Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

['59]

So I've got a Pearly Gates neck and a Custom Custom bridge that I decided to test partial splits on in my RG. I noticed a bit of an issue though. Whenever I'm in the split position the pickups seem to sound darker. Is that how it's supposed to sound? Here is a sound clip:

It goes: neck full, neck split, bridge split, bridge full.



Is this how they should sound?

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

Partial splits aren't really that much brighter than full series even though you expect them to be. They're thinner, quieter, and skankier. Full series is gainy which adds some edge to the top end. When you get down closer to full split and at full split it does get a bit brighter.

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

What do you mean by partial split exactly? Like a spin a split?

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

Partial split is essentially a stuck spin-a-split. Instead of having a pot to act as a variable resistor, you just have a small resistor that cuts most of the volume on one coil.

The reason why a partial split is so much darker than you'd expect is the same reason cutting the volume makes some guitars dark. I won't get too deep into it, but replacing that resistor with a trim pot will do the same thing except let you dial it in a bit more so that you can have a good amount of bass without losing treble.

 

['59]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

Partial split is essentially a stuck spin-a-split. Instead of having a pot to act as a variable resistor, you just have a small resistor that cuts most of the volume on one coil.

The reason why a partial split is so much darker than you'd expect is the same reason cutting the volume makes some guitars dark. I won't get too deep into it, but replacing that resistor with a trim pot will do the same thing except let you dial it in a bit more so that you can have a good amount of bass without losing treble.

Can anyone else confirm this? It's not that I don't trust your opinion, it's just that I've never heard anything else like this on other forums, so I don't know if it's a obvious difference or it you just have sharp ears.

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

What’s your resistor values? I’m using 10k trimpots so I can vary mine.

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

I've had partial splits on 2 PRS guitars, and they did not sound dark when split. They sounded...pretty similar to a single coil. A little brighter than full humbucker, but not like a full split would sound. I don't know enough about wiring to guess why yours would sound dark.

 

['59]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

I'm running a 4.7k resistor for both neck and bridge. Where could a find a good 10k trim pot?

 

[BluesIsBlood12]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

For reference, PRS uses a 2.2k resistor on the bridge and 1.1k resistor on the neck. 4.7k is letting a lot more of the 2nd coil come through vs what I have in my PRS, so that could be why it's darker than you expected. Also, the Custom Custom is quite hot, from what I remember. 14k or so? If that's the case, then you probably want to do a full split on the bridge and partial on the neck. That should get you more of a single coil sound. I have my Custom Hybrid full split, and it sounds pretty good.

 

[Bowtomecha]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

Amazon and eBay will have what you want. I bought a pack from my local Frys Electronics though.

 

[Clint 55]

Re: Is There A Problem With My Partial Splits?

25k or 50k works best for a spin a split. You have to no load them.