Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

[Artie]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

Hey Artie -

I've got a variable tap on a QP (dial-a-tap), but I lose high end as I gradually increase the tap. It gets darker, with less output.

Is this what I should expect or something unusual?

BTW there's a steel plate under the QP, if that makes any difference.

Chip

Hey Chip; It took me a couple of reads of this for it to "click" in my head what you were saying. As you dial the tap out, the signal should get darker and higher output. Not less. In other words, the pup, in its "hotter" output mode, should be have less treble. It sounds to me like you're getting an opposite affect.

Can you describe how you have your dial-a-tap wired?

Artie

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

That's interesting you mention that.

I tried the Spin-A-Split mod on a tapped QP I used to have. Technically it worked, the output sounded like 7k vs. 14k when spun all the way down to pure tap mode -- but it didn't sound anything like the tap did when used with a regular switch. It sounded kind of...well, gooey, almost slightly overdriven. Needless to say, I went back to the plain old tap switch.

I guess this mod only works with splitting humbuckers, not tapped single coils, though I have no idea why.

 

[octavedoctor]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

I would imagine that a big value pot wired as a potential divider would do this..

I always liked the ST2-t and i wound an old telecaster pickup as a hybrid (60µ wire for the inner "vintage" coil, 50µ wire for the outer hot coil.

Interestingly, when the inner coil is switched in and the outer coil is out of the loop, it still has an effect because of inductive coupling.

Go figure...

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

I also don't understand why tapped strat single coils aren't the standard.

For example: I love the surfer set (with the custom surfer bridge). BUT the ~6.50K middle and ~10.00K bridge did not give me enough highs for the bridge/middle position. Just be warned that many here love it, and I am somebody who seems to like highs a lot. So don't take this critic of mine too serious. OK? :smokin: Anyways, I could't get that Brownie's "I looked away" bridge/middle tone. SO I swapped the middle with a %3 underwound (5.80K) fralin vintage hot. Now its great!

BUT my ideal choice would be to have a bridge strat pickup which would sound exactly as that surfer bridge of mine when at 10.00K, but when tapped would sound like a 6.00K (#42 AWG wire, a5) strat single coil. Because then I would have those vintage bridge/middle tones most accurately.

Peace.

B

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

Hey, I'm with you, Doc. Remember these first pickups I made were tapped singles for the very reason you give, though I like mid 7's better for a tap on the bridge than 6.0.

 

[dr.barlo]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

Hey, I'm with you, Doc. Remember these first pickups I made were tapped singles for the very reason you give, though I like mid 7's better for a tap on the bridge than 6.0.

I have a strong feeling that quite soon a lot of folks (including me) will be trying that tapped strat bridge of yours, if you were to continue with this pace and willingness. And that idea of yours (continuing a AWG42 wind with #43 wire after tapping) is excellent especially not to lose the highs (which might be lost due to high resistance figures) when the pickup is on full mode! Very cool bro very cool!

B

 

[the guy who invented fire]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

I have a Duncan Custom Shop set with a tapped bridge pup in my number one Strat...the neck and middle read 6.2 while the bridges measures in at 6.4/8.7. I LOVE IT! Killer set...I can get all the typical "vintage" strat tones but I can also get a beefier bridge tone that's great for playing crunchy chord parts and singing leads. It really is a great idea! I also have another Custom Shop set in my Tele, it also has a tapped bridge pup...it's simply killer!

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Tapped Single-Coil Pickups

I have a strong feeling that quite soon a lot of folks (including me) will be trying that tapped strat bridge of yours, if you were to continue with this pace and willingness. And that idea of yours (continuing a AWG42 wind with #43 wire after tapping) is excellent especially not to lose the highs (which might be lost due to high resistance figures) when the pickup is on full mode! Very cool bro very cool!

B

Doc, thanks for the kind words. But to be precise, the two I've made so far were not switched over to #43 at the tap but before that, about 5.5k on one and 5.7k on the other. I spliced in the #43 there and THEN would it up to the tap level, tapped it, and finished it off. But you're right, the point was to add as much beef while retaining as much top end as possible. I've already got some ideas for refining this mix to get a lower total DC resistance to keep a little more top while adding some beef. One idea may involve some #44 wire...

So far I've only got two takers on rewinds, none on pickups made from scratch. Although for what it's worth, I've got some Alnico 4 rod magnets from Allstar on order (no more Stew Mac magnets!!!) if somebody wants something a little different.