Stacked coils in series.
- Thread starter Cam74
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DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Stacked coils in series.
Aren't they in series anyway? AFAIK, the bottom coil is for hum-cancelling, not for sound, as it's too far away from the strings to pick them up. Splitting them would remove the hum-bucking effect. Splitting to the bottom coil would be like not having a pickup there.
Aren't they in series anyway? AFAIK, the bottom coil is for hum-cancelling, not for sound, as it's too far away from the strings to pick them up. Splitting them would remove the hum-bucking effect. Splitting to the bottom coil would be like not having a pickup there.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Stacked coils in series.
2 stacked singles with the top coils in series would work, but it would be no different than setting up a standard 3xS Strat so the bridge and middle were in series, assuming the middle was not RWRP.
Unless you're talking about putting 2 stacked singles in a humbucker slot. That can be done, and you'll end up with "2 singles in a humbucker slot" tone. If they're both high output, you'll get a lot of volume. If they're both low/medium output, you'll get medium/high volume, but either way retain the tonal aspects of having a single coil in the bridge (or whatever slot).
Assuming this is what you're after, you could put 2 mismatched stacked singles in the bridge slot, with the hotter one closer to the neck to get more bass/low mid punch.
A few years ago I did a similar mod to a 1990 Jackson Warrior, which had 2 slanted single coil routes at the bridge (like those Gibson Nighthawk pickups), where I put a HotRails Neck closest to the bridge and a JBJr in the next slot, and wired them in series (or at least both blacks to the same switch position). Gave that guitar a nice beefy punch-in-the-face tone that I've not gotten from another axe.
However, since those two were essentially miniaturized humbuckers, the coils that faced each other were of opposing polarity, so with stacked singles, you might want to look at the idea of one of them being RWRP.
2 stacked singles with the top coils in series would work, but it would be no different than setting up a standard 3xS Strat so the bridge and middle were in series, assuming the middle was not RWRP.
Unless you're talking about putting 2 stacked singles in a humbucker slot. That can be done, and you'll end up with "2 singles in a humbucker slot" tone. If they're both high output, you'll get a lot of volume. If they're both low/medium output, you'll get medium/high volume, but either way retain the tonal aspects of having a single coil in the bridge (or whatever slot).
Assuming this is what you're after, you could put 2 mismatched stacked singles in the bridge slot, with the hotter one closer to the neck to get more bass/low mid punch.
A few years ago I did a similar mod to a 1990 Jackson Warrior, which had 2 slanted single coil routes at the bridge (like those Gibson Nighthawk pickups), where I put a HotRails Neck closest to the bridge and a JBJr in the next slot, and wired them in series (or at least both blacks to the same switch position). Gave that guitar a nice beefy punch-in-the-face tone that I've not gotten from another axe.
However, since those two were essentially miniaturized humbuckers, the coils that faced each other were of opposing polarity, so with stacked singles, you might want to look at the idea of one of them being RWRP.
Aceman
I am your doctor of love!
Re: Stacked coils in series.
2 stacked coils in series IS a humbucker. It sounds different than side by side, or skinny side by sides, etc.
If you split a regular side by side, or stacked coils, they will no longer be "silent," however, they will still be much quieter than a regular true single coil. Malmsteen and Eric Johnson both do/did this.
Noise:
Humbucker < Split stacked/side-side < Single
2 stacked coils in series IS a humbucker. It sounds different than side by side, or skinny side by sides, etc.
If you split a regular side by side, or stacked coils, they will no longer be "silent," however, they will still be much quieter than a regular true single coil. Malmsteen and Eric Johnson both do/did this.
Noise:
Humbucker < Split stacked/side-side < Single
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Re: Stacked coils in series.
The guitar in question is an hss style. I already have the 2 single stacks in. I have already installed a series/ parallel switch for the humbucker. Just considering other possible options for switching. I have it wired B N M just now. The bridge/ neck combo is sounding great. Any other switching that may be added would be push/ pots. Thanks for the responses.
The guitar in question is an hss style. I already have the 2 single stacks in. I have already installed a series/ parallel switch for the humbucker. Just considering other possible options for switching. I have it wired B N M just now. The bridge/ neck combo is sounding great. Any other switching that may be added would be push/ pots. Thanks for the responses.
LReese
Sausage Gravy
Re: Stacked coils in series.
Depending on the stacked single you use, the extra resistance of the hum canceling coils can alter your tone - for the better or worse.
If it must be silent, make sure the top coils are RWRP from each other (SD and DMZ offer that option) and split them.
Depending on the stacked single you use, the extra resistance of the hum canceling coils can alter your tone - for the better or worse.
If it must be silent, make sure the top coils are RWRP from each other (SD and DMZ offer that option) and split them.
DrNewcenstein
He Did the Monster Mash
Re: Stacked coils in series.
I once made a humbucker out of 2 old Jackson J100 singles. Neither one was RWRP, so I popped the rods out of one and put them in upside down, then jumped contacts on the bottom of the coils. Didn't sound bad, but those were really weak pickups to begin with, so there wasn't a lot of power there. 0 x 2 = 0 and all that :lol:
I once made a humbucker out of 2 old Jackson J100 singles. Neither one was RWRP, so I popped the rods out of one and put them in upside down, then jumped contacts on the bottom of the coils. Didn't sound bad, but those were really weak pickups to begin with, so there wasn't a lot of power there. 0 x 2 = 0 and all that :lol:
