Setting Your Lester For A Page Middle Position Tone

[Classicplayer]

Have to admit that Jimmy Page's middle pickup switch position is one of the most iconic and fascinating of any guitar tones I've ever heard. I dug out my 2003 double DVD of Zeppelin (disk 2) and watched the 1973 MSG “Black Dog” and found myself wishing I could see where Page had his guitar's pickup volumes set for that crunchy middle tone. Maybe any info. on that era is lost over time, but for any of you that have found your own version Jim's tone, where were you pickup controls set when you “discovered” it.

Classicplayer

 

[JASIII]

My go-to for middle position settings are: bridge pickup volume at 10 and tone between 5.5 and 6. Depends on the amp, pedals, etc. Neck pickup tone at 10 and I start with the volume at 10, let a note ring, and dial the neck volume back to the 8.5 to 9 range. When I turn in down from 10 it hits a spot where the low end drops out a bit and there's a subtle tone shift. It's usually around that 8.5 to 9 range. Of course pickups, pots, wiring, etc can make it vary from guitar to guitar, but that's a starting point. FWIW I'm using a R9 with Throbak SLE-101's.

 

[Nifty]

I just got one of these and was very impressed. I've bought a few pedals that later I set aside cause they just didn't do much. I have the RAH and the Imperial Electrical but this IS what will get you that tone.

https://www.uaudio.com/guitar-pedals/1176-studio-compressor-pedal.html

 

[Classicplayer]

My go-to for middle position settings are: bridge pickup volume at 10 and tone between 5.5 and 6. Depends on the amp, pedals, etc. Neck pickup tone at 10 and I start with the volume at 10, let a note ring, and dial the neck volume back to the 8.5 to 9 range. When I turn in down from 10 it hits a spot where the low end drops out a bit and there's a subtle tone shift. It's usually around that 8.5 to 9 range. Of course pickups, pots, wiring, etc can make it vary from guitar to guitar, but that's a starting point. FWIW I'm using a R9 with Throbak SLE-101's.

My method of approximating Page's middle position is not so far off from yours. Bridge volume 9.5 (10 has ice pick highs), Bridge tone 7-8. Neck +-8 with it's tone 10. Through a crunchy Orange Dark Terror, it can get reminiscent of Page, but my own concept has more body to it. When I listen to Jimmy's playing when he has both pickups on, his recorded live tone often sounds thin to the point of dissapearing into the mix.

Classicplayer