Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

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I feel like this would be a pretty easy thing to accomplish, but wasn’t sure exactly what to search for, but here is the idea.

Create a bridge pickup (p90/tele/etc...) that has middle to high output, for reference sake, let’s just say 14k (i know, i know, i know, it’s not an accurate measure of output), and is tapped at 8k. The 8k would be the traditional single coil sound, and the additional part of the coil could be added for a solo boost or gain boost, respectively.

Are there any pitfalls that I’m not aware of with this, or is this already a common idea.

Thanks!

 

[jeremy]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

you get more output but also a darker tone. i have an esquire with a tapped 6.5k/9.5k a2 pup and its great. there is a noticeable output boost with the full output vs tapped with low amounts of gain. if you are using a lot of gain you wont get much if any volume boost but youll get a tonal change

 

[Golem]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

I think that’s pretty normal and exactly what a coil tap is for. It won’t be exactly like a boost it’s literally going to be a hotter pickup at full strength. I usually prefer just using a boost or overdrive pedal as you’ll have more control.


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[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

Dave Schecter did this back in the day. His Strat pickups were tapped for a vintage and hotter tone.


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[Benjy_26]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

I do variations of this on two different guitars. One is an alder bodied, maple necked MIJ Fernandez Tele. In that one, I use a STL-2 with a SM-1b at the neck, a 3 way tele switch and a push pull to switch between tapped and full output. As has been said before, this yields a thicker tone with more output when full.

In a Washburn Mercury, I have a Dimebucker and a pair of Carvkn AP11's wired up in standard strat format (only one tone, though). This guitar has a poplar body with a sycamore top and a floating wilkinson vs100 bridge. I use a push/pull to split the Dime. The twist I incorporated is that I set the Dime to be split as a default setting. So, when using the 5-way, you get the normal, SSS strat sounds. When you pull up on the tone pot, it takes the Dime to full series mode, which is substantially louder, but, since the Dime is so tight and bright as a humbucker, the tone between split and full is very, very similar, aside from the boost in output and compression.

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

If you want the same tone, but just louder (as mentioned, the hotter tap would be darker), do it by another means, like a Pickup Booster pedal.

 

[NegativeEase]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

If you want the same tone, but just louder (as mentioned, the hotter tap would be darker), do it by another means, like a Pickup Booster pedal.

Another option is a variable output with a boost/cut/phase switch on an Active pickup setup.

What you are asking about TS, is pretty much standard on most of the old Bartolini Beast guitar pickup configs -either by the switch with preset to the variable pot or rolling the pot dynamically.

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

Lol I totally forgot about EMG's PA-2 boost. That thing is VICIOUS when you turn it all the way up.

 

[Golem]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

This is basically the concept behind the Fishman Fluence pickups. Taking winds out of the coil.


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[Toejam]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

They already offer a tapped version of the Quarter Pound which sounds similar to a P-90 to begin with.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

There are tapped versions of all SD hot strat pickups available.

I have QP with a tap. The extra wire around used coil windings with tap makes it slightly darker and punchier than you'd expect. Reminds me of low output tele sound.

 

[\m/(00)\m/]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

There are tapped versions of all SD hot strat pickups available.

I have QP with a tap. The extra wire around used coil windings with tap makes it slightly darker and punchier than you'd expect. Reminds me of low output tele sound.

That’s great! About what is the output level when tapped? Is it equal enough to work with a set like the A2 pro in neck and middle?


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[Jacew]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

That’s great! About what is the output level when tapped? Is it equal enough to work with a set like the A2 pro in neck and middle?


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It's tapped halfway, around 7k DCR. Hard to say about the real output level, since it's lower gauge wire than your usual ~7k strat pickup. Don't know about A2, but it's less than SSL-1 middle. They do play nicely together anyway.

I play a lot with SSL-5 middle and tapped bridge QP in parallel. SSL-5 has more output, but they blend very well thanks to much different eq response. Better that way than QP full.

 

[Aceman]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

I want to do this with a P-90

 

[Mincer]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

Thing is, with a tapped sound, it isn't the same sound, but just quieter. It is really a very different (and very cool) new sound. If you just want a boost of the same exact sound, you'll have to go active or use a pedal.

 

[Jacew]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

Thing is, with a tapped sound, it isn't the same sound, but just quieter. It is really a very different (and very cool) new sound. If you just want a boost of the same exact sound, you'll have to go active or use a pedal.

Indeed. It's not really alternative for boost any more than hotter pickup is. Practically gives an extra pickup.

 

[DavidRavenMoon]

Re: Tapping a hot single coil as boost?

Thing is, with a tapped sound, it isn't the same sound, but just quieter. It is really a very different (and very cool) new sound. If you just want a boost of the same exact sound, you'll have to go active or use a pedal.

I would think that’s what you want. Like hotter bridge pickups are generally darker sounding. That’s good for leads but not so good for a chimney rhythm part.


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