Coil split vs the PRS method?

Corvus

I'm was going to add coil split to some humbuckers but came across this PRS method, which seems to keep a degree of hum cancelling. What's it like though, is it a convincing-ish single coily sound? Same difference? It looks a good idea but I've never played a PRS. The only local one I know of is an SE which doesn't seem to have the push/pull (though could be wrong on that).

Diagram here -
http://prsguitars.com/csc/schematics/2012/mc58_2012.pdf

Ta.

ICBM

It doesn't keep any significant amount of hum-cancelling, but it does change the tone just enough to take away the thinness that a split humbucker can have compared to a true single coil.

It's possibly worth experimenting with different resistor values or using a pair of small trimmers if your pickups aren't identical to the stock PRS ones, the exact value is quite critical.

steamabacus

I'd echo ICBM's comments above. I used this method very successfully to thicken the tone of the split on my Lag Jet. I experimented with a few resistor values in and around what PRS use and ended up using a slightly different value - details here.

richardhomer

A standard split humbucker doesn't really sound much like a good single coil.

It has more brightness and clarity but usually lacks body. The is also a significant drop in output.

The PRS method - which is in truth not 'their' method (by which I mean they didn't invent it) - only partially removes the output of the second coil.

It will probably depend on the actually pick-up and guitar as to which is better.

My McCarty is wired in this way and the split sounds are very good.

p90fool

I've used values from 150k all the way down to 47k on a Gibson 498T.

You wouldn't think 47k would sound much different to no resistor at all, but it does. It adds a little Tele fatness to the remaining coil without dulling things too much.

With an unknown pickup I usually start at 100k.

Adam_MD

I keep meaning to wire up some trim pots to play with values that way.

ICBM

p90fool said:

I've used values from 150k all the way down to 47k on a Gibson 498T.

You wouldn't think 47k would sound much different to no resistor at all, but it does. It adds a little Tele fatness to the remaining coil without dulling things too much.

With an unknown pickup I usually start at 100k.

The PRS values are 1.1K and 2.2K! You would think that it's so close to a short that it would make no difference at all, but it certainly does.

If you're going to do it with a trimmer I would use a 5K. (4K7)

Corvus

Thanks all, I'll give it a go then, trim pots is a great idea too.

p90fool

ICBM said:

The PRS values are 1.1K and 2.2K! You would think that it's so close to a short that it would make no difference at all, but it certainly does.

Wow, didn't know they were that low, I assumed they were much higher than that!

10thumbs

Don`t know what the PRS method is ( the link won`t work anyway) but, this week I`ve done a series/parallel mod on the push/pull switch on the vol pot on my PRS SE Standard .

Its on a SD TB14 ,with a 500k pot and it works a treat .

Corvus

It's been a while but I finally got around to re-doing the Dot, and the resistor split thing is working out well. A question, is there any benefit in replacing the trim pot with a resistor? Reliability maybe..?
I got the slimline blue ones which are tucked against the side of push-push pots so they're not wobbling around or in harms way.

djspecialist

I did this recently on my Yamaha SG2000.

I used a trim pot connected via croc clips to find the right values (for me that was 2.4k for the bridge, 1.5k for the neck), then bought and soldered in fixed resistors.

http://www.thefretboard.co.uk/discussion/40195/

I really like the result - the split tones are much more usable to my ears.

ICBM

Corvus said:

It's been a while but I finally got around to re-doing the Dot, and the resistor split thing is working out well. A question, is there any benefit in replacing the trim pot with a resistor? Reliability maybe..?

Not really, if the trimmers are soldered properly. Trimmers are used as fixed presets in millions of pieces of equipment and fail so rarely it's not worth worrying about.

Corvus

Excellent, cheers.

@djspecialist same here, the results are good, think I'm on 2.5k and 1.7k so far but going to mess with settings a few days before stuffing the lot back in.

thomasross20

What's different about this method exactly?

djspecialist

thomasross20 said:

What's different about this method exactly?

Different to a coil split?

Electrically: coil splitting takes one of the two coils completely out of the circuit by shorting it to ground.  "Partial coil splitting" or "the PRS method" inserts a resistor into the connection to ground, so the coil is still in the circuit and still contributes to the output of the pickup.

Aurally: activating the partial split results in less of a volume drop and less reduction in low frequencies, compared to the complete split.  It still however has that single coil character, compared against the pickup run in full humbucking mode.

richardhomer

thomasross20;810504" said:

What's different about this method exactly?

The 'traditional' method it to completely disconnect one coil. The trouble is, 'half a humbucker' usually sounds much thinner than a typical single coil pick up.

The 'PRS Method' - which is not really what it should be called, as it was invented long before PRS started doing it - is to run one coil through a resistor which allows some signal through.

This gives several benefits: it sounds more like a 'proper' single-coil, some level of hum-cancelling is retained and the drop in volume is less than with the second coil completely disconnected.

thomasross20

Thanks. So it's nothing to do with the fact that the single coil is put in parallel with the other pup. Thanks!

I hate the volume drop - would love to try a 408 where there is no drop

Adam_MD

thomasross20;810544" said:

Thanks. So it's nothing to do with the fact that the single coil is put in parallel with the other pup. Thanks!

I hate the volume drop - would love to try a 408 where there is no drop

I have a booster setup to match the slight drop in volume between my full bucker and split sounds. Sometimes it's good to have the drop in volume to lower the gain as well whereas using the boost you can get your singlecoils style tone which keeps up with the full humbucker.

thomasross20

You mean a boost pedal, right? I also have a boost and sometimes have to use it when I switch to single coil

ESchap

@billcat ; what make push pull pots did you use?  I'm about to do an ES myself, tempted by the CTS but they are quite expensive.