It mentions on the STL-2 page that the pickup can be coil tapped. However, I was previously under the impression that only humbuckers could be coil tapped. How does this work with a single coil pickup? It mentions that the output is lowered while tapped, but I don't understand how this works considering that the output is determined by the number of coil windings, and a swtich can't simply unwind the pickup.
Coil tapping a hot single coil pickup, like the STL-2?
- Thread starter qbertsoul
- Start date
Artie
Peaveyologist
Re: Coil tapping a hot single coil pickup, like the STL-2?
Halfway through the wind process, they pause and add a coil tap, then continue with the rest of the wind:
The pup literally has three wires. My SSL-6's, SSL-3, and my QP's are all coil-tapped. Great for switching back and forth between "beef" and vintage.
You can also select either half of the coil, (using an on-off-on switch). It makes a subtle difference:
And then there's the cute "spin-a-phase" trick:
Turn the knob to blend from full (vintage) output, down to zero, and back up to out-of-phase.
Tapping offers quite a few interesting options.
Halfway through the wind process, they pause and add a coil tap, then continue with the rest of the wind:
The pup literally has three wires. My SSL-6's, SSL-3, and my QP's are all coil-tapped. Great for switching back and forth between "beef" and vintage.
You can also select either half of the coil, (using an on-off-on switch). It makes a subtle difference:
And then there's the cute "spin-a-phase" trick:
Turn the knob to blend from full (vintage) output, down to zero, and back up to out-of-phase.
Tapping offers quite a few interesting options.
guitarist43147
New member
Re: Coil tapping a hot single coil pickup, like the STL-2?
Ok, I'm fairly a rookie at this but I want to make sure that I understand: a coil tap takes a regular pup and, effectively, "taps" into it halfway to produce a particular sound. A split is using only one side (coil) of a humbucker... do I have this essentially correct?
Ok, I'm fairly a rookie at this but I want to make sure that I understand: a coil tap takes a regular pup and, effectively, "taps" into it halfway to produce a particular sound. A split is using only one side (coil) of a humbucker... do I have this essentially correct?
Re: Coil tapping a hot single coil pickup, like the STL-2?
Thanks for the help! These are a lot of interesting options.
Now here's my big question: how does the sound of a tapped STL-2 compare to the sound of the '54 vintage Tele pickups or the Broadcaster pickup? I'm curious because if the tapped option sounds just as good, then it seems completely pointless to get the vintage pickup when you can get the 2 in 1 option with the tapped high output pickup.
Thanks for the help! These are a lot of interesting options.
Now here's my big question: how does the sound of a tapped STL-2 compare to the sound of the '54 vintage Tele pickups or the Broadcaster pickup? I'm curious because if the tapped option sounds just as good, then it seems completely pointless to get the vintage pickup when you can get the 2 in 1 option with the tapped high output pickup.
Benjy_26
25's Nemesis
Re: Coil tapping a hot single coil pickup, like the STL-2?
The STL-2 is almost there. I have one in an ash 50's style tele and it rips in full mode and is pretty vintage sounding in tapped mode. I feel that, since it has no base plate, you do give up some of the growl and spittyness that the '54 and Broadcaster lead get.
Bottom line: if high output punch is importnt to you and you'd like vintage style twang as a cool bonus, get the STL-2 tapped. If vintage tone is paramount, but you need some more kick for solos and heavier styles, get a vintage style single and some kind of booster pedal.
The STL-2 is almost there. I have one in an ash 50's style tele and it rips in full mode and is pretty vintage sounding in tapped mode. I feel that, since it has no base plate, you do give up some of the growl and spittyness that the '54 and Broadcaster lead get.
Bottom line: if high output punch is importnt to you and you'd like vintage style twang as a cool bonus, get the STL-2 tapped. If vintage tone is paramount, but you need some more kick for solos and heavier styles, get a vintage style single and some kind of booster pedal.
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