Parallel Humbucker question?

[flimz]

Hi,
I recently re-wired up my LP with the neck humbucker in parallel. It sounds as expected...slight drop in output, slightly brighter and that's fine.
My question is...there is virtually NO audible difference between the neck and middle position. Is that normal? I've tried it with a couple different bridge pickup combinations...low and high output bridge pickups. Doesn't seem to change. Any advice? Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

with a significantly weaker neck tone, its not surprising that the bridge contributes more to the mixed setting. is the neck pup on a switch for series/parallel or hard wired parallel?

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

with a significantly weaker neck tone, its not surprising that the bridge contributes more to the mixed setting. is the neck pup on a switch for series/parallel or hard wired parallel?

Its hard wired parallel. Ive messed with neck pickup height, and Ive also tried it with a low output bridge pickup. Still barely any tonal difference when going from neck to middle position.

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

If you gotta have the chirp (and I, for one, do), then hard-wired parallel has to go in favor of series/parallel switch. Either that or wire the bridge in parallel too.

 

[Silence Kid]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

Did you confirm the neck is in the circuit in the middle position (by rolling back bridge volume all the way, or screwdriver test?

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

If you gotta have the chirp (and I, for one, do), then hard-wired parallel has to go in favor of series/parallel switch. Either that or wire the bridge in parallel too.

I like the tone of the neck pickup in parallel. I would have to add a push/pull pot though, because I do like the chirp in the middle position.

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

Did you confirm the neck is in the circuit in the middle position (by rolling back bridge volume all the way, or screwdriver test?

Yes I checked and the neck is in the circuit. I just didn't expect the middle position to be indescernible from the neck position.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

How are the mids? It might just be that the neck has so little mids that the bridge is overpowering it even though they have the same perceived volume.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

One thing about both n & m in your guitar are they are both parallel combinations. So the usual change expected of getting the chirp in one and not another selection is way lessened.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

Bear in mind that in parallel the neck is going to have far lower impedance, probably one quarter of what it was in series. That will affect the balance in middle position if your bridge pickup is still in series.

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

Thanks everyone! So, the tones I'm getting (or not getting) in the middle position are normal in this configuration. I will live with it for a while before deciding to change back, or add a push/pull pot.

 

[eclecticsynergy]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

You can improve the balance by wiring a resistor in series with the neck pickup. This lowers the resonant frequency so you may notice the tone is a little bit darker, but I think it might be worth trying. Middle position on a Les Paul is so flexible- it would be a shame to handicap it.

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

Well, after living with it for about a week I've rewired it back to series. Its a Jazz neck pickup and it sounds pretty awesome. Got my sweet middle position tones back. Very happy.
I currently have a 59 custom/hybrid in the bridge which I like, but I just ordered a Whole Lotta bridge. The hybrid was a little too hot in comparison with the Jazz.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

A Jazz neck in parallel would be very weak...no wonder why your bridge pickup overpowered it. In my experience, higher output humbuckers work better in parallel. The Jazz doesn't sound bad split to me, though.

 

[flimz]

Re: Parallel Humbucker question?

A Jazz neck in parallel would be very weak...no wonder why your bridge pickup overpowered it. In my experience, higher output humbuckers work better in parallel. The Jazz doesn't sound bad split to me, though.

Yes I had considered that. I also tried it with a low output bridge humbucker, but it didn't yield much difference. The Jazz has the tonal profile I was looking for, and it sounds great in series. So it worked out anyway!
I hope I dig the Whole Lotta bridge.