I think I'm misunderstanding something

[AG2997]

OK
1. Is it possible to have independent control of both pickups in the middle position of a Les Paul? (neck volume controls neck pickup and bridge volume controls bridge pickup)

2. As I understand it, in the middle position 1 coil of each humbucker is operational. In single coil guitars, if you're in between 2 pickups, you can cancel the hum if they're wound in different directions. So in guitars with 2 P90's and regular Les Paul controls (2V 2T), assuming independent volume control is possible in the middle position, if I turn the neck volume all the way down, will I have a noise-free bridge pickup?

 

[jeremy]

Re: I think I'm misunderstanding something

1- yes it is possible but may require rewiring
2- on a strat for example, if the middle pup is rw/rp you can cancel hum when it is on with another pup. so if the neck and middle pups are on and one is rw/rp from the other you get humcancelling. in the middle position of a typical les paul both coils of each pup are active. it does not auto split unless it has special wiring.

if you turn the volume of the neck pup down all the way there is zero humcancelling. it only works if both pups are producing sound (and one pup is rw/rp from the other). the closer the outputs, the more humcancelling there will be.

 

[blueman335]

Re: I think I'm misunderstanding something

I wire all of my guitars for independent volume controls, so I can blend the PU's in increments in the middle toggle position. All you do is switch wires to the lugs on the volume pots. Very easy, only takes a few minutes to do.

In the middle position of the toggle, both coils of both HB's are on, unless you do something else (usually with a push-pull) to shut off one coil ('coil cut'). PU's are linked in parallel, so that when both volumes are all the way up in the middle position, the volume is a little lower (and tone is brighter) than either PU individually. When PU's are linked in series, they're louder and warmer, which is usually too muddy with HB's, but works well with P-90s and other single coils.

You can get hum-cancelling with coil cut if you wire the coil cut so that one HB has the screw coil on, and the other has the slug coil on (for Duncan's one PU has black & green for hot and ground, and the other has red & white). Artie Too (member here) came up with a 'coil swap mod' that does this with a push-pull. Neat concept. Ask him for a diagram.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: I think I'm misunderstanding something

... in the middle position, 1 coil of each humbucker is operational.

This is the trick pulled on the Ibanez and Musicman John Petrucci signature guitars. It requires a non-standard, 12 contact 4P3T on/on/on switch. http://www.dimarzio.com/sites/default/files/diagrams/JPM100.pdf