Coil taps at different values?

[El Schmucko]

Let´s say we got a Holy Diver. Is it possible to tap the coils to different values, say 10K and 8K?
That way you could have both a hot pickup and a vintage one in the same package. Maaan, that would be so good!  :D

[ilÿti]

Technically, yes. I've no idea how though, so I'll just second the question! Everytime I've tried to find out how coil tapping works, it was all about coil-splitting, not tapping. So many manufactures and sites loose the terms very loosely, and it's misleading to say the least. It's also surprising that they don't know the difference seen as splitting/tapping has been around for ages. Anyway, on with the topic.

[El Schmucko]

It´s possible in transformers, so it should be possible in a pickups too, since it´s almost the same thing.
Imagine the possibilities!
Though I guess it would be bad for sales, as someone could have 5 pickups in one instead of 5 different ones.

[PhilKing]

There have been some P-90 and MQ pickups made with coil taps.

[Philly Q]

I've no idea how though, so I'll just second the question! Everytime I've tried to find out how coil tapping works, it was all about coil-splitting, not tapping.

It would mean taking out a "tap" wire part-way through each coil of a humbucker, so when the pickup is "tapped" you're shorting out part (say one-third) of each coil.  You'd still be using both coils, and the pickup would still be hum-cancelling - unlike coil-splitting, where you simply switch off one of the two coils to leave a single-coil pickup.

In theory the pickup could then have a 6-conductor cable enabling all sorts of weird wiring, but I think it would get over-complicated!

Schecter used to have pickups called Monstertones with oversized polepieces like Duncan Quarterpounders.  Both the single-coil and humbucker versions were tappable, I think.

[ilÿti]

It would mean taking out a "tap" wire part-way through each coil of a humbucker, so when the pickup is "tapped" you're shorting out part (say one-third) of each coil.  You'd still be using both coils, and the pickup would still be hum-cancelling - unlike coil-splitting, where you simply switch off one of the two coils to leave a single-coil pickup.

Yes, I know THAT.

In theory the pickup could then have a 6-conductor cable enabling all sorts of weird wiring, but I think it would get over-complicated!

And I didn't know that part, thanks. Will Tim do this on special request? How does the sound differ from just rolling the volume down? I'm asking jsut in case anyone has experience with this.

[Philly Q]

Will Tim do this on special request?

Dunno, you'd have to ask!  He's done it on P-90s, but I haven't heard of anyone with a tapped humbucker.  It's probably quite a pain in the arse to do, I'd guess.

In terms of how the sound differs, I'd imagine the tapped pickup would sound (almost) exactly like a regular pickup with those particular magnets, wire and DC resistance.  There'd be none of the muddiness or thin-ness you can get from just rolling the volume down.

[PhilKing]

The difference on a tapped MQ is quite subtle, it's almost like having a mid range control.  The volume doesn't change much but the pickup gets 'thinner' when it is in the tap position.

[WezV]

Though I guess it would be bad for sales, as someone could have 5 pickups in one instead of 5 different ones.

but it doesnt mean those 5 in 1 will sound as good as the 5 do individually

lets say you have a tap engaged...instead of having a 'vintage output humbucker' you will have a 'vinatge output humbucker currently surrounded by a lot more winds'....

... will that still sound like we want our vintage style humbuckers to sound?  i dont know!

Its a usefull little trick but like anything that complicates the simple design of a pickup.. it can take away what you liked about the design in the first place

its something i have mucked about with before but always found it too fiddly to actually construct and then i was never happy with the result anyway - but that goes for half the pickups i have made myself anyway

[El Schmucko]

Isn´t the rest of the wire supposed to get bypassed or something?
If so, there should be no problem to get a vintage sound as it virtually "is" a vintage pickup if tapped at 8-9 K.
Correct me if I´m wrong though.
This could actually lead to some cool discoveries!

[PitchShifter]

What you're referring to is Asymmetric Coil Tap.  I don't know if Tim has any BNP that use that method, but I know Gemini pickups do. Mike at Gemini also has more advanced multi-mode pickups that give 6 different sounds.  

(I hope Tim doesn't mind me posting about a competitior, but hey, I own both tBNP & Gemini cos they are both brilliant in the guitars they're in!)

[WezV]

Isn´t the rest of the wire supposed to get bypassed or something?
If so, there should be no problem to get a vintage sound as it virtually "is" a vintage pickup if tapped at 8-9 K.
Correct me if I´m wrong though.
This could actually lead to some cool discoveries!

yeah, its bypassed  so that part isnt producing any signal, but its still a lot of extra mass of metal attached to the pickup and that will affect the sound, kind of like adding a copper shield or a metal cover around a pickup affects the sound... it doesnt mean its bad though

[blue]

the prs 513 has tapped pickups, it has a modern humbucker and vintage humbucker mode.