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I've got a Custom Custom in the bridge of my Epi LP which I'm very happy with. However, more recently I've considered doing something a little more 'interesting' with it. Presently the pup is wired as stock (I just copied the wiring from the crappy stock pups). Anyone got any advice regarding parallel, coil-split/tap, phase wiring. Go slow though, I'm a bit of a novice as far as all the jargon is concerned.

My interest is really borne of curiosity instead of neccessity. I was listening to Queen in the car earlier today (don't remember the song though) and loved the guitar tone. Sounded a bit like a telecaster with a slide. I'd love to get something like that out of my Les Paul.


Originally Posted by benjaturnerI've got a Custom Custom in the bridge of my Epi LP which I'm very happy with. However, more recently I've considered doing something a little more 'interesting' with it. Presently the pup is wired as stock (I just copied the wiring from the crappy stock pups). Anyone got any advice regarding parallel, coil-split/tap, phase wiring. Go slow though, I'm a bit of a novice as far as all the jargon is concerned.

My interest is really borne of curiosity instead of neccessity. I was listening to Queen in the car earlier today (don't remember the song though) and loved the guitar tone. Sounded a bit like a telecaster with a slide. I'd love to get something like that out of my Les Paul.Brian May playes the Red Special and can get all kinds of tones out of it...maybe something simple like spliting the CC would get you a new cool tone...good luck!

Yeah, splitting a humbucker is a great, simple mod. As long as I've been messing with pickups, I still haven't tried one in parallel yet.

The CC sounds great split


Originally Posted by Reckless AbandonThe CC sounds great split

I would think so too, since it's 7.2k per coil, which is overwound Strat-land, and pretty close to Tele-ville. A Spin-A-Split might be even better.

There should be a pink slip of paper at the bottom of the Duncan box it came in and on it is wiring diagrams for coil split, in/out of phase, and parallel/series, telling you what color lead to put where.

Coil split would come closest to getting the sound you describe and its the easiest mod. The two leads that are soldered together and taped off (red and white if I remember right) you just need to solder them both to one lug f a switch and the main hot lead (black?) to the other. Then solder a wire from the lug on the pot (volume) where the hot lead of the pickup was soldered to the middle lug of the switch.

As for out of phase or parallel/series (which I don't recommend -- too weak), they're a bit more complicated, but the instructions are there on the Duncan pink slip if you want to give it a try.

ALSO: Don't confuse coil split with coil tap. Coil quot;splitquot; refers to a humbucker wired for single-coil/full humbucker switching. Coil quot;tapquot; is a second hot lead coming out of the same coil that gives you a lower DC resistance. To put in a coil tap on a coil that reads 7.2k, like a single Custom Custom coil, you wind the coil to, say, 5.5k, bring a lead out off of that as if you were done winding the coil. But then you wind another 1.7k worth of coil wire to bring it up to the full 7.2k. You would throw the switch if you wanted a little less output and a bit thinner sound, then switch back for the full coil.

A coil tap is something you find almost exclusively on single coil (think Strat) pickups (several Duncan Strat pickups have a tap option), though I'm sure the Duncan Custom Shop would make a humbucker with one of the coils tapped for you for a little extra.

Cool. Thanks for all the tips. I think I'm gonna try the coil split then. My brother just asked me something that I've never thought of though. If single coils generally require a 250k pot and my pots are 500k won't that have a negitive impact on the tone?


Originally Posted by ZhangliqunALSO: Don't confuse coil split with coil tap. Coil quot;splitquot; refers to a humbucker wired for single-coil/full humbucker switching. Coil quot;tapquot; is a second hot lead coming out of the same coil that gives you a lower DC resistance. To put in a coil tap on a coil that reads 7.2k, like a single Custom Custom coil, you wind the coil to, say, 5.5k, bring a lead out off of that as if you were done winding the coil. But then you wind another 1.7k worth of coil wire to bring it up to the full 7.2k. You would throw the switch if you wanted a little less output and a bit thinner sound, then switch back for the full coil.A coil tap is something you find almost exclusively on single coil (think Strat) pickups (several Duncan Strat pickups have a tap option), though I'm sure the Duncan Custom Shop would make a humbucker with one of the coils tapped for you for a little extra.

Dude! I've NEVER heard that before in my life (all 38 years of it). I (and everyone I know) use the terms tap / split interchangeably. I agree that what you said could be done. But isn't quot;splittingquot; a humbucker in half the same as tapping at the 7.2 K point (on a 14.4 k bucker)?!?!?!?!? And who on this planet quot;tapsquot; single coils????? Give me a company, a pup, or an axe?

you can't quot;tapquot; a single coil

quot;Tappingquot; is the correct terminonlogy for taking the signal from somewhere within a single coil (ala what Zhangliqun said). quot;Splittingquot; is when you use only one coil of a humbucker.

having said that, if you view the two coills of a humbuckers as a continuous series of wire, then I suppose quot;splittingquot; could be viewed as quot;tappingquot;.


Originally Posted by flipsideyou can't quot;tapquot; a single coil

this is a completely false statement

it is a common thing to have a split single coil pickup ... they are manufactured with an extra wire coming out from the 'tap' point which allows for part of the coil to be switched in or out at will ... a common use is to overwind a pickup and put the tap point at a more 'vintage' point in the wind .. with the flick of a switch, one can go from a fatter, hotter single coil to a more vintage single .. very cool thing indeed

t4d


Originally Posted by Aceman

... I (and everyone I know) use the terms tap / split interchangeably...

only people who don't know the correct meanings use them interchangeably ... they have different meanings and different uses ... now that you know the difference, you can choose to use them correctly or incorrectly ... the only thing that will suffer if you choose badly will be the clarity of your communications ...

Originally Posted by AcemanAnd who on this planet quot;tapsquot; single coils????? Give me a company, a pup, or an axe?

PRS 513

oh, and iirc, mr seymour w duncan is fond of playing a guitar with a tapped pickup from time to time


Originally Posted by benjaturnerCool. Thanks for all the tips. I think I'm gonna try the coil split then. My brother just asked me something that I've never thought of though. If single coils generally require a 250k pot and my pots are 500k won't that have a negitive impact on the tone?

it's a good question and i wondered the same thing until i actually did it ... fortunately it's nothing to worry about ... you'll see when you get in there and do it that the tone doesnt suffer when you split ... you can always roll the tone knob down if you think it's a touch too bright

good luck
t4d


Originally Posted by Zhangliqun...As for out of phase or parallel/series (which I don't recommend -- too weak), they're a bit more complicated, but the instructions are there on the Duncan pink slip if you want to give it a try...

i was skeptical too, until i tried it (a luthier friend of mine talked me into it - he let me play his axe which had been wired this way) ... i found the parallel option a nice way of retaining hum cancelling while getting a little 'glassier / chimy-er' feel ... it helped, i think, that i was using bill lawrence 500XLs which are HELLA hot on their own ... gave me a nice way to find a little niche in the sonic spectrum when playing in a group with an organ player and a synth player and another guitarist ... more tonal choices is always a good thing

cheers
t4d

Well, gosh, you learn something new everyday! I agree that this quot;tappingquot; on a single coil is cool thing! Makes me want a P-90 with a vintage/custom tap - very cool indeed. I still say out of 1000 guitar players about 3 know this subtle little deatil. And I still haven't EVER seen an advertisement/description of any guitar with a quot;tappedquot; single coil - but I'll trust you on the PRS.

And wire a DiMarzio X2N is parellel, it's an awesome sounding mod to a stupid powerful pup!

So all splits are taps, but not all taps are splits! Got it. Thanks for the clarification.

yeah, i bet the X2N is alot like the Bill LAwrence 500XL in that way

i think it kinda stretches the point to say that quot;all splits are tapsquot; ... electrically speaking, it is technically correct ... but in practice, 'tap' is meant to describe a junction point taken from within a single bobbin, whereas a 'split' is meant to describe a junction point taken at the intersection between 2 bobbins

iirc, the fender jerry donahue tele uses a tap as does the new peavey jerry donahue sig model

cheers
t4d


Originally Posted by flipsideyou can't quot;tapquot; a single coil

Well, guess what? I did!
from : localhost//website...ped_strat.html
from : localhost//website...pped_tele.html

The CC sounds great when split in my Peavey, and I use the 500k tone pot, so you shouldn't worry. My only suggestion would be that you get a push/pull pot so you don't have to drill a hole in your guitar's top. It's not a big deal with a strat style to put it in the pickguard, but I saw an LP at a pawn shop the other day and they ruined the top by drilling a hole for a toggle.

I was going to straighten out the split/tap bit, but I see t4d's already done that. Thanks man.

Just think of a tap like tapping a phone line. You don't split the line, you just make a connection to it so you can listen in. Only when you use the tap on a pickup, you can tell a difference.

cool. Thanks again. I just have a few more questions though.

I don't mean to sound disrespectful in any way, but does it really not make a difference if the tone pot is 500k in what is physically a single coil? I only ask because I've heard about fender making 500k pots for their guitars and advertising them as 'super bright' or something. If this is the case then surely it will transfer to a split humbucker. Or do you just not notice it because of it humbucking context (nice phrase, that! lol)

Secondly, I'm left-handed. Can I get push/pull pots? I figure if I can't then I'll just have a tone pot turning the other way around because there's no way I'm gonna drill a hole in my guitar.

Thanks for all your suggestions so far

It really shouldn't be a problem. It doesn't make a big difference on mine, and like t4d said, you can always back it off a little. I usually have mine at about 9 or so anyway.

As for the push/pull pots, I don't know. I've never messed with a LH guitar, and I guess I just assumed they turned the same way. I don't remember ever seeing a left or right hand designation on push/pulls, but there may be some.


Originally Posted by benjaturner

I've heard about fender making 500k pots for their guitars and advertising them as 'super bright' or something

i got some 'distortion strings' up in the trading post, the rust on them dirties up the tone Originally Posted by benjaturnerSecondly, I'm left-handed. Can I get push/pull pots? I figure if I can't then I'll just have a tone pot turning the other way around because there's no way I'm gonna drill a hole in my guitar.

push pull pots are like a standard pot, but with the switch terminals sitting on an extension to the casing.. if you know how to wire a tone pot so that it tapers the other way (reverse the outside terminals on the pot, i think?), the same holds true for a P/P pot... i think

can anyone confirm this?

tom