Inactive Coil(s)

[Davii]

If you're only planning to use one coil of a humbucker, should the inactive one be grounded out as if you have a split setup, or does it not make a blind bit o' difference?

In moving pups around, I have a P-Rail en route that I don't have any switching options for, so plan to just have the P90s active, and wondering whether I can just ignore the rail coil altogether etc. I spotted a post a little while back about how the inactive coil will have an effect of sorts on the active one, but I can't remember what that was.

 

[jeremy]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

it cant hurt to ground the rail coil, not sure how much difference itll make if it isnt connected at all though

 

[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

I think my brain is saying ground the inactive coil, so that any noise it might pick up (no pun intended) goes straight to ground, but whether that noise, or other such thing could actually influence the active coil...?

 

[vinnie1971]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Use a 4.7k resistor to ground the inactive coil - that way a tiny amount of signal of the grounded coil remains in signal to get a better single coil tube instead of a thin coil split tone.


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[ICTGoober]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Why buy the P-Rail if you're only going to use half of it?

 

[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Use a 4.7k resistor to ground the inactive coil - that way a tiny amount of signal of the grounded coil remains in signal to get a better single coil tube instead of a thin coil split tone.


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Wouldn't the P90 coil be hot enough anyway?

 

[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Why buy the P-Rail if you're only going to use half of it?

Because I don't have a P90 routed guitar, or any switching options for it at the moment

 

[jeremy]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

you dont need to add anything to the p90 coil. it sounds fine all on its own. i have a prs se with a set of prails that i basically only use as p90's and it sounds great. i wanted p90s but the guitar had bucker routs and i had prails laying around so bam... p90 loaded guitar

 

[thanaton]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

If you're only planning to use one coil of a humbucker, should the inactive one be grounded out as if you have a split setup, or does it not make a blind bit o' difference?

In moving pups around, I have a P-Rail en route that I don't have any switching options for, so plan to just have the P90s active, and wondering whether I can just ignore the rail coil altogether etc. I spotted a post a little while back about how the inactive coil will have an effect of sorts on the active one, but I can't remember what that was.

It's better to have the inactive coil disconnected, not grounded. The reason is because, if the coil has continuity, it can carry a current and inductively couple with the active coil. If the coil is open, that won't happen.

 

[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Thanks for the suggestions, I'll start of with the rail coil just taped off, and go from there

 

[vinnie1971]

Inactive Coil(s)

I think for P Rails the triple shot is best - single, p90, humbucker series, both coils in parallel- 4 tones I one [emoji1360]

Seems crazy to have p Rails and not take full advantage, they cost too much for that!

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[Jacew]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

I think for P Rails the triple shot is best - single, p90, humbucker series, both coils in parallel- 4 tones I one

Seems crazy to have p Rails and not take full advantage, they cost too much for that!

I agree with Vinnie. Even if you don't really ever use the possibility, Triple Shots switches are that unnoticeable and out-of-the-way there really isn't a reason not to do it.

 

[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

I think for P Rails the triple shot is best - single, p90, humbucker series, both coils in parallel- 4 tones I one [emoji1360]

Seems crazy to have p Rails and not take full advantage, they cost too much for that!

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I agree with Vinnie. Even if you don't really ever use the possibility, Triple Shots switches are that unnoticeable and out-of-the-way there really isn't a reason not to do it.

Triple Shots are horribly expensive, otherwise I would've gone that route

 

[vinnie1971]

Inactive Coil(s)

Triple Shots are horribly expensive, otherwise I would've gone that route

You can still use a combination of push pull 2P3T switch for series parallel though. They don't cost much at all

Or if you don't need series parallel then a 2P3T will suffice for single coil, humbucker and P90 ( with humbucker in the middle position

Otherwise you'd be better off just getting any humbucker form P90 / P94 and save the expense of P Rails.




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[Davii]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

You can still use a combination of push pull 2P3T switch for series parallel though. They don't cost much at all

Or if you don't need series parallel then a 2P3T will suffice for single coil, humbucker and P90 ( with humbucker in the middle position

Otherwise you'd be better off just getting any humbucker form P90 / P94 and save the expense of P Rails.




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I may still end up with Triple Shots, and push-pulls, but having recently paid out for a load of bits recently, it's something that can wait.

I did consider humbucker sized P90s, but opted to go with something that is, rather than something that's trying to be etc. The P-Rail cost me £80 shipped, so there was no additional expense relative to anything else

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Send the coil wires to ground. That's how the pickup was designed. Don't leave it open. Send green, red, and white to ground, and black to hot.

If your guitar has a tone pot that you don't use, you could convert that to a spin-a-split and bleed off the rail coil. That wouldn't cost you anything.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

^This is a good idea. It might even be better than dedicated split switches.

 

[thanaton]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Send the coil wires to ground. That's how the pickup was designed. Don't leave it open. Send green, red, and white to ground, and black to hot.

What technical drawback is there to leaving it open? A P-90 doesn't typically have a second coil beside it, leaching away flux.

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Because I'm the P-Rails' dad, and I said so.

 

[darthphineas]

Re: Inactive Coil(s)

Because I'm the P-Rails' dad, and I said so.