Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

T

Tobias

New member
I don't know the actual output of any of my pick ups but here's the DCR.
Neck single coil 6.3k
Mid single coil 5.7k
Bridge Humbucker 12.4k (6.3k when split.)
I don't particularly like the sound/tone of the G&B brand humbucker when split so I'm looking for a Trembucker to replace it. But, I know the DCR doesn't really tell me the output. I' don't want a big output mix/match when split.
I'm thinking there are a few ways to go about this;
A; Use a lower DCR Trembucker, hoping the output is close, and disable the coil split.
B; Use a Trembucker with similar DCR to what I have, hoping the output is close, and keep the coil split fuction.
C; Use a proven HSS set and replace all 3. But, the current/original neck and middle pick ups (unknown brand) sound really good for what I use this guitar for. So it seems wasteful to replace them.
I use the bridge PU for classic rock stuff. The other 2 are used for blues soloes and finger picking/strumming type stuff while I sing. I'm hoping to be able to switch from my neck and middle pick ups while singing to some soloes and crunch rhythms on the bridge without an uncontrollable volume change.
Got any suggestions?
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

You will always have some mismatch tonally with the HSS setup. You need to decide how much you want, and whether you want to keep certain tones (like the existing humbucker ballpark drive level) and the strat singlecoil tonality.

Moving either of the 2 will result in a 'better' output balance, but of course you then have to deal with finding your tone in that position again.
If you choose the humbucker as the change, then a PAF strength model would suit. Fender have used a Pearly Gates variant in the HSS Lonestar Strat
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

You could go lower output in the humbucker to get full series to balance better and use a spin a split or partial split to get a fuller split tone.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

I use a PG+ in conjunction with a pair of MIM singles in one of my strats. I have it set up with a standard, Oak Grigsby 5 way switch and a trio of 250k pots. I have master volume, neck tone and bridge tone (the middle has no tone control). As far as switching, I have: Neck, neck/mid, mid/split bridge, and full bridge humbucker. Despite the Fender MIM's being wound pretty hot and dark for single coils, they blend well with the PG+ and I get only a moderate output boost when I go from the single coil selections to the full bridge humbucker.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

Lower the humbucker a little, and maybe swap the middle and neck single coils around.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

Toejam said:
Lower the humbucker a little, and maybe swap the middle and neck single coils around.
Click to expand...

My middle pick up is RwRp. So , as far as I know swapping them wouldn't work out. I do have the humbucker about 2mm lower than the two singles. This somewhat minimizes the volume difference. I also have a Compressor set tp limit the humbucker output a little. It's all a compromise but I deal with it. I think the main issue is that I don't like the humbucker split tone. That's why I'm looking for a replacement. I don't know all that much about pickup wiring yet. Maybe there's a different way to split it. It currently splits it by sending one side to ground.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

That's the standard way of splitting a humbucker. What don't you like about the split tone?
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

Benjy_26 said:
That's the standard way of splitting a humbucker. What don't you like about the split tone?
Click to expand...

It sounds too thin, light, not bright and clear how I would expect. Not even close to a good single coil bridge tone of a strat or tele. It's not so noticeable when mixed with any of the other 2 pick up or when all 3 are on. Just on it's own it's got nothing appealing to it. Making it, by itself, useless. And, I'm thinking, if it did have a good tone when split then it might even improve the overall tone when in combo with the others. The other thinking I have is to kill the auto split function. Any time the 5 way is not in bridge position only it automatically splits the humbucker. So, any combo with the other 2 pickups is a split humbucker. I can't figure out how to by-pass the auto split. I think it might happen inside the 5 way switch Yamaha put in this thing.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

No split tone from a standard type humbucker is ever like a singlecoil. So that part is not something you'll accomplish.
And it will only get worse (thin and anaemic) if you make the bridge pickup more vintage strength.

Split tones don't necessarily make a notch position worse.......its hard to know without having a direct comparison to make of course. But parallel combos are not necessarily linear in their 'quality'....such that 2 stellar pickups by themselves can yield a terrible combination, and the reverse is true too.

How do you make the bridge pickup split by itself....is there a mini toggle for that operation??
To do anything but split you will need to take the pickup wires away from the main switch as well as additional toggles. If you can't see how the switch is autosplitting then it might be tough for you to be able to rewire the setup to do spin a split, or any other method that gives you a 'stronger than 50%' split tone.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

AlexR said:
No split tone from a standard type humbucker is ever like a singlecoil. So that part is not something you'll accomplish.
And it will only get worse (thin and anaemic) if you make the bridge pickup more vintage strength.

Split tones don't necessarily make a notch position worse.......its hard to know without having a direct comparison to make of course. But parallel combos are not necessarily linear in their 'quality'....such that 2 stellar pickups by themselves can yield a terrible combination, and the reverse is true too.

How do you make the bridge pickup split by itself....is there a mini toggle for that operation??
To do anything but split you will need to take the pickup wires away from the main switch as well as additional toggles. If you can't see how the switch is autosplitting then it might be tough for you to be able to rewire the setup to do spin a split, or any other method that gives you a 'stronger than 50%' split tone.
Click to expand...

I can accept that a split HB won't sound true single. But, I have and have had humbuckers that sound great when split. But this is my first strat style, 3 pick up guitar. I've always (40 years) played guitars with 2 humbuckers. The way it manually splits is by grounding the white wire when pulling up on the switch. It has a red, a white and the shield to ground. Then the white that jumps over to the pull switch to ground the neck side of the humbucker when pulling up the switch. That's intended for when you only want a the bridge to be a split/single without the middle. I've removed the white wire going to the pull switch but it still automatically splits any time the 5 way switch is not in the last position. I guess that's position 5. So, somehow it must be built into the switch, I guess. I've moved the white wire to other locations on the 5 way but it I can't get it to NOT split the humbucker when not in position 5.
Pas212-3.JPG
The green and yellow wires were added by me to get the bridge side of the humbucker in any position. I'm hoping to get the full humbucker in any position.
It;s a Pacifica PAC212VQM, Supposedly the same pick ups and wiring as PAC112. It's actually a really nice guitar for a very small amount of money. That split humbucker tone is really the only think I don't appreciate. So, I don't use it but would/might if it sounded good.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

The 59/Custom Hybrid sounds great split, and when split blends well with other pickups. Other than the Stag Mag, there isn't a split pickup that sounds like a single. But the Hybrid is better than most.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

There is a white wire going to the 5-way switch.....the same lug you desoldered the independent pushpull switch from. Thats the wire from your pickup that does the splitting. Solder that to the pushpull and you only have that operation that splits the pickup.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

I've always liked a screamin demon in an HSS setup, but I don't usually split them. I currently have a custom custom with a pair of APS1 singles and 500k pots. The split sounds great and balanced, the full humbucker is obviously hotter, but gives me more flexibility.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

I'd get rid of the super switch and use a normal strat switch and a push/pull pot to split. That'll tell you what sounds those pickups can produce and will give you a better starting point.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

I concur, the Demon is very good in anything Stratlike. Hybrid is also an excellent choice for this situation.
 
Re: Matching Trembucker output with 2 single coils.

AlexR said:
There is a white wire going to the 5-way switch.....the same lug you desoldered the independent pushpull switch from. Thats the wire from your pickup that does the splitting. Solder that to the pushpull and you only have that operation that splits the pickup.
Click to expand...

Now that makes sense. I don't know why I didn't think of it. I'm going to give it a try in few weeks. I have a newly added Thursday night gig starting this week and have some rigorous rehearsals the next few weeks. Then I have a Sunday gig starting the first week of April and a comedy/music show I'm working on that debut's Sunday night Memorial Day weekend. This guitar is, hopefully, going to be set up for the comedy gig where I need the versatility. Oh yeah, and a day job I almost forgot about. Well, at least I'm trying to forget about it. Thanks for all the great ideas. I'll report back after I get the tinkering done.
 
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