humbucker for coil splitting?

[genocidal tendencies]

Hi,
My only guitar worth mentioning at the moment is a fernandes ravelle, which is HH with a coil split. The pickups are ok, duncan JB/Jazz, but I've been thinking of replacing the Jazz at the neck.
I play a lot of different stuff and I'm quite often finding that I want a single coil sound. The split tones on the duncans are functional, but I'd really like more than that. Ideally I'd like a humbucker that will give me a warm tone similar to slash's neck pickups, but I'd also like to be able to split it to give a tone that retains some warmth but has more clarity. I hate to say it but the sort of sound I'm looking for is basically the intro to shania twain's there goes the neighborhood, if anybody knows it.
I know that's unrealistic, but is there any way of getting a decent compromise? The single coil sound is more important since I usually use the bridge humbucker, but I'd like the humbucker tone to be at least reasonable. I'd probably be willing to pay extra for a custom pickup rather than buy a second guitar, so I thought it was worth at least asking.

Anyway, thanks in advance.

[big steve]

hmm, i'd say a crawler. enough power for a coil split without going OTT.

[Tellboy]

hmm, i'd say a crawler. enough power for a coil split without going OTT.

I agree with Steve - I've got Crawlers ( calibrated set with coil taps) in my Les Paul. Amazing variety of sounds from it - all very good.
Also got a bridge Crawler on an Ibanez - that's great as well.

[bucketbot]

Am about to go the same route with my Epi Zakk Wylde.
How did you wire your LP?

 :?:

[Tellboy]

Am about to go the same route with my Epi Zakk Wylde.
How did you wire your LP?

 :?:

I used a long shaft 500k push/pull pot which Tim supplied with the Crawlers. (Long shaft usually required for Les Pauls due to the thickness of the body - usually there is a metal plate in the control cavity with the four pots fixed to it. Not sure if Epis are the same)

[PhilKing]

I'm going to suggest something different here. Rather than the coil split, what about parallel switching.  Try a VHII with series/parallel switching.

[bucketbot]

Am about to go the same route with my Epi Zakk Wylde.
How did you wire your LP?

 :?:

I used a long shaft 500k push/pull pot which Tim supplied with the Crawlers. (Long shaft usually required for Les Pauls due to the thickness of the body - usually there is a metal plate in the control cavity with the four pots fixed to it. Not sure if Epis are the same)

No metal plate in the Epi's so I guess the normal length push pull pot would do?

 :?:

[froglord]

I've got a Mule in the neck of my Eggle with switching to allow parallel humbucker and coil tap options. It sounds amazing - warm, articulate and doesn't mush with gain. I was always a big fan of the SD Jazz, but the Mule is better.

The coil split also sounds very nice and I use it often. Although the parallel option is humbucking, the true split to a single coil has a lot more "juice".

Hope this helps![/quote]

[Tellboy]

No metal plate in the Epi's so I guess the normal length push pull pot would do?

 :?:

I have a normal length  pot which I was going to use on my SG '61 Reissue(which is much thinner than a LP) - it has an 18mm shaft (from base to end of knurled tip of which about 11mm is thread and the other 7mm is the split knurled end for the volume/tone control to fit on). The long shaft version is about 5-8mm longer (can't remember exactly). I think there might be a thread somewhere in these forums which already discusses push pull switch lengths for Epis - try searching back - if you cannot find it the only way to be certain would be to unscrew the pots and have a look.

I personally prefer split coils over parallel. Although parallel still maintains the humbucking ability I think the split coil sound is more pleasing (but slightly noisier). I have an old  DiMarzio Dual Sound Distortion (blasphemy - sorry Tim) which has series parallel wiring via a mini switch- I don't like it as much as the split coil sound I have on my Les Paul.

[bucketbot]

Thanks for the advice.
I intend to get everything I need from Tim so hopefully he will be able to point me in the righr direction.
Cheers
 

[Jagwyre]

My calibrated VH2s are in and I am getting them installed Monday.  I have a ESP MH-201 (2 humbuckers, presently SDDesigned HB-102 set)  which has a unique setup with a 5 way "ultraswitch" that gives you:

1. HH (bridge)
2. Parallel Inside single coils (inside coils are the ones closest to the middle point between the humbuckers)
3. Series Inside single coils
4. Parallel outside single coils
5. HH.  


I never use the Parallel outside single coils position (4th from the bridge direction) and I am thinking about either making it HH+HH (like the middle position on a three-way on a Les Paul) or trying a split bridge inside single coil.  Any thoughts?  I just want what most people might find the most useful of those two configs.  Thanks!

[PhilKing]

The H+H setting would be my choice.  Either that or series outside coils (like the #3 setting, but the screw coils).