I think it's worth mentioning this because I've seen similar complaints in other threads. A lot of players, including me, prefer a very icy clean middle pickup that is lower in output on purpose. Juxtaposed with fat, beefy outer pickups. What happens is that when combined with the other pickups (split or not), the whole output drops and the dramatic difference between the two pickups creates the complex phase relationships that most strat guys like. Also, when you're in the in between positions, the Jems & other
Ibanez guitars split the humbuckers to singles. With their wiring, you never actually hear the one coil of the humbucker by itself, only combined with the middle pickup. But really there's not that much output difference between the Jem single and
one of the humbucker coils.
I like it because of what it does to the overdrive, wherever your gain setting is. If you have light drive, it cleans up. If you have mid drive, you can go from rhythms to lead without kicking on a boost, and if you are in heavy drive, you get a nasal, more articulate sound useable for either chords or leads. Besides, I think if it's on the Jem, he's not "settling for less" just because he doesn't use it as often. I'm sure its the sound he wants.
