Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

[Knot a Hippie]

Hi again.
A while ago I was reading about tapped single coil pickups, ie being able to activate part of the coil to go from a lower output to a higher output at the flick of a switch. I read that this can't be done with both coils of a humbucker unless you use 2 switches.

My question is, would it be possible to use 3 switches to do this? 2 switches inside the cavity set permanently in whatever position, which would only become active when the 3rd switch on the outside of the guitar is activated?

How about a small PCB? Could a PCB be designed to do this job when a single switch on the outside of the guitar is activated?

 

[Little Pigbacon]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

Couldn’t you just use a DPDT switch?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

Most humbuckers aren't built to tap. You'd need a 5 conductor humbucker at the minimum to do it.

 

[Knot a Hippie]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

Couldn’t you just use a DPDT switch?

Apparently not.

Most humbuckers aren't built to tap. You'd need a 5 conductor humbucker at the minimum to do it.

I'm talking about tapping, not splitting. Not turning off one coil to get a single coil sound, but switching on or off part of the winding on both coils to go from vintage to hot. No humbuckers are built to be tapped. (Not trying to get in the tap/split terminology debate but I'm specificlly talking about tapping so that needs to be clear.)



It would have to be a specially made pickup with an extra lead on each coil, I know that much.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

I'm talking about tapping, not splitting. Not turning off one coil to get a single coil sound, but switching on or off part of the winding on both coils to go from vintage to hot. No humbuckers are built to be tapped. (Not trying to get in the tap/split terminology debate but I'm specificlly talking about tapping so that needs to be clear.)

That's what I'm talking about. It's fairly easy to wire a tappable humbucker up, I've done it before. You only need the one switch to do it though, and it's exactly the same as tapping a single coil. You won't need to worry about hiding any of them in the always on position. It is also possible to make a pickup tappable and splittable without any difficulty.

 

[Knot a Hippie]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

That's what I'm talking about. It's fairly easy to wire a tappable humbucker up, I've done it before. You only need the one switch to do it though, and it's exactly the same as tapping a single coil. You won't need to worry about hiding any of them in the always on position. It is also possible to make a pickup tappable and splittable without any difficulty.

Thank you. That certainly simplifies things.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

As said a dpdt switch
And a humbucker with a tap winding coming out

You can snatch a strand out and make a loop for the tap
But you'll have an 80% chance of wreaking the pickup

 

[AlexR]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

^ That percentage should be 99.9

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

^ That percentage should be 99.9

I don't know him

 

[vinnie vincent]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

buy the malmsteen strat

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

Thanks Vinnie. U da man-male-unicorn-emperor of the doom of tone.

 

[hamerfan]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

Thank you. That certainly simplifies things.

Indeed you certainly need a special made tapped humbucker. This is very special custom job. Best bet would be a small boutique winder, who is on that special subject.
Look into zhangbucker pickups or sentell pickups imo.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Hidden switches to TAP (not split) a humbucker. Is this possible?

It is a custom job, you need a humbucker with one of the coils tapped. It's not something you can retroactively modify a humbucker for -- unless you rewind one of the coils with a tap in it.