I have a strat with a hum single single configuration. I wanna swap out the bridge pickup for somthing I like better. The single coils are around 7.2 or 7.5 for output. If I put in a new humbucker in the bridge should I put in somthing around 14 output so when I split the humbucker with one of the single coils both the outputs would match? If I split the humbucker is the output of the humbucker then reduced by 1/2 at that point or is it less or more then half when split?
spliting pickups from hum to single
- Thread starter philthis
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Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
That sounds about right. I just tried splitting a '59 in the neck, and while it sounded pretty cool, the output was way too low to be something I would ever use and so I switched the push-pull pot I had in there out for a regular one. With a higher output humbucker, you'll probably get an split output more in line with your single coils.
That sounds about right. I just tried splitting a '59 in the neck, and while it sounded pretty cool, the output was way too low to be something I would ever use and so I switched the push-pull pot I had in there out for a regular one. With a higher output humbucker, you'll probably get an split output more in line with your single coils.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
No, it doesn't work that way. The 14 K humbucker doesn't have that many more winds, it has thinner wire. There is no point in trying to "match" resistance.
And resistance is not "output".
No, it doesn't work that way. The 14 K humbucker doesn't have that many more winds, it has thinner wire. There is no point in trying to "match" resistance.
And resistance is not "output".
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
wonder then what formula to use in spliting humbuckers what the output would be. I dont want the new one to over power the singles when split in that quack position between bridge hum and middle single at the same time I too have split a 59 and it was weak and wimpy sounding and I swaped it for somthing else but I had 2 hums in that guitar so it kinda matched out anyway. singles are always a challenge when spliting with humbuckers. It still will lose some output when split. wonder if I should go then with somthing around a 11 output and maybe that would match up better. somthing like a pearly gates with an A5 mag wound alittle hotter for the bridge like on some of the other strats. I liked the way it sounded but splitting it with singles I dont know if it would match up.
wonder then what formula to use in spliting humbuckers what the output would be. I dont want the new one to over power the singles when split in that quack position between bridge hum and middle single at the same time I too have split a 59 and it was weak and wimpy sounding and I swaped it for somthing else but I had 2 hums in that guitar so it kinda matched out anyway. singles are always a challenge when spliting with humbuckers. It still will lose some output when split. wonder if I should go then with somthing around a 11 output and maybe that would match up better. somthing like a pearly gates with an A5 mag wound alittle hotter for the bridge like on some of the other strats. I liked the way it sounded but splitting it with singles I dont know if it would match up.
uOpt
Something Cool
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
But there is no such formula for output for humbuckers before you split them either.
But there is no such formula for output for humbuckers before you split them either.
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
I've had the same experience with splitting a 59 (very thin and low powered compared to the singles), but it's not so much the resistence or output of the 59 than makes it seem so weak, it's the tone. With the A5 mag and split it is THIN not weak. I put an A2 in and not only does it sound more full and rich in humbucker mode, but when split it now holds its own woth other singles or even hummers.
I've had the same experience with splitting a 59 (very thin and low powered compared to the singles), but it's not so much the resistence or output of the 59 than makes it seem so weak, it's the tone. With the A5 mag and split it is THIN not weak. I put an A2 in and not only does it sound more full and rich in humbucker mode, but when split it now holds its own woth other singles or even hummers.
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
here are some popular pickups i have experience splitting.
jazz neck (A5, A2): weak and thin sounding when split, but ok in parallel
59 neck (A5, A2, A4): even weaker when split.. simply not enough bite.
bustbucker 3 neck: splits VERY well. it's just hot enough to split well without being too hot for a neck pickup. i get much more strat-like tones from this pup than i did from the 59 or jazz.
custom bridge (A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 C) and full shred bridge (A8 A5 C): these pickups behave in a very similar manner. they both split very well, being between 14k-14.5k.
here are some popular pickups i have experience splitting.
jazz neck (A5, A2): weak and thin sounding when split, but ok in parallel
59 neck (A5, A2, A4): even weaker when split.. simply not enough bite.
bustbucker 3 neck: splits VERY well. it's just hot enough to split well without being too hot for a neck pickup. i get much more strat-like tones from this pup than i did from the 59 or jazz.
custom bridge (A2 A3 A4 A5 A8 C) and full shred bridge (A8 A5 C): these pickups behave in a very similar manner. they both split very well, being between 14k-14.5k.
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Lewguitar
New member
Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
The stronger the output of the bridge humbucker the better it'll sound split.
The DC resistance will give you some idea.
Pickups with a 14K - 16K DC Resistance tend to be higher output pickups: Custom, Custom 5, JB, etc.
Of the bridge humbuckers with high output that have good tone when split, I like the Duncan Custom best. I also like the JB but only with 250K pots, because 250K pots tame some of the aggressive treble of the JB.
Bridge pickups with a DC Resistance of 8K or less tend to sound weak when split into single coils.
Neck pickups with a DC Resistance of 8K or under tend to sound stronger when split into single coils because the string itself moves a lot more over the neck pickup and induces a stronger signal even though an 8K humbucker is only 4K when split into one coil.
In dual humbucker guitars with 500K pots, I've had great luck with a PGn and a Duncan Custom, and the split tones sounded pretty good to me. I felt that the split tones were best when the two split pickups were combined in the middle setting of the selector switch.
But this thread is about S/S/HB guitars. Most have 250K pots and the JB sounds better with 250K pots than it does with 500K pots...so how about trying the 16.6K JB? You'll have a 8.3K single coil when the JB is split.
The stronger the output of the bridge humbucker the better it'll sound split.
The DC resistance will give you some idea.
Pickups with a 14K - 16K DC Resistance tend to be higher output pickups: Custom, Custom 5, JB, etc.
Of the bridge humbuckers with high output that have good tone when split, I like the Duncan Custom best. I also like the JB but only with 250K pots, because 250K pots tame some of the aggressive treble of the JB.
Bridge pickups with a DC Resistance of 8K or less tend to sound weak when split into single coils.
Neck pickups with a DC Resistance of 8K or under tend to sound stronger when split into single coils because the string itself moves a lot more over the neck pickup and induces a stronger signal even though an 8K humbucker is only 4K when split into one coil.
In dual humbucker guitars with 500K pots, I've had great luck with a PGn and a Duncan Custom, and the split tones sounded pretty good to me. I felt that the split tones were best when the two split pickups were combined in the middle setting of the selector switch.
But this thread is about S/S/HB guitars. Most have 250K pots and the JB sounds better with 250K pots than it does with 500K pots...so how about trying the 16.6K JB? You'll have a 8.3K single coil when the JB is split.
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Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
Zhangbucker pickups has a unique idea, for splitting a humbucker. One of the coils is actually tapped so when you split you get one full coil plus the tapped coil.
So you can specify 5.5K, 6.2K or whatever. It's the Splat option. I haven't heard it yet but it sounds promising.
Zhangbucker pickups has a unique idea, for splitting a humbucker. One of the coils is actually tapped so when you split you get one full coil plus the tapped coil.
So you can specify 5.5K, 6.2K or whatever. It's the Splat option. I haven't heard it yet but it sounds promising.
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Re: spliting pickups from hum to single
thnx you guys for the heads up and the info. I am going to try a stronger bridge pickup. I have split a pearly gates in the neck humbucker and it sounded better then the 59. My favorite pickup split so far has been the Full Shred Neck pickup. its res peak is around 8 and it sounded realy good when split. It was bright like a single and spanky. The bridge Full Shred I didnt like. It was just too dark for what I like to play on a strat. I have had great luck with with Duncan bridge pickups for the most part as far as tone. I am going to try somthing hoter around the 14 resistance range as was sugested by you guys and see how that works. I will post the results when I do it. For now I have to decide which one to try. Thnx to everyone for input and advice.
thnx you guys for the heads up and the info. I am going to try a stronger bridge pickup. I have split a pearly gates in the neck humbucker and it sounded better then the 59. My favorite pickup split so far has been the Full Shred Neck pickup. its res peak is around 8 and it sounded realy good when split. It was bright like a single and spanky. The bridge Full Shred I didnt like. It was just too dark for what I like to play on a strat. I have had great luck with with Duncan bridge pickups for the most part as far as tone. I am going to try somthing hoter around the 14 resistance range as was sugested by you guys and see how that works. I will post the results when I do it. For now I have to decide which one to try. Thnx to everyone for input and advice.
