Author Topic: Coil Splitting (Read 6615 times)

tonberry_king · « **on:** September 11, 2005, 12:14:27 PM »

Ahoy all. Got another question for those of you who know a bit more about guitars than I. How do I go about splitting my pickups once I get them? I'm new to the idea of push/pull pots and I'm not exactly sure what I need to buy.

I've looked on the StewMac site (because I don't know any other ones :oops:) and I'm not sure which kind of pot I need. I assume I just need a 500k push/pull (I play an Epi LP)? Should I just ignore the other pots they have (blend pots, standard control pots, specialty control pots, I have no idea!)?

Then what can I do with the push/pull? I'm not sure on the differences you can get when you wire the pickups, like coil splitting and parellel switching and so on. All I want is to be able to flick/pull a switch/pot and have my humbuckers sound like single coils, which I hear is much better for cleans, right? What would be different if I wired them so they did parellel switching or phasing or whatever?

Thank you to everyone who's helped me so far, you've all been great :) Maybe once I've fitted these pups I'll have a little more experience with guitars and electronics, then I'll be able to help other people on here ^_^

willo · « **Reply #1 on:** September 11, 2005, 01:25:00 PM »

I have coil splitting on my Gibbo LP, and yeah, I got 500k capacitors, from Bareknuckle's own shop. Then i just got my tech guy to put them in when I had the VHII's fitted. One thing you might want to check is the shaft length; some LP's (mine included) have a metal plate underneath the top of the control cavity. If yours has this you have to make sure that the shaft of the push/pull is going to be long enough to come through into the body.

They sound very good coil-tapped BTW. Incidentally, i recorded some samples of them the other day; I'll try and upload them later on if you want.

Also, as for 'out of phase', think Peter Green.

indysmith · « **Reply #2 on:** September 16, 2005, 02:50:37 PM »

i would very much like to split the coils on my ibanez. i'm actually trying to make it into the master of versatility. a jack of all but i master of none yu may sneer, but i don't care, because its all i can afford :P

jt · « **Reply #3 on:** September 17, 2005, 03:41:55 AM »

:D i have my VHII`s coil tapped as well. i`m not sure here but i think you need to order your P/U`s with 4 conductor wire as this will enable the P/U to be coil split etc. i`m not sure if it can be done on P/U`s that Don`t have 4 conductor wire. Call Tim to check unless anybody else here no`s for certain ? [ it`s at this point HJM should put in ! :P ] As for the sound differance IMHO i think it helps make your guitar more versatile & i highly recommend you coil split your H/B`s. it`s a great sound to have espeically clean you can add lots of Chorus/Delay etc over it & it helps to fill out songs without being obtrusive, Then when you need that H/B wack you just hit your coil tap button & off ya go !! :P

:D 8)

Tim · « **Reply #4 on:** September 17, 2005, 07:50:55 AM »

For real coil splits you do need to have 4 conductor wire.This allows not only coil splitting but also series/parallel and phase reversal options........all worth trying out if you've never tried them!
There is a trick you can do with a resistor on 2 conductor to simulate a coil split although it's not that successful IMHO.

Drac · « **Reply #5 on:** September 17, 2005, 03:52:09 PM »

Hello-
-Series/parallel by switch ROCKS.-in Conjunction w/the Tone control,
you got great fat rhythm-edge/icepick lead to warm fuzzy chord/woodwind "boo" plectrum free single note/lead philanderings...
And from a single pickup!-
-I do a lot of coil splitting for others, but think it sounds less-than-savory myself...I like how the wimpering split cr@p-tone makes the HB sound seem even better when you switch out again- like wearing shoes that are too small, because it feels SO good when you take them off...hehehe...
-I also have a fetish for ridiculous cartoon-like dials/knobs/chickenheads/l.e.d.'s/sliders/table lighters/wheels built into axes-like all those lights on the bridge of the Enterprise form startrek-what do they do, anyway?-looks impressive though...
-If yer into switching oddities you can build in, check out "black ice" from stew mac, www.axesrus.com has effects/overdrives etc., and preamps, active eq's, etc.-all fun to play with, but I keep going back to the organic passive electronics, and real amp to make good sound-
less to go wrong on race day.
-Cheers from Drac