Lowering the output of the P coil of a PRail in series humbucker mode?

B

billlorentzen

New member
I love the P coil of a PRail in the neck position, however the series humbucker sound is too dark to be useful for me. I’m wondering about using a pot (or some other component) on the P coil only in the series mode so I can use maybe 2/3 of it. Any ideas?
 
It wouldn't be difficult, but it might be awkward. You'd probably need to do trial and error of different resistor combinations to find the right values for a simple L-pad. Then, you'd need to wire it in so that it would only be active on the P-90 coil, and only in series. You might be better off to just not use that mode, and just use parallel.

Edit: As I think more about it, I doubt that would provide the desired affect either. I don't think you need less output per se, but less bass from the P-90. Maybe a cap in the series link might help. Maybe.
 
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The cap seems like the best option here. But I don't know if that would be an improvement over the excellent parallel sound. If you decide to experiment with it, come back here and let us know what you found.
 
Your [very obvious] answer to your issue is within your first sentence. You love the pickup split to the P90 coil, and don't like the pickup in series.

That doesn't sound like a "problem" to me. It just sounds like you have an opinion on what you like most and least about the pickup. So...use the P90 coil, and don't use the coils in series. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to make use of it.

With my P-Rails, I use a pair of the lowest output models, in both the neck and bridge positions. I have the neck one set to switch between P90 or rail. I have the bridge one set to switch between P90 and series. I use them as P90s as the "normal" setting. Therefore switches I have operate as a thickness cut for the neck pickup, and a thickness boost for the bridge pickup. Series with the neck pickup is useless to me as well, so I didn't even provide for it in my wiring scheme. I also don't like the parallel orientation on either pickup, therefore I don't have it wired in as an option either. I still love the pickups. I use what I like on them, and ignore what I don't like. The P90 coil alone is the best sounding P90 tone in humbucker form that I've ever used, and that alone makes the P-Rails worth buying. Anything else they provide beyond an excellent P90 tone is just icing on the cake.
 
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billlorentzen said:
I love the P coil of a PRail in the neck position, however the series humbucker sound is too dark to be useful for me. I’m wondering about using a pot (or some other component) on the P coil only in the series mode so I can use maybe 2/3 of it. Any ideas?
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if parallel is too weak sounding, you could wire the whole series pickup in parallel with the high inductance coil of a mini audio transformer, itself in series with a trimpot. Try the trimpot @ 15k and 24k first then adjust to taste.

A Bill Lawrence Q filter for BASS (3 Henry) might do the job but I generally use higher inductance than this for what you want to do. If you find a Mouser transo measuring more than 6H on one coil, it might fulfil your needs.

If you decide to use a series capacitor, just think to wire any tone pot before it (pickup> tone pot> series cap).

Good luck in your quest... :-)
 
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ItsaBass said:
So...use the P90 coil, and don't use the coils in series. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to make use of it.
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This is actually good advice. The P-Rail scheme I'm working on right now doesn't include the "series" option.

(It would have been done already, but I had a little medical issue. But it's alright now.)
 
You can use a spin a split. I started making guitars where I put 2 single coils in series with each other, then use a spin a split, and finally a phase switch so I can select either pickup and use the spin a split to roll the other pickup in in series. It sounds really good, particularly just bringing in the other pup a little because it adds just the right amount of punch and some cluck while not making things too fat.
 
ArtieToo said:
It wouldn't be difficult, but it might be awkward. You'd probably need to do trial and error of different resistor combinations to find the right values for a simple L-pad. Then, you'd need to wire it in so that it would only be active on the P-90 coil, and only in series. You might be better off to just not use that mode, and just use parallel.

Edit: As I think more about it, I doubt that would provide the desired affect either. I don't think you need less output per se, but less bass from the P-90. Maybe a cap in the series link might help. Maybe.
Click to expand...

That’s a very interesting idea. Any suggestions as to cap value?
 
ItsaBass said:
Your [very obvious] answer to your issue is within your first sentence. You love the pickup split to the P90 coil, and don't like the pickup in series.

That doesn't sound like a "problem" to me. It just sounds like you have an opinion on what you like most and least about the pickup. So...use the P90 coil, and don't use the coils in series. Just because it's there doesn't mean you have to make use of it.

With my P-Rails, I use a pair of the lowest output models, in both the neck and bridge positions. I have the neck one set to switch between P90 or rail. I have the bridge one set to switch between P90 and series. I use them as P90s as the "normal" setting. Therefore switches I have operate as a thickness cut for the neck pickup, and a thickness boost for the bridge pickup. Series with the neck pickup is useless to me as well, so I didn't even provide for it in my wiring scheme. I also don't like the parallel orientation on either pickup, therefore I don't have it wired in as an option either. I still love the pickups. I use what I like on them, and ignore what I don't like. The P90 coil alone is the best sounding P90 tone in humbucker form that I've ever used, and that alone makes the P-Rails worth buying. Anything else they provide beyond an excellent P90 tone is just icing on the cake.
Click to expand...

I understand and largely agree with your first point. I don’t use the series mode often and can and do live without it, but I keep wanting to make it work somehow!
 
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