Can't adequately seach for this one...

[shred4Him]

I was doing searches for comparisons on the M1s compared to the SAs and such. I was getting nothing, so I will shoot the question here, although I assume that this issue is well covered ground.

I am a huge Andy Timmons fan. I am looking at a Classic, and I have settled with the H3 in the bridge. In one search, I noticed that Tom recommended the M1s to get his neck and mid tones.

Is that still the prevailing wisdom?

Is the M1 the best match for the H3?

How good are the single coil sounds of the M1?

I am not a vintage purist for single coil tones. I tend to like them to be fat, yet airy. Similar to Electric Gypsy:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j4gPS-DgAlw

[tom]

i'm sure some will say that the m's don't get single coil enough for them, and they are probably single coil players. for me, not be a single coil player, i tend to set my amp on the brighter side and get wonderful neck position strat tones with the m1. i think it's really going to depend on how you set your rig.

[Rhys]

One thing to consider is you lose the neck/middle position with the MMH configuration since the neck and middle Ms together are too dark to be usable. However, based on the advise of some forum members, I combined an M in the neck with an S series in the middle of a Hollow T once and got great neck/middle combo tones. That option made great sense for me--I never use the middle pickup by itself and love the in between sound of the neck/mid. If you would use the middle M by itself then this all might not apply.

Also, for what it's worth, the M in the neck did it for me in that hollow T (maple on basswood) but for some reason I didn't care as much for the Ms in a solid Atom.

[shred4Him]

Thanks. I tend not to ever use the in-betweens and middle. I have a Parker Fly Deluxe, and I live in the neck and bridge world 99% of the time. I also tend to use the neck for clean playing and emotive soloing.

So, with that said, it seems like I could use the M1 and be right there. I am not a true fan a singles. They often tend to be too thin and plinky. However, Timmons uses Cruisers, which are really humbuckers. I just want something that will be a fat, clear, breathy single sound that can keep up with a bridge bucker and without getting thin.

[dannopelli]

Hmm...

I have a Cobra and a DTC with m1 m1 m3 in both. I get pretty good ducks in the mid positions. Better in the DTC naturally, and more so since it has a maple neck and fretboard with a maple top and alder body. And of the 19 electrics I have, 12 are full singles, and two have the M's. Yes, the M's don't sound like VA's but I still get some really good Strat tones. Both of those are great "one guitar for the whole gig" instruments.

I recently lent my DTC to a friend that plays nothing but Strats. He had it for a month. He is now saving to get one spec'd like mine.

I think it really has a lot to do with the amp you use and the settings. I use a clean amp with pedals for OD/distortion. I am using Dr Z's mostly, but occasionally use a Fender Twin. Maybe that is it?