yes, that's the article.
Rail Humbuckers?
- Thread starter GuitarDoc
- Start date
yes, that's the article.
I, as well as just about everyone on this forum, absolutely understand that. I don't think anyone is having a problem with the concept of splitting a humbucker. But it was an article aimed at those who have a very limited understanding about pickups and most specifically about dual coil rail pickups. That statement from the article about rail pickups which I quoted in my op is ambiguous at best, and very misleading to those it was aiming to give a better understanding to.
It's not a big deal at all, I just thought it was very unfortunate the way it was worded...it seemed to be saying that you get the "full-on humbucker tones by splitting the coils" (because that IS what it said). It could have been said a little better/clearer, that's all.
I apologize if my op upset anyone. I'm a little OCD about clarity in communication to reduce misunderstandings (like the difference between input and output jacks, split and tap, etc). Perhaps I'm a bit autistic.
Artie
Peaveyologist
That one drives me nuts as well. I don't know why. Clearly, there are bigger fish to fry.
I agree that things could be more clear. When you just have words (not face-to-face), you have to be very careful about how to word things, especially if you are instructing people about something they may know little about.
Teleplayer
Active member
While I like the Coolrails as a neck humbucker, I didn't find the coil-split to be particularly useful. It's quite far from "bell-like tones of traditional single coil pickups". With the coolrails it gives a weak and thin coil split tone. From testing, I measured a large change in the inductance value when coil split is used. Full size humbuckers normally don't loose as much output when using the coil split.
Duncan Coolrails Neck (2018 production)
* North Coil R=4.858k, L=2.61H
* South Coil R=4.919k, L=2.63H
* Humbucker Series R=9.777k, L=6.99H
It occurred to me the P-rails pickup might work better than the single size humbucker, due to the larger size. It could allow each coil to perform more independently if the coils are not closely coupled.
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freefrog
Well-known member
FWIW, one of my main stage guitars is a frankensteinized Variax 500 hosting a bridge Cool Rails in neck position, with a series / parallel switch. If memory serves me, it reads 1.83H of inductance when wired in parallel and sounds "single coilish" enough to be totally useable on stage.
IME, Rails Pickups in parallel are even spontaneously better than stacks when it comes to emulate single coils: they don't produce the dual resonant peaks that stacked coils tend to generate if not properly designed or "corrected" with additional components...
But I agree that splitting a Rails Pickup is not the best way to emulate a single coil.
IME.IMHO. YMMV.
FWIW, one of my main stage guitars is a frankensteinized Variax 500 hosting a bridge Cool Rails in neck position, with a series / parallel switch. If memory serves me, it reads 1.83H of inductance when wired in parallel and sounds "single coilish" enough to be totally useable on stage.
IME, Rails Pickups in parallel are even spontaneously better than stacks when it comes to emulate single coils: they don't produce the dual resonant peaks that stacked coils tend to generate if not properly designed or "corrected" with additional components...
But I agree that splitting a Rails Pickup is not the best way to emulate a single coil.
IME.IMHO. YMMV.
Wow, very cool. Can you post a pic of your Variax?
freefrog
Well-known member
DavidRavenMoon
New member
Traditional single coil tones by splitting the coils. That’s how I read it, but the order of humbucker and single coil should be reversed.
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DavidRavenMoon
New member
In my option no humbucker sounds good as a single coil. You get a brighter tone, but it’s weak. It was not designed for that. Some very hot humbuckers work better, but you wouldn’t put those in the neck position.
I’ve always favored series/parallel switching. I don’t use actual single coils in any of my 10 guitars. I hate hum. I’m also not trying to get standard Strat tones. I think that’s kind of over used. Everyone tries to get the same tones these days. Therefore everyone sounds the same.
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Teleplayer
Active member
Some humbuckers split better than others. IMO its hard to generalise. It seems to depends on many things. One major issue is having an appropriate wind. You can measure the inductance of a coil-split humbucker with a LCR meter, so it's possible to test that aspect without trying every possible pickup in the guitar.
Full size humbuckers tend to split better IMO. I found there is a difference in tone between each of the poles. That part needs to be tested as trial and error.
Full size humbuckers tend to split better IMO. I found there is a difference in tone between each of the poles. That part needs to be tested as trial and error.
That looks exactly like the Variax I own. I bought it when they first came out many years ago. I don't remember the model number, but it was the first one they made...would mine be the 500?
freefrog
Well-known member
Yes! They named "500" the first Variax models when they released the 700, then the 300 and 600...
I've used my ol' 500 a few minutes ago. It still works but I must admit that I expect it to fail each time I plug it, knowing how many times it has been played since 2003... With its added GK3 and mag pickups, it was and remains a really handy tool for the various musical projects in which I've been involved.
freefrog
Well-known member
Yep, 12 strings Variax models are really nice, as are the other acoustic and semi-hollow emulations, IMHO. I"ve used these tones dozens of times in various situations.
It's only with the solid body Variax clones that I've mixed feelings since day one : I prefer Roland modeling for purely electric sounds - or real magnetic pickups. That's why I've modified mine and IMHO, it's probably why 2d gen Tyler Variax models were designed with onboard magnetic transducers...
It's only with the solid body Variax clones that I've mixed feelings since day one : I prefer Roland modeling for purely electric sounds - or real magnetic pickups. That's why I've modified mine and IMHO, it's probably why 2d gen Tyler Variax models were designed with onboard magnetic transducers...
I have a Variax Acoustic, and the 12 strings are exceptional. Actually all of the models are really great.