Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

[kgovero]

Does anyone know the way to split a vintage rhythm stack (STK-t1n) so that the TOP COIL (the one closest to the strings) will be the one that is on? The SD schematics show the switches shunt to ground but that doesn't say what coil is active.

Would I shunt to ground or hot?

Kyle

 

[axiseffects]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Kyle, I don't think I can help you with your question, but I was wondering how you like your Vintage Rhythm Stack in your Tele. I'm thinking about getting one to replace the Quarter Pound rhythm in my Tele so I'll have a humbucking pickup in the neck to match the Little '59 in the bridge.

How's the treble response? A lot of Tele neck pickups are characteristically dark/muddy sounding. Does the Vintage Rhythm stack have that problem too?

Thanks for your help!
Phillip

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Does anyone know the way to split a vintage rhythm stack (STK-t1n) so that the TOP COIL (the one closest to the strings) will be the one that is on? The SD schematics show the switches shunt to ground but that doesn't say what coil is active.

Would I shunt to ground or hot?

Kyle

Wellcome to the forum!!

Kgovero, I do believe the coil that remains on it is the top one. As far as I know the stack pickups work ussing a top coil that pick the strings motion and noise AND a bottom coil that it is located far from the strings so it only pick noise. This noise it is cancelled with the one picked from the top coil. If you split the stack coil leaving the BOTTOM coil you will only hear noise.

 

[kgovero]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Phillip,

I really like the Rhythm Stack in the neck. I have Little 59' in the bridge and I really like the matchup. As far as the treble response, I'd say it's well balanced. It's kinda subjective of course. Sometimes I like to flip the "brightness" switch on my amp's clean channel for that extra "sparkle." The amp I play through is a (tube) Traynor YCV20 (wine red version).

Mongrollo,
Thanks for the info. I may just put in a on/on switch and do like you say and switch a wire if I have it wrong. But I also may try an on/off/on switch and wire it both ways and have the option of noise if I want it. LOL! probably never use it though. We'll see I guess.

 

[BS123]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Hey guys,

I asked this same question about two days ago here. I received an e-mail from Scott Miller, technical lead for Duncan, and this is what he told me -

From Scott Miller - In split mode, you are essentially getting the same tone as the straight stack tone---except without the hum-canceling. Split ends up being a bit more single coil like than the straight stack mode, but not radically different (this makes sense because the stack is designed to sound like a single coil PU when wired in series---so it is not the same type of difference as you would get from splitting a side-by-side humbucker).


I hope that helps...

 

[kgovero]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Great info BS123!

I'm still a little curious though how it would sound with the other switching combos. I'm getting ready to go for a 5-tone-tele mod that gives me:

1 - neck
2 - neck + bridge in series
3 - neck + bridge in parallel (reg tele sound)
4 - neck + bridge in series, out of phase
5 - bridge

hmmm, i don't know. I think I'll take it one step at a time and just finish the switching mod and then if I feel like experimenting with the split, I can with just a couple wires here and there. I'll try to remember to post in this thread if I discover anything interesting.

 

[mongrollo]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Yes, great info!!!

Your experiment with the split mode seems to be very interesting. May be It won't be usefull, but you are going to learn something for sure!!

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

I'e been told that when splitting stacked single coil sized humbuckers the split sound will sometimes be a little stronger...don't know if it's true of the Duncan design but it's true of the Dimarzio stacked design Eric Johnson uses as his bridge pickup. He uses it split. Lew

 

[Jester700]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

I'e been told that when splitting stacked single coil sized humbuckers the split sound will sometimes be a little stronger...don't know if it's true of the Duncan design but it's true of the Dimarzio stacked design Eric Johnson uses as his bridge pickup. He uses it split. Lew

That's an HS2, IIRC - and I can attest to that effect. The newer versions may be different this way, but I don't think so - the top will always be the primary coil, and the lower the inductance of the dummy coil, the less effect it'll have on the single coil tone (and the less it'll add to the signal).

 

[BS123]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

I'e been told that when splitting stacked single coil sized humbuckers the split sound will sometimes be a little stronger...don't know if it's true of the Duncan design but it's true of the Dimarzio stacked design Eric Johnson uses as his bridge pickup. He uses it split. Lew

I have heard the same thing about the DiMarzios...

 

[kgovero]

Re: Split a Vintage Rhythm Stack ...

Ok, I split them and it sounds great! The Stacked Duncans must have the same reaction to splitting as the Dimarzio's.

The volume does increase slightly and I seem to be getting more highs back and a little more bass too - and a little hum of course (not really that much since I shielded the guitar! I love it.

FYI, I shunted to ground. I tried shunting to HOT but it was really low in volume. I did this before I soldered, I just put one string on the guitar and took the red and white wires and clipped them to Hot and then ground while I was plucking the string. I liked the sound so I installed a mini-toggle (on/on) switch. Very cool.

-k