is, but it makes for some good clean tones if you know how to use it. Also switching from the single coil with the neck or bridge pups to the neck or bridge pups alone makes up for some good soloing channel switcing!