Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

[Madcat]

Hello everyone,

I'm planning to wire a strat with an HSH configuration for coil tapping with a JB, STK-S4m, and Jazz (neck). I know that many users often prefer the inside slug coil for tapping the bridge pickup, but which coil do you prefer for the neck pickup to achieve a more traditional/classic strat sound? The outside coil (screws) would be in the traditional single coil pickup position, but I've read that the outside coil may be a bit weaker in output and that some users prefer the inside coil.

Do any of you (assuming the magnets are in alignment for the wiring) find there is a difference in the combined neck and middle position for the classic strat "quack" depending on which split coil of the humbucker you use?




Before the discussion gets started, if we could avoid the "a humbucker will never sound exactly like a true single coil" conversation in this thread, it would be greatly appreciated. I'm just looking for information on which coil might sound closer based on each user's personal experience. I will be using the pickups mentioned above because that is my preference, but I'm interested everyone's opinion regardless of the pickups you have used.


Thank you all very much for any input. I really appreciate your time and personal insight.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

I don't think either of them will sound any closer than the other, as they both share the same construction differences from a real single.
Typically the slug coil might sound a bit more beefy, but its position will pick up fractionally more treble content than the screw coil.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Uh huh. I've triple shotted a jazz neck before and the difference between each coil on its own is subtle, but it's there.

 

[JB_From_Hell]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Either one will sound fine until you compare it to a guitar with single coil pickups. When you're debating which coil to use for a split tone, you're beyond the point of diminishing returns.

For the record, I have absolutely no objection to analyzing things WELL past said point. Just realize that you're talking about some really, really subtle stuff.

 

[gregory]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Touch harmonic at the 5th fret is not so subtle.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

I would say use a 4k7 resistor and partial cut the slug coil with the screw coil full.

 

[gregory]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

JB/SSL-1/Stag Mag

Split the JB to the inner slug coil, Stag Mag to the outer coil. Someone should be able to tel you whether you need an RW/RP middle to go with the Sag Mag outer, otherwise you may have to rotate the Stag Mag 180 degrees. Flipping a magnet in the JB and reversing green and black wires is no big deal to make the whole thing work, if necessary.

DiMarzio Blues Bucker is another option.

...assuming you want better single coil performance than a split Jazz (blech).

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Outside.

The one under the second octave or where a 24th fret would be if the guitar had been made with 24 frets.

That's where the neck single coil would be on a Strat.

 

[zionstrat]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Agree with Lew... the difference in coils (assuming they are wound the same) has less impact than the position.

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[Blille]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

+1, outside, same reason.


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[Mincer]

Re: Do you prefer the inside or outside coil when splitting a neck humbucker?

Welcome to the forum!

I assume you mean splitting? Tapping is something else altogether.
I use both...and if I can only choose one, I use the one closest to the neck. But I also love the sound of 2 humbuckers split to both the outside coils or the inside coils, too. But by itself, I always like the neck side coil of a neck humbucker.