Why are there so few 3-pickup semi-hollows / hollowbodies?

ragingplatypi

ragingplatypi

Shredder
Messages
1,353
I’m curious if it’s just tradition or if there’s a practical reason why almost all hollowbody and semi-hollow guitars only have 2 pickups. I can only think of 3 guitars in this style with 3 pickups that have had any regular stretch of production: Gibson ES-5, Epiphone Rivera, Gretsch Streamliner. I know there are some others out there, but they’re on the fringe. I’m wondering why it’s never clicked in a mainstream way.
 
How many non Strat based/influenced solid body guitars have 3 pickups? Sure there are 3 pickup Les Paul’s and PRS’s but they are relatively rare compared to all of the HH and dual P90 guitars.

I think there is simply a lack of demand, plus it makes the switching more complicated if you don’t have a blade switch.

I don’t know, I am one of those weirdos that actually uses the middle position on a Strat, but I have never even thought about wanting a semi-hollow with a middle pickup. Hmmm.
 
For a hollow body I would guess part of the reason is that you want the top to be able to resonate as much as possible and an extra pickup somewhat deadens it.

Another reason could be the switching involved
 
metropolis_4 said:
For a hollow body I would guess part of the reason is that you want the top to be able to resonate as much as possible and an extra pickup somewhat deadens it.

Another reason could be the switching involved
Click to expand...
I feel like putting any pickups in the top is going to deaden it. And the block in the middle of a semi-hollow will as well. I’m not playing a 335 for its robust acoustic tone.
 
ragingplatypi said:
I feel like putting any pickups in the top is going to deaden it. And the block in the middle of a semi-hollow will as well. I’m not playing a 335 for its robust acoustic tone.
Click to expand...

Which is why a lot of hollowbodies use floating pickups and volume/tone pots attached to the pickguard. It’s not just about its acoustic tone, that resonance comes through in the electric tone as well.
 
metropolis_4 said:
Which is why a lot of hollowbodies use floating pickups and volume/tone pots attached to the pickguard. It’s not just about its acoustic tone, that resonance comes through in the electric tone as well.
Click to expand...
I get that. I always assumed those guitars are a different beast than a semi-hollow that made for distortion and loud volumes. The jazz arch tops with the floating pickups seem to have a lot more high end.
 
A semi is definitely a different beast than a full hollow. I still think it is a combination of lack of demand and the complexity/cost. Examples have existed for years but it doesn’t seem like they have ever been top sellers.
 
ragingplatypi said:
I’m curious if it’s just tradition or if there’s a practical reason why almost all hollowbody and semi-hollow guitars only have 2 pickups.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure I know the answer to that. It's because those guitars never sold well compared to the same instrument with fewer pickups. Models that don't sell don't survive, no matter how well they play or sound. See Les Paul Personal and Recording models from ca. 1971 for two excellent examples.
ragingplatypi said:
I can only think of 3 guitars in this style with 3 pickups that have had any regular stretch of production: Gibson ES-5, Epiphone Rivera, Gretsch Streamliner.
Click to expand...
I'm pretty sure that the L5 CES, Johnny Smith and Super 400 each outsold ES-5 Switchmasters by a large margin. Edit: there's also the ES350.
ragingplatypi said:
I’m wondering why it’s never clicked in a mainstream way.
Click to expand...
IMO there are two reasons: tonal variety and ease of changing settings on the fly, assuming that the considerable acoustic degradation due to yet more mass coupled to the guitar top is tolerable. I bought a 3-pickup Firebird back in 1971. After fooling around with various pickup and control setting combinations, I ended up installing a standard Gibson two-pickup selector switch and disconnecting the middle pickup. I was easily able to get all the tones I wanted from that setup, and it was far easier to change settings with a single toggle vs. three slide switches.
 
Last edited:
Mainly because only strat style guitars look sexy with 3 pickups. :grin
3 full HBs kinda makes me itch, except on a few LPs. 3 mini HBs looks alright.
 
I think it’s most likely down to tradition.

Many of the 3 pickup models I’ve seen are niche guitars with funky pickups that don’t fit the traditional ES-335 blues guitar mold. More of a Sears catalog aesthetic.

At least for me, I didn’t see a big name guitar player using one until Dan Auerbach of the Black Keys with his Harmony H78.

There’s still some mass produced guitars currently being made that I’ve kept tabs on. Most of Airline’s Montgomery series, Guild’s Starfire Jet90, Vox Bobcat S66.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top