Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

[Tone-Analyst]

I'm drinking the Dimarzio Cool-Aid right now with the Area 58-67-61 trio. You can put them in any position, bridge, middle, neck it doesn't matter. I was thinking it would be interesting in position 2 and 4 to not use the phantom coils that induce a negative hum, and let both top coils cancel hum with each other (more natural sound?) but that's when a RWRP noiseless pickup would be necessary. Is this the actual reason why the STK-S4m (middle) is RWRP?

[EC Strat]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

Yes - you wire the STK 4s for true single coil function and the middle pup is RWRP for this reason

[PFDarkside]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

Correct, to get better 2/4 tones you split the dummy coil out and just combine the signal coils. The STK-S4 and STK-S4m are the same spec in terms of tone. Also, there’s a STK-S4b that’s a little hotter. You can use it as the bridge with the neck and middle STK for a calibrated set or use it in the neck to balance out the Custom or Hot in the bridge.

[ArtieToo]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

The STK-S4m is hum-cancelling by itself. They make it RWRP so that it remains hum-cancelling if you split it when used with the neck or bridge. The thing is, to my ears, it still sounds like a traditional single coil even without being split. I guess they did that for the purists.

Negative hum?

PF beat me to it. I type too slow.

[Mincer]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

Yeah, it actually sounds great if you split it or not. So if it is easier, I'd just use a normal 5 way and not worry about the splitting.

[Jack_TriPpEr]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

Yeah, it actually sounds great if you split it or not. So if it is easier, I'd just use a normal 5 way and not worry about the splitting.

The STK-S4m is hum-cancelling by itself. They make it RWRP so that it remains hum-cancelling if you split it when used with the neck or bridge. The thing is, to my ears, it still sounds like a traditional single coil even without being split. I guess they did that for the purists.

Negative hum?

PF beat me to it. I type too slow.

I also got the same advice from Eric with Dimarzio customer support last summer, that splitting their Area stacked singlecoil pickups to combine with each other in Positions 2 and 4 did not yield much of a difference.

[Mincer]

Re: Why is the STK-S4m RWRP ?

However, it makes sense if you are splitting a rw/rp pickup in conjunction with a regular single coil (I do this in my HSS wiring). That combination will be hum cancelling.