Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

[bobquinlan]

Hi,
First time posting.

I have just bought a beginner electric guitar after playing acoustic for 30 years. (an Epiphone Les Paul Special II for $85 from GC)
(Please differ from disparaging the guitar or recommending I get something better;
its what I have and I want to learn on it and learn modding on it, thanks!)

So, it has a tone knob and volume knob and 3 way switch, of course.

I would like the option of a single coil on the neck humbucker for a more pure sound for leads, so am looking to do coil tapping.
I was thinking of picking up a Seymour Duncan Alnico II Pro Bridge Humbucker - (Neck), as I like the sound from this video demonstration. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vn_h4VfeTJM).

Any advice on what else to buy from to make it work as far as switches and considering the possible desire or need to coil split.
I am also reviewing this article series here, but thought I'd ask.
http://www.musicradar.com/us/totalg...splitting-a-humbucking-pickup-part-one-251842

Thanks for the help!
all the best~
BQ

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

You'll need either a DPDT toggle switch or a DPDT push/pull pot (as in this diagram),

http://www.seymourduncan.com/support/wiring-diagrams/schematics.php?schematic=2h_1v_1t_3w_1pp

This diagram splits both pups, but you may choose to only split the neck pup if you like. Or you can have two p/p pots to split the two pups independently.

This is "coil splitting" NOT "coil TAPPING". And can only be done if your pups have four leads. If they only have only one conductor with ground, you cannot do a coil split.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

Welcome to the forum.

Since you profess to wish to learn about guitar electronics and modifications, I suggest that you begin by working on the stock pickups. Carefully disassemble the neck/rhythm humbucker so that the coil bobbins lift away from the metal baseplate. Make a drawing of what is connected where. Next, disconnect the coil end wires from the stock output cable. Replace with four conductor + shield output cable. Reassemble the pickup. Begin experimenting with the wiring possibilities.

For clear but hum-cancelling sounds from the neck/rhythm pickup, I recommend parallel interconnection of its coils. This may prove more effective than coil splitting.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

This is "coil splitting" ... and can only be done if your pups have four leads. If they only have only one conductor with ground, you cannot do a coil split.

Not strictly true. A minor alteration to the pickup would enable coil splitting. This involves opening up the pickup and adding a discreet insulated conductor to the series link between the two coils. With the pickup reassembled, the new conductor can be connected to a mode switch, thereby enabling coil splitting.

This is how some PRS humbuckers combine traditional single con + shield cable with coil splitting capability. Some people insist that the older cable type influences the tone.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

Not strictly true. A minor alteration to the pickup would enable coil splitting. This involves opening up the pickup and adding a discreet insulated conductor to the series link between the two coils. With the pickup reassembled, the new conductor can be connected to a mode switch, thereby enabling coil splitting.

Exactly.

But, actually, what I said was absolutely true...you cannot do a coil split on a pup with a single conductor.

However, I know that it is true and a fairly easy mod to convert a single cond. pup to a three or four cond. pup to allow splitting, but I was trying to keep it as simple as possible for the OP since he sounds to have very little expertise in this area based upon the articles that he referenced.

At this point it may be beyond the ability of the OP. (That's not to say he can't learn, however). I hope he will eventually want to learn all about guitar and pup wiring.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Advice on Les Paul Special II Upgrade to Coil Tapping

bobquinlan,

This explains the difference between splitting and tapping;

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yQj7_UfDqOA