Classic Stack combinations - split vs not split

[uOpt]

Using the blind coil of a stack to compensate for hum in a true single coil works, however there is a substantial sound change because the capacitance, resistance and inductance of the blind coil is added to the single coil. Unless you put 2 preamps before combining the two.

What you really want is the two coils out of the stack sold separately, with the height reduced and the blind coil loose somewhere else.

 

[Artie]

IIRC, when these first came out, there was an article by Evan Skopp where he talked about how they used a Helmholtz coil to carefully select a resistor value that was incorporated into the circuit somehow. I believe the STK series has more going on than just a "dummy" coil.

 

[uOpt]

All you need is 3 dummy coils. Then you can put them in a network with the one real coil so that they are both parallel and in-series and the resonance peak is back where it was.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Thanks very much. It doesn't sound entirely straight forward. Noiseless is certainly a nice-to-have, rather than essential so I expect chances are if there aren't any practical workarounds to accommodate the classic stack I will just go for a traditional single coil and make do with the hum. Thanks all!

 

[Artie]

Hey Mr Wolf, I'm wondering if you might be misinterpreting what folks are saying. It's not that splitting doesn't achieve true single-coil tone. It's that they do a good job of it without splitting. You don't need to settle for hum. I have three STK's in a Strat, and if I didn't tell anyone they were noiseless, they'd never know.

They're worth a shot. And sorry if it's I that am misinterpreting what you were asking.

 

[Mr Wolf]

Hey Mr Wolf, I'm wondering if you might be misinterpreting what folks are saying. It's not that splitting doesn't achieve true single-coil tone. It's that they do a good job of it without splitting. You don't need to settle for hum. I have three STK's in a Strat, and if I didn't tell anyone they were noiseless, they'd never know.

They're worth a shot. And sorry if it's I that am misinterpreting what you were asking.

Hi Artie, thanks for that. The impression I was under was combining a true single coil with the dummy coil within the STK would result in a less desirable sound compared to a straight up STK unit in the neck. My number one choice is to have two STKs in the middle and neck, however if in the event that doesn't prove feasible then I would need to look to alternatives. Overall I hope I am jumping the gun and all proves to be straightforward!

Thanks

 

[Artie]

Ah. I see what you're saying now. And to be honest, I'm not sure if the "other" coil in an STK is accessible the way it is an a more conventional stack. The circuit board on the bottom make them a bit harder to figure out.