Split Coil Question -

[gtr player]

Hey there - saw on the wiring diagrams that split coils for 2 hum, 2 vol., 1 tone is achieved by making tone the push/pull pot.
I'd like to control the split coil for each pickup, though, rather than have them split at the same time (which I assume is what would happen with the tone push/pull).
So would I just replace both vol pots with push/pull pots and wire accordingly?
Thanks!
(it's an Ibanez ARX320 by the way)

 

[MikeS]

Re: Split Coil Question -

The push/pull works independently of the pot, so it doesn't make a bit of difference which pot(s) the push/pull splits are on. Conventional wisdom would be to put the bridge split on the bridge volume and neck split on the neck volume.

 

[gtr player]

Re: Split Coil Question -

Thanks, I got some push/pulls from Stewmac and am going to try to get it done this weekend.
That's what I thought...just wanted to double-check this.
Thanks!

 

[blueman335]

Re: Split Coil Question -

There should be wiring diagrams on this to help you. I also prefer to split the coils separately to get more tone options that way. With a one volume/one tone guitar, I'll use two push-pulls: one a volume for the bridge, the other a volume for the neck, & do away with the tone pot. That way I can still split each PU separately. To get 8 PU combinations with two pots is pretty good.

When splitting coils, it's best to wire the bridge HB so that the slug coil is on during coil split, as it's a little louder & less tinny-sounding than the screw coil.

Along with this, you may want to wire for independent volume control too, so that one PU's volume control doesn't turn both PU's down. All you have to do is switch the lugs on the pot where the hot wires are for the PU & tone pot, with the wire for the 3-way toggle (the toggle wire gets moved from the middle lug to the side lug). The ground wire stays on the same lug.

 

[gtr player]

Re: Split Coil Question -

Thanks! That really helps.
Yeah, I do want to control vol of each pup, so thanks for the additional info

 

[blueman335]

Re: Split Coil Question -

Thanks! That really helps.
Yeah, I do want to control vol of each pup, so thanks for the additional info

You can do some nice blending of PU's that way, with any combination of HB & single coil. Plus you can set the neck volume lower for rhythm, louder for the bridge for solos, and you have a nice blend when both are on together (combination of treble with some of the neck's warmth and depth). Your volumes are set in advance, so you just flip the toggle to instantly go from chords to solos.