Which coil sounds better

[Robyz]

Hello,
it's my first post so I'd like to salute everybody in this forum, I'm a recent owner of a PG neck and I'm very satisfied regarding dinamic and tone of this pup (I'm actually waiting for a Custom Custom for the bridge position).
Reading somewhere that the PG has two different coils to obtain that bright "single coil" like tone so my question is: which one sounds better (or which on do You like?b )?
Furthermore, which position i better for a strat like tone, outer or inner?
Thanx in advance
Regards
Robyz

 

[Lewguitar]

Re: Which coil sounds better

That's a good question...I don't know which coil is hotter, but I'd probably prefer the stronger of the two. Lew

 

[Lightning]

Re: Which coil sounds better

On all Gibson Burstbuckers screw coil is hotter and if you divide the total DC resistance of the PU in half you can add 500 to get the screw side or subtract 500 to get the slug side. Gibson's exception is the BBs in the Reverse Firebird reissue in which slug side is dominant and the spread is greater than 1000 ohms. Gibson says this gives the FB a more single coil sound that other BBs. If you're asking for the sake of a switch I'd choose the hot (fat) coil for sure.

 

[Robyz]

Re: Which coil sounds better

uh, thanx but which circuit I've to try to use the screw coil (the diagram suggested is for the slug) and is it possible to mantain hum cancelling on position 2 without inverting the signal?
Sorry for my messy message but I'm new to pup customizing and have a bad english too

 

[Artie]

Re: Which coil sounds better

uh, thanx but which circuit I've to try to use the screw coil (the diagram suggested is for the slug) and is it possible to mantain hum cancelling on position 2 without inverting the signal?
Sorry for my messy message but I'm new to pup customizing and have a bad english too

Your English is a lot better than my Italian, (and I was born in Calambrone, Marina de Pisa).

There are some things that are best learned by experimentation. (Trying it.)
Wire it both ways, then decide what sounds best to you.

Maybe someone else will have tried this.

 

[Fresh_Start]

Re: Which coil sounds better

Welcome Robyz -

I'll start by saying Artie is right - you've just got to experiment to find out what works for you, in your guitar, with your rig.

I've experimented with a Custom 5 humbucker in the bridge of a Strat. If the screws on the adjustable coil are flush (even) with the top of the pickup, the position of the coil in relation to the bridge makes a bigger difference than whether it is the slug or adjustable coil. (Just my experience here... )

For a bridge humbucker, it sounds more like a Strat single coil if you split to the coil closest to the bridge. But this is in a Strat and listening with my ears

Once you raise up the screws on the adjustable coil, that starts changing the tone of that coil when it's split.

I haven't worked with a 2 humbucker guitar yet, but guess that the 2 inside coils would sound more like one of the strat middle positions and the 2 outside coils would sound more twangy & like a Tele. However, you only have humcancelling if you combine a screw coil with a slug coil (unless you flip the magnet in one pickup, and you probably don't want to go there yet... ).

Hope this helps,

Chip