"Jacking" the minor coil of a stack SC to use w another coil

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I recently acquired an HSS guitar, and I am considering putting some stack singlecoils in the Neck and Middle positions, and a P-Rail (neck version) in the Bridge position. On top of that, I would like Position 1 to be just the P90 coil ... but with some hum-canceling. I know that I *could* leverage the Rail coil to do a Spin-A-Split arrangement with the P90, but I believe using the minor coil of the middle Stack SC in series w the P90 would theoretically be easier (no additional pot needed nor fiddling w setting of that pot's position) plus the minor coil seems to be ideally suited fo the task ... its only role is to be just powerful enough to kill 60 cycle hum.

I might even make an option to do the same thing with the Rail coil, i.e. Rail coil in series w the minor coil of the Middle Position stacked SC. In addition to providing a 60 cycle hum solution, this might also add some beef to the reputedly under-powered Rail coil?

I know that I will have to take magnetic and wind directions into consideratiin when combining the two coils, but I am ok with flipping the mags and wiring the PRail in reverse in order to achieve hum-canceling with the minor coil.

So, has anyone else tried this pairing of a single Prial coil with a stacked SCs minor coil In Series to achieve hum-canceling? Was it effective at handling hum? Did the Prail coil maintain its characteristic tone personality?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

There’s no reason why it wouldn’t work. I’d probably wire it in parallel, but try it both always and see what sounds best.


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[Mincer]

I have to say, that is one cool idea.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

I have to say, that is one cool idea.

Thanks!

if it works, it could be useful as an option for other types of pups as well.... like using that minor coil with a *non*-noiseless SC. But that's probably crazy talk, lol

 

[Artie]

That is a very cool idea. But new and unique. You almost have to try it and see if it pans out.

 

[frankfalbo]

It presents the same benefits and drawbacks as any dummy coil. Its not to ally transparent. It will load the sensing coil, and inject some audio. But yes it will work.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

It presents the same benefits and drawbacks as any dummy coil. Its not to ally transparent. It will load the sensing coil, and inject some audio. But yes it will work.

Not totally transparent? Meaning it changes the "personality" of the main coil its being paired with?

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Not totally transparent? Meaning it changes the "personality" of the main coil its being paired with?

You can’t passively sum two coils without it affecting the sound of the string sensing coil.


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[freefrog]

Not totally transparent? Meaning it changes the "personality" of the main coil its being paired with?

+ 1 about what David said. A dummy typically rises the overall inductance and lowers the resonant frequency accordingly. It also tends to drag down the output level and to introduce a "secondary" resonant peak.

IME.

FWIW.

I've never tried what you explain but I've made my share of experiments with dummy coils, small and large air coils and so on. Feel free to PM me: I'll be glad to share my humble thoughts if time permits.

And happy new year to all of you - with a special mention for Frank and David, for their way to share their experience online as pickups makers.

 

[Jack_TriPpEr]

That is a very cool idea. But new and unique. You almost have to try it and see if it pans out.

Artie,

So I am working up a diagram to try this out on a SSS strat where 1 of the 3 singlecoils is not a stack.

... AND I wanted to employ the techniques you recently shared in another thread about using 2 poles of a switch to ensure when splitting and combiningg 2 different coils, any unused of the 4 wires were routed to ground or shunted to hot to prevent potential introduction of RFI noise due to a "hanging" wire.

Well, even though I am using a 4 pole pup selector switch, I would need a 5th pole in that 5 way switch in order to do it in the way you described *plus* the occasional series connection between non-noiseless singlecoil and jacked minor coil, *plus* still be able to do traditional Positions 2 thru 4 in a Strat.

I did some thinking and came up with a variation of that noise-prevention technique that - if it works -would give me that benefit and work with my "measly" 4 pole switch, lol. Could you review my idea below and tell me if it would work?

EDIT: The first attachment is your diagram with those noise prevention wiring methods (just for quick reference), and the 2nd attachment is a pencil and paper sketch of my idea for dealing w the hanging black wire in a scenario where the black wire is affiliated with the main coil of stack singlecoil (using Duncan wiring color codes here), and that main coil will be unused, while that pup's minor coil is being used in series with a separate traditional (non-stack) singlecoil.