Series/Parallel strat and Effects

[Guitar Toad]

Do you agree with the following statement?

... changing from parallel to series pickup wiring may make a huge difference when you are plugged straight into a tube amp but very little difference when you are running through a stomp box first.

 

[Gamera]

Re: Series/Parallel strat and Effects

Disagree.

The new Fender's have an S-1 switching system that offers both series and parallel combinations. Stompbox, no stompbox, tube amp, solid state amp, whatever...the differences can be pretty dramatic.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Series/Parallel strat and Effects

It's not my statement. I have been considering the series/parallel switching mod. I ran across this statment this morning and it threw a wrench into my plans. Arg! :yell:

Is this one of those purist, perspective statements?
Why would a site that specializes in guitar wiring mods make this statement?

 

[Artie]

Re: Series/Parallel strat and Effects

I think it would depend on the stompbox. If I'm running some chorus or reverb, the guitar sound is still there. If I run much distortion, the guitar/pickup character tends to be masked.

A couple of times, I've turned the fuzz on strong and flipped through a 5-way, and couldn't hear a difference between any position.

 

[Guitar Toad]

Re: Series/Parallel strat and Effects

I think it would depend on the stompbox. If I'm running some chorus or reverb, the guitar sound is still there. If I run much distortion, the guitar/pickup character tends to be masked.

A couple of times, I've turned the fuzz on strong and flipped through a 5-way, and couldn't hear a difference between any position.

Thanks ArtieToo.

Distortion ain't exactly a transparent signal tweak, eh? :burnout:

 

[Artie]

Re: Series/Parallel strat and Effects

Distortion ain't exactly a transparent signal tweak, eh? :burnout:

I've always wondered about that, when someone asks how a pickup will sound under heavy distortion. It doesn't seem to me that it would make much difference. Thats why I like to pick pups for their "clean" sound.

Anything will do distortion. Maybe.