Question Different Routings ("Swimming-Pool" vs. Single Routings) - Sonic Differences?

[banjoplayer]

Different Routings ("Swimming-Pool" vs. Single Routings) - Sonic Differences?

Can you help me please:

Will there be sonic differences whether a guitar has a Swimming-Pool-Routing or 3 routings for each pickup?

Are there any other pros or cons for one or the other?

I´m planning to mod a SUB1 for SSS. It already has routings for HH so I assume the difference between HSH routing and Swimming-Pool is not that much (in terms of wood remaining/to be removed)?!? Look at a pic from fellow forumite jamminjim



Swimming-Pool would give me more flexibility for possible future mods (for example Y2D-style) and as I plan to do a pickguard by myself (I want Volume/Tone in the position where the Morse has it) I´m not 100% sure about the middle position routing as I don´t have an orig SSS-pickguard available. Worst thing would be: I route it for my selfmade PG and later on it won´t fit if I use an original Silo Spec PG though.

Thanks guys

 

[kimonostereo]

I'm sure there are a million different opinions on this, but I've never thought that a "swimming pool" played that big of a deal in "tone." I'd think the area where the bridge posts and the neck attaches to the body would have a bigger effect on overall tone that taking away the minor amount of wood where the pickup routes go. Just my $.02 of course.

 

[banjoplayer]

I'm sure there are a million different opinions on this, but I've never thought that a "swimming pool" played that big of a deal in "tone." I'd think the area where the bridge posts and the neck attaches to the body would have a bigger effect on overall tone that taking away the minor amount of wood where the pickup routes go. Just my $.02 of course.

Thanks kimono,
I´d like to think so too. I also know that there is a lot of discussion about this on the web and read some. But in other forums you never know... I know that here are so many people whose opinion I would trust more than any sort of babble from some (to me) unknown forums.

 

[DrKev]

If you want, you can make recordings before and after routing with the original pickguard and challenge everyone to guess which is which. Science!!

My bet will be no difference at all.

 

[jamminjim]

My Blackie is the best "sounding: Sub 1 I have and I did the route in it using a hammer and chisel by the looks of it. Ha ha ha ha . But, me thinks the difference in sound has more to do with it being a hardtail. I imagine if I put the same SS pickguard onto my blue Sub 1 it would sound the same as Blackie. I tend to think the body wood, the bridge composition and placement, the neck joint , the nut and peghead and tuners, and the pickups and pickup placement have a lot more effect on tone. And lets not forget the strings. The USA Fender strats were swimming pool routed and they sound great. The Silo is also nearly swimming pool routed.

 

[pentaspan]

I think jamminjim's on to something - every hardtail I've had (mine were the vintage type, above) has sounded exponentially more resonant than tremolo guitars.

Steve Morse's original EBMM guitars are basically swimming pool routes and he's always sounded great to me.

 

[Eilif]

I think there may be a sonic difference only if you are Eric Johnson or EVH or ...