The thinking behind the coil switchs and which coils it chooses

[Goofball Jones]

This applies mainly to the HS instruments. I was wondering what the thinking was and the reasons behind some of the choices of which coils are selected on the HS instruments.

In the #4 position the coil selection is the neck single coil and the coil on the H closest to the neck. Why that coil and not the coil closest to the bridge? Just wondered? Does it have something to do with how the magnets are situated?

Also, is it normal to have a drop-off in volume when just a single coil is selected? I'm assuming it is. Like just the neck single-coil selected there seems to be a drop off in volume that's easy to increase for sure, but just wondering if it's normal. The loudest config seems to be the standard MM position (#1) and the two-coil position (#4).

 

[Big Poppa]

THere will always be a drop off in level between single and h pickups

 

[Goofball Jones]

THere will always be a drop off in level between single and h pickups

Thanks BP, that's what I figured. It only makes sense. But thought I'd check just in case. I don't have another HS handy to compare it to. And as I said it's easy to just up the levels a bit when using only a single. I really dig the tone too.