Parallel wiring humbucker.

[Ruben0910]

Anyone tried wiring a PAF like pickup (SD '59) parellel in a Les Paul type guitar?

Some say a parellel wired humbucker indeed sounds somewhat more single coil like. Could be nice!!!!

Here's what I found on the net:

PARALLEL WIRING
Parallel wiring connects the coils of a humbucker like two independently functioning single coils. The result is a brighter, more single-coil like tone but without losing hum-canceling. A humbucker wired in parallel has about 30% less output of the same pickup wired in series.

What if a 59 has only one lead going to the volume pot? How to wire it parallel?

 

[Robert S.]

Re: Parallel wiring humbucker.

I have wired up series/parallel switches to my humbuckers in the past with good results and the JB in my Strat is currently wired that way so I can get a brighter tone in the #4 position.

You need 4 conductor pickups to wire in parallel so if your 59 is a single conductor you need to either change the leads out for 4 conductor or get a 4 conductor 59.

 

[marvar]

Re: Parallel wiring humbucker.

IMO the hotter the pickup is, the better it will sound when wired in parallel.

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Parallel wiring humbucker.

I have two three way switches on one of my Strats - one for each humbucker.

I can choose: single, series or parallel for each humbucker.

I've always liked the split single coil tone better than parallel. Single seems stronger.

But you do get humcancelling with parallel - and that's a plus. Otherwise the tone is slightly weaker than single.

 

[GuitarDoc]

Re: Parallel wiring humbucker.

Agree with Lew, split=stronger and nicer tone than parallel. But you don't have that choice...you've got a single conductor '59. Need to have 4 cond to change from series to parallel.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Parallel wiring humbucker.

The Invader and the P-Rails sound cool in parallel. Otherwise this isn't that great, unless it is used in a package deal with more switching tricks that make the sound darker.

You always want to combine a darkening element with a brightening element.