Split vs Parallel vs Partial Split

Benjy_26

Benjy_26

25's Nemesis
Hello all.

I was wondering if anyone knows which of the three wiring options listed has the most output when done to side-by-side, full sized, PAF style humbuckers.

I really, *really* like the Pearly Gates and Pearly Gates Plus pickups I have in a few HSH and HSS guitars when used in full humbucking mode, but I would like a little more output when using the bridge position by itself in single coil mode.

I'll probably get a few 7k resistors to try the Fralin partial split in my Nighthawk eventually, but I just wanted to bounce ideas off of you guys.

Thanks!
 
With PAF output humbuckers, definitely go with partial split. Start with a 2.2K resistor and go from there. I did this with the Screamin Demons in one of my Strats and the improvement in output is nice. I did it with the WLH neck as well with great results.
 
Thanks for the info, guys. I listed a 7k resistor because that's what Fralin is marketing as their partial split resistor, but I like the idea of using different values for different output levels.
 
All depends on the output you want. I went with 2.2k because it got the output where I wanted it. About equal to that of a 6-6.5k single-coil instead of 4K for the WLH neck or 5k for the Demon. I started a thread about partial splits earlier this year.
 
ErikH said:
All depends on the output you want. I went with 2.2k because it got the output where I wanted it. About equal to that of a 6-6.5k single-coil instead of 4K for the WLH neck or 5k for the Demon. I started a thread about partial splits earlier this year.
Click to expand...

Nice! I'll look it up!
 
skelt101 said:
PRS uses 1.1K for the neck position, and 2.2K for the bridge. They usually get high praise for their split coil sounds.
Click to expand...

Nice. Thanks for the info!

Hopefully that'll give me a stronger bridge only split tone that'll still blend well with a real single in the middle.
 
Interesting that nobody talked about parallel.. my favorite alternative setting for PGs.

We do a lot of partial splits but usually wire them as spin a splits because things sound different with different rooms, older strings etc..

In your case, the partial coil certainly can make sense and a lot of times I'll find that value using a split trim pot and then replacing the equivalent value resistor. Or just close the variable potentiometer up inside in case you want to mess with it down the road.
But going back to parallel, I got a lesson from Artietoo a while back that helped me understand that they can be extremely loud for their resistance. Of course they're totally humbucking as well, but I find them a milder, cleaner, more complex alternative to the full humbucker but I don't think you're looking for that tone so enough said.
 
zionstrat said:
Interesting that nobody talked about parallel.. my favorite alternative setting for PGs.

We do a lot of partial splits but usually wire them as spin a splits because things sound different with different rooms, older strings etc..

In your case, the partial coil certainly can make sense and a lot of times I'll find that value using a split trim pot and then replacing the equivalent value resistor. Or just close the variable potentiometer up inside in case you want to mess with it down the road.
But going back to parallel, I got a lesson from Artietoo a while back that helped me understand that they can be extremely loud for their resistance. Of course they're totally humbucking as well, but I find them a milder, cleaner, more complex alternative to the full humbucker but I don't think you're looking for that tone so enough said.
Click to expand...

I'm looking for single-coily tones. If parallel can get me there while having more output than a single, 4.2k coil can, I'm about it. I'll try it as soon as I can get to the guts of my guitar.
 
Parallel wiring by nature has lower output than split and even a thinner sound than a traditional single-coil. Some pickups I like in parallel but they are also higher output than a PG. The DiMarzio Super Distortion is fantastic in parallel.
 
Mincer said:
Only high output pickups sound good in parallel (to me)...otherwise the sound is way too thin.
Click to expand...

This was my way of thinking for quite some time.. and then a customer forced me to parallel his mini humbucker..

In parallel, it was under 2 ohms and I expected it to be anemic at best.

Instead, it was clear and had that somewhat complex sound that comes with parallel and it was surprisingly loud.

Another poster on sug explained what is going on.. with parallel you do lose resistance.. but you also consolidate the resonance peak for lack of better terms.

As a result, parallel to self has a lot more power than impedance would suggest.

We have paralleled pgs to self many times and had great results... But we've also done a lot of spin a splits and a lot of this is a individual's preference thingy.
 
zionstrat said:
This was my way of thinking for quite some time.. and then a customer forced me to parallel his mini humbucker..

In parallel, it was under 2 ohms and I expected it to be anemic at best.

Instead, it was clear and had that somewhat complex sound that comes with parallel and it was surprisingly loud.

Another poster on sug explained what is going on.. with parallel you do lose resistance.. but you also consolidate the resonance peak for lack of better terms.

As a result, parallel to self has a lot more power than impedance would suggest.

We have paralleled pgs to self many times and had great results... But we've also done a lot of spin a splits and a lot of this is a individual's preference thingy.
Click to expand...

Yeah, a less resistive LRC filter meets less... resistance to express its resonant peak: if two coils have the same inductance but different resistances, the less resistive will be louder. That's one of the effects behind DiMarzio "Dual-Resonance".

Now, parallel wiring divides the inductance of a HB approximatively by four comparatively to series wiring. Very low inductance implies a very high pitched resonance, way beyond any fundamental note produced by a guitar and/or frequencies reproduced by guitar cabs. Hence what Mincer said: high output HB's having a higher inductance to start with, they are not too high pitched in parallel and can appear as more efficient in this case.

All that being said: it's still possible to drag down a really high pitched resonance with just a small value capacitor between hot and ground.

FWIW (= 2 cents shared just for the pleasure to share). :-)
 
zionstrat said:
This was my way of thinking for quite some time.. and then a customer forced me to parallel his mini humbucker..

In parallel, it was under 2 ohms and I expected it to be anemic at best.

Instead, it was clear and had that somewhat complex sound that comes with parallel and it was surprisingly loud.

Another poster on sug explained what is going on.. with parallel you do lose resistance.. but you also consolidate the resonance peak for lack of better terms.

As a result, parallel to self has a lot more power than impedance would suggest.

We have paralleled pgs to self many times and had great results... But we've also done a lot of spin a splits and a lot of this is a individual's preference thingy.
Click to expand...

To be fair, I've never tried a mini hum in parallel, but now I a curious.
 
Spin-a-split is my go-to for neck HB's, I can adjust the amount of the second coil on the fly and get exactly what I want.

For me, mini-HB's are pretty bright at full strength, and I have no need to raise the resonant peak by putting them in parallel.
 
Last edited:
Mincer said:
Only high output pickups sound good in parallel (to me)...otherwise the sound is way too thin.
Click to expand...

This, totally.

I like a higher output, warmer sound neck pickup in series that can parallel down to a brighter, lower output version.

The air norton and breed neck are good examples. Warm, fat, and powerful in series and brighter in parallel for cleans.

its like clicking of your boost to get cleans, but using the guitar switch instead.

I always parallel single humbuckers, but split them to singles when i combine them.
 
Synapsys said:
On the FSn in parallel, does it get a more single coil-like feel and tone?
Click to expand...

Yes, however parallel has a slightly different tone of its own. I think it's probably the discrepancies between any two coils being combined but I'm not sure.. you need one of the gurus to confirm.

So yes, more single coil or more like a filtertron than a humbucker... none of these are really good analogies but there is a perceived shift toward brightness and reduced mushiness.

One of my favorite tricks is to parallel a medium or low output pickup in the bridge to get a faux tele or Stratish tone and put the series on a push pull to go from thinner and brighter to thicker and fatter. From Beatles to Limelight with a single push.

I've only done one guitar with a spin a split and parallel option... they really are different.The spin a split retains more of the original timbre, especially when you don't roll too much of the second coil off. The parallel was more complex, thinner, brighter with less volume but an entirely usable option.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top