Petrucci mixed pickups volume level lower?

[magnoliafan]

Hi,
I've had my Petrucci for 11 months, and it seems to me that when I run it with the magnetic pickup selector switch in the middle, the volume level is quite lower than if I select either humbucker. This is the mode that taps one coil of each pickup. The tone is nice, but there is such a drop-off in level that it gets lost when played in a band setting.

Is this an EQ thing - that the frequencies the single coils put out are different and just don't cut through a band as well? Or is the output level really lower? I guess I could try and measure it, but other than output level, I wouldn't know how. Can you plug into a spectrum analyzer or something and see the frequency output?

Is there a way to boost the volume in the tapped/mixed mode? Or tweak the frequency aside from the tone knob? I don't want to fiddle with the tone knob while playing and switching between pickups. Can a boost circuit be added that will only kick on when the switch is in middle?

 

[Lou]

Nothing you can do to compensate on the guitar. The singles have a lower output than the humbuckers.

 

[magnoliafan]

Nothing you can do to compensate on the guitar. The singles have a lower output than the humbuckers.

Yes, I've noticed that. It's not like I can adjust the pole pieces or pickup height either, since that will also increase the volume of the full humbuckers. This is so dumb! Why wouldn't they compensate for that difference? It's not like there isn't already a battery in it for the piezo!

 

[JoeDogInKC]

lol, love your username! Kevin Smith fans should get the reference.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

For me, that volume difference has become an important part of my live sound. I have been using the middle position more and more often for mid-gain sounds and switching to a full humbucker for heavy and lead sounds. It is spectacular for cleans, and if you blend it with the piezo you can really shine.

You could replace the switch with a standard 3way on-on-on toggle and get both humbuckers on full when in the middle position....

 

[MusicManJP6]

For me, that volume difference has become an important part of my live sound. I have been using the middle position more and more often for mid-gain sounds and switching to a full humbucker for heavy and lead sounds. It is spectacular for cleans, and if you blend it with the piezo you can really shine.

You could replace the switch with a standard 3way on-on-on toggle and get both humbuckers on full when in the middle position....

Would you actually have to replace the switch though? I've got a push/pull tone pot installed in mine with on-on-on when pushed and all single coil tones when pulled with the stock middle position still intact.

 

[PeteDuBaldo]

Either or...