STK-S4: three different versions?

[Rich_S]

Browsing fleabay, I see three different versions of the STK-S4: bridge, middle, and neck. REALLY? I know some Strat pickups have a slighlty different wind for the bridge position, but I don't recall ever seeing a model with different middle/neck versions.

What's the difference between the STK-S4m and STK-S4n? (Or is this seller just out to lunch?) How interchangable are the m and n versions?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: STK-S4: three different versions?

They are indeed all three calibrated, but the biggest difference is the middle is RWRP. So if you split to the top coil, as some stack players like to do, you'll still cancel hum in the in-between positions. One poplular way to run these is to auto split in the 2 and 4 positions for the top coils only. Then you're noise free on all 5 positions, but with slightly more quack in 2 and 4. Many people can't even hear the difference when the CS Plus is split, because the bottom coil is so transparent, but there are always those who can...

 

[Rich_S]

Re: STK-S4: three different versions?

Ooh, man... deep down info straight from da man hizzelf. I hadn't though about the split mode - I was just thinking that RWRP would be pointless with pickups that were already hum-cancelling. Silly me.

I might consider the auto-split for the 2 and 4; the in-between quack sounds aren't quite there on this guitar.

Now for the nitty-gritty: this is a Nashville Tele. I have an STK-T3b in the bridge. To match everything up right and get all that humcancelling goodness, do I need the STK-S4m and STK-S4n in their normally-intended positions?