Splitting humbuckers vs. single coils---and anyone have a 150 with coil splitting capability?

[Scooter]

Hey fellas.

 

Was wondering if anyone has or played a 150 with coil splitting capability. Would like to hear your thoughts if you have. Personally never heard of anyone doing this to a 150-style guitar.

 

Also, was wondering what you think of a regular single coil vs. a split humbucker. Is there no beating a pure single coil for single coil sound or does the split humbucker hold its own against a single coil?

 

Thanks!

 

Scott

[Dick Seacup]

I have an H-170 with split buckers. A split bucker comes close to, but is not quite the same as, a single-coil. IMHO.

[SouthpawGuy]

I don't have a 150, but I have a VIP 2 with split-able HRWs, also a 170 and a 535 with P-Rails, plus several G&Ls with split-able buckers in the bridge and / or neck. The single coil tones are not bad but also not really like a good true single coil pickup. Close but no cigar, as they say.

 

The best of all I've tried for sheer versatility is the Duncan P-Rail ... series or parallel bucker, P-90 and single coil tones in one pickup.

 

A 150 with those would be downright nasty.

 

Gratuitous pic of the 170 / P-Rails ...

 

 

The biggest problem is the volume drop when going to rail mode, (single coil), but a clean boost pedal would sort that out.

[tbonesullivan]

The P-Rails seems to be one of the best attempts so far to get true single coil sound in a humbucker. there is a great demo up on youtube, which unfortunately currently seems to be down? anyone else having trouble with youtube?

[big bob]

I have a 575 w/ prails and the sound is BIG, the prails are nice in all three modes but not true in any.

 

I have a 150 w/ three single coils and love the tone, not strat is at all, but def bigger and more depth than a split hum

 

I have split hums in both my home builds they have a nice metal sound when split.

 

I would say if you want single coil you should look at p-90 drop ins.

[Scooter]

Thanks for weighing in on this, you guys.

[big bob]

Scooter, on the guitars that I have that use split buckers I would say I use them split to make a new bucker the most. I.E. bridge outside mixed with neck inside. you can get a great strat 2 and 4 position sound that way.

any of the vip and dvip are essentially a split set up. You should give it a try can always reverse it.

[FredZepp]

On my H157, it has Sheptone PAF Tribute pickups that do a coil tap with the push pull pots.

It isn't a strat sound.. maybe closer to a rosewood body strat ... but does give the single coil type definition.

But as the amp gain is increased the difference is reduced greatly.

 

And yeah, I also have heard the great things about the P-rails.... they seem like a tasty choice.

 

Although mine will nail an old PAF tone and is awesome out of phase.

 

[Dick Seacup]

Just remembered that my H-160V has a split bucker in the bridge, too. Still doesn't sound like the single-coils in the middle/neck, though.

[pro-fusion]

I got pretty close with the split coils in my old strat copy. Not exactly the same, but close enough for my purposes.

[Scooter]

Great feedback, guys. This helps me a lot. Thank you!

[RJLII]

Scooter - A good buddy of mine has a 150 style guitar that was built in Kalamazoo in 1978. He installed Dimarzio Dual Sounds back in the 80's, along with a switch to split each pickup. The sounds were interesting, but as others have mentioned there was a volume disparity going from humbucking to single coil. The single coil tones were not at all Fender like, they were more like a P-90 but with scooped mids. He's planning a rewire soon, and has picked up a set of P-Rails and all the essential push-pull pots. With the addition of his mini switches, he'll be able to do the "Jimmy Page" wiring style with splitting and phase reversal plus decide which of the single coils are in the mix. Sounds complicated to me!

 

Another way to go is to emulate the approach PRS take on some of their guitars with a 5 position rotary.

 

1) Bridge pickup

2) Outside coils- deep and clear - parallel

3) Series single coils – Warm version of the "in between the treble and middle pickups"

4) Parallel single coils – Crisp version of the "in between the treble and middle pickups"

5) Neck pickup

 

This produces 5 distinctive tones, and as I recall all are humbucking.

[Scooter]

Scooter - A good buddy of mine has a 150 style guitar that was built in Kalamazoo in 1978. He installed Dimarzio Dual Sounds back in the 80's, along with a switch to split each pickup. The sounds were interesting, but as others have mentioned there was a volume disparity going from humbucking to single coil. The single coil tones were not at all Fender like, they were more like a P-90 but with scooped mids. He's planning a rewire soon, and has picked up a set of P-Rails and all the essential push-pull pots. With the addition of his mini switches, he'll be able to do the "Jimmy Page" wiring style with splitting and phase reversal plus decide which of the single coils are in the mix. Sounds complicated to me!

 

Another way to go is to emulate the approach PRS take on some of their guitars with a 5 position rotary.

 

1) Bridge pickup

2) Outside coils- deep and clear - parallel

3) Series single coils – Warm version of the "in between the treble and middle pickups"

4) Parallel single coils – Crisp version of the "in between the treble and middle pickups"

5) Neck pickup

 

This produces 5 distinctive tones, and as I recall all are humbucking.

 

RJLII, if your buddy gets his rewiring done soon I'd like to hear about that. The PRS wiring sounds pretty cool. Nice to have some other tonal options like that. CP Thornton (cpthorntonguitars.com) has a nice arrangement, as well (5 way): pos. 1-Bridge pickup, 2-both split coils, 3-both HBs, 4-neck split coil, 5-neck HB. Sounds killer on the demo video they have of the Professional Acoustic model on youtube. The PRS setup definitely appears to be worth looking into.

[rjsanders]

Millie DC w/splittable HRWs. i like the neck's sound a lot, not so much the bridge. would definitely do it on a 150/7 in the neck. also did it on one of my Chapins (WCR Fillmore in the neck). gives 'em a very acoustic-y sound

 

it's not the same as having a dedicated single coil. altho, one of my Chapins has a Chapin Beelzebucker in the neck (fendery single + P90ish single), each coil selectable. that can sound very much like having 3 different guitars, just using the neck pickup.

[strings2wood]

 

This was one of the clips that MADE me want to buy a Heritage in the first place.

 

The versatility and tone demonstrated here really impressed me.

 

NB- it's just the demo of the tones that will be of use here,

the backing track and the effects loses the purity for me-

despite good chops and obvious fun playing the backing track,

there's just too much going on effects wise for the demo for me of the pu tones.

 

His single coil sounds get closer than the stag mag pu's on my 170.

 

In truth scooter I also own a CS '56 strat and a CS '57 tele.

If I want single coils I'd change guitars every time.

 

BUT- if I was going to gig with one guitar-

the P-Rails in the 170 would get me pretty damn close!

For me...can't better single coils- but this H-170 does sound pretty sweet and convincing.

 

Good Luck with your choices.

 

Simon in Melbourne.

[cod65]

Prails in my 575. I find all settings useful!

[big bob]

Prails in my 575. I find all settings useful!

me too.

[t0aj15]

Hey fellas. Was wondering what you think of a regular single coil vs. a split humbucker. Is there no beating a pure single coil for single coil sound or does the split humbucker hold its own against a single coil? Thanks! Scott

I have yet to hear a split humbucker that sounds as good as a true single coil pickup. They may exist but I haven't found any.