Coil splitting Pearly Gates

[SoCalSteve]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

I like the neck Pearly Gates split...get's a terrific single coil tone, IMO.

I use it with a Duncan Custom in the bridge position...that pickup sounds great split too.

Vintage output pafs in the bridge position might be a little weak split....but in the neck position they split very nicely and can have a nice full tone.

Lew

I'm very glad to hear this. I just bought a used PGn and Custom and am considering adding a mini-toggle to split them for kicks.

 

[noth]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

I have a Strat with a PGn and Duncan Custom...and a on/on/on switch for each that allows me to split, parallel or series (normal humbucker) each pickup.

The switch allows me to compare the three tones in REAL TIME.

In REAL TIME, the parallel tone is slightly weaker when I compare it to the single coil tone of either pickup.

You've got to do these comparisms is REAL TIME...we cannot remember exactly what something sounded like an hour ago or even a minute ago.

Lew

Very good points, Lew. You advised me in the past about pickups and splitting. I was planning on a PGn and JB, but after reading a lot here and speaking to SD reps, now I've decided to go with PGn and Custom bridge instead. And I will split both togther as you recommended.

Is it worth doing the series/parallel thing also while I'm at it? I don't want to go nuts with too many choices.

Thanks,
Noth

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

Very good points, Lew. You advised me in the past about pickups and splitting. I was planning on a PGn and JB, but after reading a lot here and speaking to SD reps, now I've decided to go with PGn and Custom bridge instead. And I will split both togther as you recommended.

Is it worth doing the series/parallel thing also while I'm at it? I don't want to go nuts with too many choices.

Thanks,
Noth

I'm trying to take a break from the forum...but since I check in anyway, I'll give you my opinion:

NO! Personally, I find the only advantage to the parallel wiring is that it is humbucking. But IMO, the tone is better splitting them into single coils and it's especially good if they're both split and then combined.

The PGn and Custom is my favorite set of Duncan humbuckers, and I like using
them split or in normal series humbucking mode...but the parallel mode I rarely use. Even though my guitar is set up to allow the parallel sound if I want it.

 

[ratherdashing]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

I have a Strat with a PGn and Duncan Custom...and a on/on/on switch for each that allows me to split, parallel or series (normal humbucker) each pickup.

The switch allows me to compare the three tones in REAL TIME.

In REAL TIME, the parallel tone is slightly weaker when I compare it to the single coil tone of either pickup.

You've got to do these comparisms is REAL TIME...we cannot remember exactly what something sounded like an hour ago or even a minute ago.

Lew

No, I've never done it in real time. I would say maybe 20 minutes apart (the time it takes to switch from split to parallel wiring in a Strat). To my ears, I prefer the parallel tone. Split has its place, but for me the parallel is nicer. If there is a difference in output, its not big enough for me to notice or care.

btw. that sounds like a cool wiring setup. If I did that, I would probably go series/parallel/kill, and have no selector switch.

 

[Robert Delahunt]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

I'm trying to take a break from the forum...but since I check in anyway, I'll give you my opinion:

NO! Personally, I find the only advantage to the parallel wiring is that it is humbucking. But IMO, the tone is better splitting them into single coils and it's especially good if they're both split and then combined.

The PGn and Custom is my favorite set of Duncan humbuckers, and I like using
them split or in normal series humbucking mode...but the parallel mode I rarely use. Even though my guitar is set up to allow the parallel sound if I want it.

I'll +1 to Lew. The Showmaster I played had a position on the 5-way switch where the neck ('59) was in parallel with itself. I didn't like it. I'm actually thinking about setting up this combo so that it's both-split-outer-coils instead.

 

[noth]

Re: Coil splitting Pearly Gates

I'm trying to take a break from the forum...but since I check in anyway, I'll give you my opinion:

NO! Personally, I find the only advantage to the parallel wiring is that it is humbucking. But IMO, the tone is better splitting them into single coils and it's especially good if they're both split and then combined.

The PGn and Custom is my favorite set of Duncan humbuckers, and I like using
them split or in normal series humbucking mode...but the parallel mode I rarely use. Even though my guitar is set up to allow the parallel sound if I want it.

Thanks so much. I'll stick to to a single double pole switch for splitting both together. Your contributions to the Forum is greatly appreciated by all, I'm sure.

Noth