Author Topic: coil tap (Read 2785 times)

ryanverbena · « **on:** June 24, 2007, 05:38:19 AM »

hey guys, does anyone know if there is a way you can coil tap or split a 2 conductor set of pickups (one wire each)? I have a really sweet set of old seymour duncan pickups, they don't even have a model name printed on, and i really want to be able to split the coils and use my les paul for single coil sounds. If anyone could offer any help of maybe links to websites would be appreciated.

PhilKing · « **Reply #1 on:** June 24, 2007, 11:47:18 AM »

You have to change to 4 conductor wire to do this.

ryanverbena · « **Reply #2 on:** June 24, 2007, 03:02:32 PM »

yeh thats what i thought i mite have 2 do. Anyone have any info/ links how to do this?[/u]

dave_mc · « **Reply #3 on:** June 24, 2007, 05:11:24 PM »

i remember reading a thread on ultimate guitar where someone made a tutorial on converting 2-conductor pickups to 4. Maybe try searching over there in the gear building and customising forum?

bear in mind, i have no idea of the accuracy of that tutorial, and if they were sweet, old (i.e. irreplaceable) pickups, i probably wouldn't chance it myself. It seemed to involve a lot of ripping the wires apart, if I remember correctly, you could doubtless do some major damage if you weren't careful...

tremblox · « **Reply #4 on:** June 25, 2007, 09:43:26 AM »

Actually to do a coil split you don't have to go to 4-conductor wiring - three is sufficient. To do this you'll need to carefully take the humbucker apart and solder in a new wire at a point where the 2 coils are electrically joined. This will mean removing the wiring insulation at that point, soldering in a new wire and fixing it so that no strain on the new wire is transmitted to the join ( otherwise you could break the whole humbucker). It is fiddly and tricky but it can be done (I've done it and I'm not known for my finesse).

The trickiest part is removing the wire insulation without breaking the wire - I use a skalpel and a soldering iron to do this and a multimeter to check that an electricval connection has been made.

Have fun,
tremblox

WezV · « **Reply #5 on:** June 25, 2007, 10:40:37 AM »

easy way to ruin a decent pickup if you attempt this yourself. Pickup wires are very small and delicate and are not easy to work with if you are not used to working on pickups.

Get a pro to do it if in doubt!!

Transcend · « **Reply #6 on:** June 25, 2007, 12:24:37 PM »

check on the main BK site i believe tim does a service where he rewires pickups.

If i remember rightly he doesnt charge too much either
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/vintagerewinds.html

i was correct 17.50

WezV · « **Reply #7 on:** June 25, 2007, 12:50:32 PM »

Quote from: hate_growth

check on the main BK site i believe tim does a service where he rewires pickups.

If i remember rightly he doesnt charge too much either
http://www.bareknucklepickups.co.uk/vintagerewinds.html

i was correct 17.50

if tim does it its definately the safest option

dave_mc · « **Reply #8 on:** June 25, 2007, 01:12:29 PM »

Quote from: WezV

easy way to ruin a decent pickup if you attempt this yourself. Pickup wires are very small and delicate and are not easy to work with if you are not used to working on pickups.

Get a pro to do it if in doubt!!

that's what i'd have thought, it did sound very fiddly. If it's irreplaceable, i'd certainly consider getting tim to do it!

Transcend · « **Reply #9 on:** June 25, 2007, 06:27:37 PM »

Get tim to do it, its only going to cost you £17.50, if you do it yourself you risk damaging perfectly good pickups

Author Topic: coil tap (Read 2785 times)

Transcend

Transcend