Originally Posted by: slopaceI'm kind of new to the electric guitar vs. the acoustic and would really like some help understanding which toggle switch setting to use for which type of playing? For example, I play a Les Paul and I typically use the down position which I believe is the bridge pickup. Is there a general rule of thumb for knowing which pickups to use for different songs?

Whatever fits the sound you want. The up position is good for blues and for a wide tonal delivery. That pup is right under almost the center of the string, so you get the widest tonal character. The bridge pup is at the end of the string and gets a tighter vibration, thus is more trebley as has already been pointed out.

But there is no rule per se. Take "Enter Sandman" by Metallica for example. The clean intro is in the neck position, and when you get to the chunky part it drops to the bridge pick up.

It is whatever works for the sound you want.