Pick up configurations make no sense

wdinc01 · #1 07-12-2008, 01:19 AM

This is kind of a rant, but I really want to know who decided on the order that pick ups go when you're describing a guitar. Honestly, I only find this frustrating when dealing with guitars, and not basses.

To give you an example of what I mean, the Fender Stratocaster that has a humbucker in the bridge (otherwise known as a 'Fat Strat') is usually labeled as an HSS configuration. This doesn't make sense to me, because it's starting from the bridge to the neck. This as opposed to a bass with both a P-pick up and a J-pick up would be labeled as PJ, so from the neck to the bridge.

I really think going from the neck to the bridge in labeling makes more sense. After all, that's how a pick up switch works. It just makes more sense to me.

Although deep down, I think this just has to do with my frustration over the fact that Fender doesn't make a Stratocaster with a humbucker in the neck, and not the bridge. So I guess that'd be an SSH?

Hellbastard · #2 07-12-2008, 06:59 AM

Because we read from left to right, so if you look at the pic you'll understand.
Actually I have no idea.

The Golden Boy · #3 07-12-2008, 09:27 AM

spade2you · #4 07-12-2008, 11:51 AM

Guitarits read everything backwards.

wdinc01 · #5 07-12-2008, 12:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hellbastard

Because we read from left to right, so if you look at the pic you'll understand.
Actually I have no idea.

Yes, and we also read top to bottom. So if you look at the pic, you'll understand.

I guess. I dunno.

dancehallclasher · #6 07-12-2008, 12:26 PM

It's always been like that with strats. With the 5-position pickup selector, position 1 is bridge, position 5 is neck.

Hellbastard · #7 07-12-2008, 01:34 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by wdinc01

Yes, and we also read top to bottom. So if you look at the pic, you'll understand.

I guess. I dunno.

So, you play the guitar as an upright bass?

phxlbrmpf · #8 07-12-2008, 02:09 PM

The way it's done on a Strat makes (more) sense to me too. I'm guessing P/Js aren't called J/Ps because people think of them as P basses with an added J pickup, which is why the P is mentioned first.

wdinc01 · #9 07-12-2008, 07:51 PM

Well, think of it like this: The pick up switch on the Strat usually has the neck pick up in the first position, or what is normally referred to in the first position, and the bridge in the fifth. And if you're looking down at your guitar while holding it, it'd be like reading it left to right, neck to bridge.

I dunno. I could probably come up with a hundred different ways of justifying this nonsense, but it just makes more sense to me to have it like that. But no matter what, I'm still not getting my HSS (or SSH according to Fender...) Stratocaster.