Coil Tap vs Coil Split: What's The Difference? | Too Afraid To Ask

[@ScienceofLoud]

The only 'stupid questions' are the ones you are Too Afraid To Ask. "Coil Tap vs Coil Split: What's the difference?" is the question for this TATA video. Let's dig deep into this troublesome terminology and expose the truth of these wrongly interchangeable terms. Leave your TATAs in the comment section and I'll make a video answering them. More from CSGuitars: Gain access to exclusive content at: www.patreon.com/csguitars 30% OFF CSGuitars Merchandise with discount code "MAY30": csguitars.bigcartel.com/ Website: www.csguitars.co.uk Contact: [e-mail]

[@BAMozzy69]

There are some PU's that can 'split' and/or tap the 2nd PU to cancel out Hum and to try and stop the drop in volume. I am sure the High Performance Gibson allowed you to pick between a 'split' and a 'tapped' sound with Dip switches. I think some of the confusion lies though with the manufacturers of the PU's/Guitars where they will state that the PU's can be split with whatever method of switching utilised but what is happening is that one PU is still fully active whilst the other is 'tapped' to reduce Hum and/or volume drop off. Its difficult for many to hear the 'difference' because you can't really compare a split/tapped humbucker with a Single coil because PU's vary. As a PRS fan, I have a 594 (with the option to split the coils - or tap), the 509 (again the option to split the two SC's working as a Humbucker - or is one tapped) and of course the Custom 24 which, in a couple of positions (2 & 4) are listed as 'split' - either just the neck with Bridge as Humbucker or both PU's split together. Point is, its not easy to actually find out accurately if its a proper 'split' where one PU is literally turned off or if one (or both) are 'tapped'. Then of course there is the 'new' TCI pick-ups which are said to be a 'split' with the most lifelike Single Coil sound with no drop off in volume. This is somewhat confusing too because if this is the 'best' split SC sound, then are all the others just tapping one (or Both) coils? If they are 'split', then why do people feel they don't sound like a 'true' Single Coil? I am, and was aware before your interesting video, of the difference between a Split and a Tapped Humbucker. However, I am not sure of whether a guitar is actually 'splitting' the coils, tapping both or just tapping one of the coils. The information, even from the manufacturers websites can be inconsistent or even inaccurate - stating the Push/Pull or Mini-Toggle is 'splitting' the coil yet it seems that some 'tapping' (of at least 1 of the coils) appears to be in place. As you say, its not just guitarists that are incorrectly stating that their guitars offer coil 'splitting' when in fact its more of a tapping or vice versa, but even the official websites will use 'split' and 'tap' as interchangeable words that essentially mean the Humbuckers will go from a 'full' humbucker sound to one that sounds more 'Single coil' like - although rarely as Single coil like as true Single coil - which again adds to the confusion. If they are 'split', then why don't they seem as comparable to a Single Coil? If they are 'split' as the manufacturer states, then why is there little/no hum and little/no volume drop off? I am sorry this has ended up as more of an essay but I too would like to be more accurate and receive accurate information too - whether the guitar I am buying is actually splitting the coils or at least tapping 1, if not both coils. It seems to me that 'every' humbucker guitar is listed as having 'coil splits' - at least All the guitars I look at. Yet some could very well be just tapped or just tapping one coil to preserve volume and cancel hum for example. I love your TATA video's and your knowledge is very helpful but I do wish that sometimes you would give demonstrations of things rather than just talk - split it up with some actual examples if possible and maybe even what to look out for (or more listen out for) when trying to determine if the PU is split or tapped.

[@bourbon_sherbet1251]

How about parallel vs series vs coil split? There's a couple of videos out there comparing these three, but to tell you the truth they really say very little about demystifying why there's tonal changes within the pickups.

[@powerwindpro]

I have seen that modern metal bands have a very special sound, and use special pickups like TITAN NAZGUL PEGASUS AND FISHMAN my question is: this sound comes only of these pickups or comes from a combination of some special rig settings and extended instruments, may be you can do a video of this modern metal sound

[@allgrainbrewer10]

Looking forward to the ohms video.

[@littlefella2001]

Next question: How are hot rails tapped/split

[@HighlineGuitars]

Finally, someone accurately explains the tap vs split controversy.

[@DMSProduktions]

It's not THAT hard! ;oP

[@adamkelly5478]

As with many guitar community questions: there is no controversy, just ignorant guitar players...

[@DMSProduktions]

@@adamkelly5478 LOL! As a music retail expert, I see this every day lol!

[@adamkelly5478]

@@DMSProduktions music retail expert huh? Can you explain the relationship between string gauge, string tension, scale length, and overall string length?

[@DMSProduktions]

@@adamkelly5478 I said retail, NOT an egineer. What exactly do you want to know?

[@Gallaer]

Not all guitar heroes wear spandex.

[@ChaosPootato]

We can't see Colin's pants though.. We can't be sure

[@Gallaer]

@@ChaosPootato I bet it's cargo shorts;)

[@Loebane]

@@Gallaer I bet it's a kilt, or possibly nothing at all.

[@maninthecrowd5076]

It's a six pocket cargo. Each pocket is like Doraemon's and contains electrical tools.

[@Gallaer]

@@Loebane Wouldn't be surprised.

[@Rjhorning]

#TATA- How does a truss rod work? How is it specifically designed. What does turning the truss rod each way actually do inside the neck.

[@johnhorning2506]

Great name!

[@TKDFORCEART]

This is an amazing #TATA, i learned how they worked the hard way

[@DMSProduktions]

LOL!

[@TheChadPad]

@@TKDFORCEART F

[@keefjunior4061]

Robert Horning you really asking?

[@MikeLee-lg5vq]

"You can't tap dance while doing the splits" It all became clear after he said that.

[@xbox1445]

As an electrical engineer, adding the example of the transformer really clarified much more the difference and I really appreciate how much work and concise detail you put into your videos! I am waiting now for your full explainer for amplifier speaker cabinets (and I will do some research myself to understand better!)

[@williardbillmore5713]

The terms "splitting a humbucker "and "tapping a humbucker" are interchangable. They both mean the same thing and both are correct. "Tapping a coil" could be misconstrued by someone who is being purposely obtuse but within context they should know what is meant..

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

There's a wonderful video from PRS where Paul is talking about his new model called the 608 (I think) and he describes the new pickups he made just for that guitar. It's a humbucker that when switched, it cuts off half the magnets like a split, but engages another 3000 winds on the pickup to boost the volume back up to make up for the loss of the entire row of magnets it shut off. So basically you're turning a humbucker into a P90. The video explains it better but that's the gist of it. Magic!

[@samuellarkin7998]

so it's both a split and tapped coil

[@ernestochang1744]

yeah also the switch, and the potentiometer pull/push for coil split or coil tap isnt the only methood of switching coils or /tap For example take the peavey T60 and the peavey T40 a bass and a guitar made over 30 years ago had the design and innovation no other did at the time, basically before manufacturers of guitars and pickups started going with the more discreet push/pull potentiometers, peavey had the brilliant idea to integrate this into the potentiometer itself with no pulling or pushing. When you set the tone at 10 the pickup would effectively be an actual true single coil, as you rolled off the tone to about a 7 it would switch to the more darker louder humbucker mode, but heres the gist of it all, between 7 and 10 if you went into say an 8.5, it somewhat sounds like a true P90. I said this cant possibly be this is amazing, well lads get ready to have your heads blown off. As if that wasnt enough, they also added a switch with the ability to have both pickups out of phase, legend says that a celebrity picked up a guitar made by gibson off a store bought it, and the guys that made that specific guitar accidentally wound 1 of the pickups in reverse ( i cant remember if it was both or just 1) and essentially it gave him a nasally type sound when he switched to both pickups on. I bet with a little bit of modification the Peavey T60s and the Peavey T40s could be wired in series and paralel, by adding yet another switch or we can have a push pull pot to make it happen, i truly believe that as far as re inventing the wheel no other manufacturer did it best then Peavey.

[@valuedhumanoid6574]

@@samuellarkin7998 Yes. As soon as I find it again, I will post the link so you can see exactly what I am talking about.

[@jpcrafton69]

Dean Zelinsky has been doing this for years. Check out his "Sidekick" pickups.

[@themadkraken1912]

@@valuedhumanoid6574 you find it yet?

[@jansonpig]

I love how you overlay a correction over the original video rather than re-shoot the entire thing. Lets us know you are human too...

[@rudyvinkemulder9860]

Amp to Cabinet ohm mis-match, what is OK what is not and why? Valve and Solid state. Colin your videos are great, keep up the excellent work.

[@DMSProduktions]

The rule is: Low into high is fine, cuts output by 50%, O/tranny does not work as hard and is a bit quieter. High into low, is a NO go! Will make your o/tranny work twice as hard to put out wattage that isn't there and will COOK it! (Requiring a replacement!) Your amp will be louder, (for a short time) then fail!

[@fhqwhgads1670]

To clarify this a skosh: Low impedance output from an amp (4ohms) into a higher impedance input speaker (16 ohms nominal) is not a problem. 8 or 16 ohm output from an amplifier into a 4 ohm load (speaker) will melt your shit in a hurry.

[@havokmusicinc]

Pouring too much water into a small cup makes a mess (too high amp signal into a low cab), but you can always pour a small amount of water into a big cup (a low input signal into a high cab)

[@DMSProduktions]

@@fhqwhgads1670 I did say that already you know!

[@martinkrauser4029]

@@DMSProduktionsyou said that in a way that does make it clear what is meant by low and what by high. It's ambiguous whether "low into high" means plugging the cab into the amp, or the amp into the cab. It makes sense that output from the amp goes into the input of the cab, but it's not immediately apparent to someone who doesn't know as much. This is why the other comment said "to clarify this".

[@tierankarb]

I'm glad you made this video, because when I bought my Schecter guitar, there was a paper dongle on one of the knobs that said, "Coil Tap" but both the pickups are humbuckers so they must have meant "Coil Split"

[@bpabustan]

If I ever wanted to study electrical and electronics engineering, I want Colin Scott to be my professor! Colin has the great talent to explain mind boggling things in layman's language. Another winner from Colin!

[@8Junio76]

Mind boggling things? 😂 this is the most basic of electronics

[@JackstandJohnny]

Dude you are crushing it with your videos. Been a fan for a while and theyve only gotten better. You could absolutely have your own TV show.

[@216trixie]

Thanks for this. The industry has been using the terms "tap" and "split" interchangeably.

[@tit-an-nium5673]

Who?

[@Kylora2112]

Most manufacturers, guitarists, techs, journalists...I've seen too many people talk about tapping their humbuckers with push-pull pots...

[@216trixie]

@@tit-an-nium5673 All. Forever.

[@alanst.4417]

Yeah I've even seen guitar reviews, which try to differentiate which guitar has a "true" coil split and which one "only" has an allegedly cheaper coil tap. Makes absolutely no sense after Colin explained it.

[@216trixie]

@@alanst.4417 Right?! Coil tapping was always described as a "cheap" alternative. Though I think the sound of a coil split is better.

[@dee1orean]

This was more interesting than I originally thought it was going to be... Really well explained. It may be time for you to write a book!

[@MartinBlasick]

I totally learned something after 45 years of playing. Thank you brother

[@GiveSic]

Just picked myself up a Harley Benton GOTOH DC and imagine my surprise when I went to remove my tone knob and it clicked outward! Thought I broke the damn thing. I've probably only ever heard of these things once or twice in my whole life and I must have skimmed over it on the page I ordered it from. Thanks for the info!

[@savvysymbiont]

Fieeeve thaousand turns!!!! More future Colin please!

[@derpimusmaximus8815]

4 control knobs 3 switch positions 2 humbucking pickups And a structurally flawed headstoooooooock!

[@jswx4393]

@@derpimusmaximus8815 Makes me think of the Les Pauls they did in the late 70s that had a laminated neck and a volute. I acquired such a Les Paul...

[@forfrigsakes3330]

pretty sure he said "fieeeve thaousand tardens"

[@marions.120]

Eye, you take your tern ind put duwn the grreatist ghutair eever!

[@mike1967sam]

Colin my Scottish friend I have been watching your vids since your 333XL days, a long time and congrats for having come such a long way, cheers, Mike.

[@ciddax754]

There are even Coil-Tapped Humbuckers with an additional Coil-Split. I've seen that on a one-of-a-kind shred beauty from the eighties. But I can not tell if the pickups were one-of-a-kind too or if it was a small serie from a boutique builder.

[@robhebert5137]

Dude, THANK YOU! This has been bothering me for YEARS.

[@leesbassment6393]

Bonus round, with the Lace Alumitone pickups, the pickup itself is wired to an output transformer, which is in turn(no pun intended) tapped. The resulting impedance change causes the response of the system to change, all while remaining hum canceling.

[@nathaniellarson8]

I just put a neck SD p-rail and split and phase switched the existing Dimarzio Evolution on the bridge of my Epi LP Custom with 4 push/pull pots. I had never worked on my guitar electronics before and I totally did it the hard way and burned the crap out of my fingers, but it was fun! The best part is it works(after I found the overlooked ground jumper) and I love it!

[@lndndr18]

I'll probably repeat myself, but this TATA videos are really well made and informative. Good job Colin!

[@artiesquires2573]

Thank you so much! Despite all my research this is the first place that actually explained 1. How pull push pots actually work (it was very unclear if they used the turn of the pot or 'popped' in and out) and 2. That push pull pots weren't the only option (they appear in almost all split coil wiring diagrams)

[@PocketUnv]

Keep spreading the gospel of the Amplifier Colin! If possible, could you do a sound demo between a split and a tapped coil?

[@TheChadPad]

I've always used coil split simply because that's what I heard when I found out about them, but I looked at the title of this video thinking "there'es probably no difference. I think I'll skip this one". But something inside me told me "hey, you might learn something else worthwhile though!" Boy am I happy I clicked! Thanks man, kudos!

[@bradmiddleton412]

This is actually something I've been wondering about. I always got mixed results whenever I tried looking it up so I struggled to fully understand the difference between the two

[@216trixie]

Right. Even the manufacturers use both terms interchangeably, it's stupid.

[@Voxtender]

Thanks for setting the record straight. Always knew there was a difference, but never knew what it was.

[@stuartbowlerwell2845]

It is important that transformers still function. Megatron taught us that...

[@samueljett7807]

Colin! You are reading my mind! You are coming out with these just as I need them!

[@madeinuk01]

Thank you so very much for making this, and all of your other TATA, videos 🤘 live long, live loud 🎸

[@derickthomas380]

Cgs guitar, you are the best KZbin content producer content teacher bar none..you make it so simple to comprehend and remember.

[@oliverjames7315]

Feeling elite because I've always used the right term, I might add completely accidentally.

[@hadifelani]

closed captions always helped me whenever there's a scottish video lmao. great video as always. very educative.

[@PooNinja]

ok here's a strange one. Why can I play through my looper and have 2 (or more) guitar parts and the amp sounds fine, but if two guitars plug into one amp and it all sounds Shite??? I may be stupid but i'm not afraid to ask :)

[@deibid7886]

If your looper has only one output, It means your separate guitar parts are summed ay the output, carrying only one signal to the amp. When you try to plug more than one guitar (separate outputs) they're no longer being summed and act as two distinct signals. I hope that was clear :)

[@PooNinja]

Thanks yes but I'm still kerfuffled by the phasing issues, lucky I have a few amps so no one needs to share. I'd just like to see some O scope vids of what happens to the signals as the wave form changes from input to preamp and so on through the circuit finally resulting distortions at the driver.

[@ivanbrasla]

@@PooNinja If you're plugging into the same input using a Y connector then both guitars are wired in parallel. When this happens the differences in current are substracted and the final output is that wobbly, out of phase sound. The same thing happens when using position 2 and 4 of a standard stratocaster guitar, where the middle pickup is wired in parallel with either the bridge or the neck, it doesn't sound as bad because the currents in the pickups are very similar to each other, some frequencies are still lost though, specially in the high end of the spectrum

[@DMSProduktions]

A bit of an impedance mismatch too I would expect!

[@kevinsutherland9756]

Wow...been playing over 30 years and totally didn't know that... always thought coil tap sounded wrong... nicely done and keep up the videos!

[@Holagrimola]

Electric guitar - check nerdy electronics talk - check pirate accent - check I love this!

[@SilentThunder1969]

Great video Colin. It all makes perfect sense. Except the part around 6:35 where you say that splitting the output of a (power)transformer may cause the transformer cease to function. That's not true, the transformer will still function but the output(voltage) may be different than what is meant (according to the producer) to come out. There were (or still are) transformers that have an output coil tap halfway, so it's easyer to create a positive and negative supply for your amplifier circuit. By just using one half (i.e. the "positive" half) the transformer will still work. You're just not using it to it's full potential.

[@cobiyu8349]

Explained transformers in 5 minutes better than an hour from my electrical engineering prof

[@TheLinkszal75]

Glad you made this, the mix up annoys me too, hopefully more people realize what it is

[@XxStonedImmaculatexX]

Based on what I’ve learned from this video, I want a guitar with dual full humbuckers that can be split. When I’m on full overdrive I want that full sound, in the clean channel, I want that single coil sound so therefore, coil split it is! That is what I want right???...

[@ExplicableCashew]

The way you say "the output of a pickup is largely determined by how many turns of wire there are" is ambrosia to my ears and is up there with Merlin singing "Country roads" in Kingsman 2

[@harrisonrg777]

so can you truly coil tap a humbucker? as in keeping a humbucker a humbucker but cutting the output? this could give you two humbuckers in one. going from a high gain to a medium or low gain pickup.. i don’t know if it’s even possible but sounds like it could be a cool idea

[@theheretic5159]

should work as u described; each coil will have to be tapped individually and wired to a switch to engage the the two diff outputs so would be a hassle to make; most engineers, builders, and technicians will probs tell u to find another more convenient way to change the gain on your guitar output signal

[@harrisonrg777]

i actually looked into this and gibson did this very thing on a guitar. it used a volume pot that controlled the volumes for both windings. volumes for both full up sounds like a normal humbucker but turn one down and it starts losing gain little volume and starts to sound more like a p90 without the hum. this was not splitting the coil it was tapping the coil but with volume controls not a on or off switch. allowed for interesting tones because you could control the volume for both individual winds

[@Bobby-wn5yr]

It’s been quite a while since I’ve seen this, but just wanted to come back and say after tinkering around using your videos to make my own pickups, remembering this video was super useful for experimenting with how many wraps to use. Sure I could have recorded, rewound, recorded, rewound, recordedc rewound, etc, etc, etc and compared the values in playback, or just made a heap of pickups at the same time, but getting in the habit of creating a tap every 1000 turns over a range and connecting them all up to basically a switchboard has really helped me to get a really dynamic experience of coil winding and output levels and such. Maybe once I get a bit more experienced I’ll be able to do it all by feel, but currently wound two pickups up to 8000 turns with taps at 4,5,6,7. Being able to flick some switches to hear the difference and also the difference bridge to neck is a great learning experience, thanks Man!

[@plumbummusic2051]

My TATA is: what are flipped pickups, are they upside-down or just turned 180°? And how does it change the guitar tone?

[@DMSProduktions]

They don't!

[@jordanlake471]

The don’t normally, but occasionally can give a kind of out of phase sound, which you can hear from someone like Peter Green(early Fleetwood Mac and the Blues Breakers after Clapton)

[@DMSProduktions]

@@jordanlake471 IF wired out of phase with the other or the magnet itself is reversed in the pick up, as is the case with Greenie! Listen to the original version of Black Majic Woman!

[@radiojet1429]

Thanks, Colin - yours are always the best explanations on KZbin.

[@doublelunch24]

Please tackle my TATA Colin: What does Presence do on an amplifier?

[@benmacdonald5445]

FlamingLuigi it’s like treble, but affects the highest high frequencies on amp. It’s kind of the treble of treble.

[@ChuranuQC]

It's the tone control of the poweramp section

[@robgillanofficial]

@@ChuranuQC So is Resonance the "bass" section of the power amp?

[@ChuranuQC]

@@robgillanofficial I don't know!

[@FeatherzMcG]

I case you missed it, Colin actually did a video on this recently: kzbin.info/www/bejne/Z6O9omSiiZiLaJo

[@guitarlusteuphoria4507]

I will be referring this video often. I'll start with the guys at Guitar Center. I had this exact same conversation with a salesman there and he had no clue what the difference was. Fine video.

[@FISHYFILMPRODUCTIONS]

Now the real question (and I don't really know why you would) but could you tap and split the same pickup

[@CycloneJack]

Perfect explanation--many thanks! Also, as a Star Trek fan, the fact that you have a Scottish accent and are explaining functional electrical engineering concepts is a real treat. : )

[@GSHYBR1D]

#TATA please explain the use of an effects loop! I just got an amp with one.

[@robgillanofficial]

An effects loop is easy to understand if you think of it as this: An opportunity for you to put some "effects" in the middle of your amp, not in front of it. I'll explain... All guitar amps have two main sections. 1) a "preamp" (or "preamplifier") and 2) a "power amp" (power amplifier). The preamp is the section that you plugin to and it has levels for EQ, Gain, etc. It adds colour, gain, and possibly some volume to the signal coming straight out of the guitar. BUT! It's not the actual amplifier (when you think of the amplifier as being the part that takes your signal and boosts it ((amplifies it)) much, much louder than it comes out of your guitar) which is why it's called the "preamp" - it comes before (pre) the amp. The power amp, on the other hand, is the last stage of the guitar amp and it's where your signal is boosted and output to your speaker(s). So, the effects loop is basically a couple of jacks that allow you to add in some stuff between those two things, if you so choose. And many guitarists have discovered that they prefer certain effects pedals to come either before or after the "preamp" section. So you won't often see a distortion or overdrive pedal in an effects loop (though it totally works!) because most guitarists like it to run into the preamp (between your guitar and the amp). And similarly, many guitarists prefer the sound of delay or reverb pedals AFTER the preamp (try both and see if you can hear the difference) - so, in order to get it to come after the preamp, they need to use an effects loop, otherwise the signal gets sent to the power amp and comes out the speakers - there is no other place for them to put it! The effects loop "send" is just the line coming out of the amp and it should go into the Input jack on your pedal(s). Wire up one or more in succession, then take the Output of the last pedal and run a cable back into the effects Return jack. You've just completed the circuit and "looped in" your pedals to the section AFTER the preamp but BEFORE the power amp. Hope this helps!

[@GSHYBR1D]

@@robgillanofficial This helps allot actually! Thanks for taking the time to help out and go in depth!

[@robgillanofficial]

@@GSHYBR1D You're welcome!

[@robgillanofficial]

@@GSHYBR1D The effects loop also opens up really cool possibilities for other things. On some amps (Fender, primarily, I believe), they will list the Effects Send as the "Pre Out" and the Effects Return as "Power In". You don't, strictly speaking, NEED to have the whole loop connected to get sound. If you have an amp modeller or a pedal that has a Preamp built in, you can actually run those straight into the Effects Return/Power In and it will amplify your modeller/preamp while bypassing the amp's built in preamp. To do this, you'd go: Guitar > Preamp Pedal/Amp Modeller > Effects Return. Then you'd use the amp's Master Volume to control the output level. So you're basically just using the amps power amp and not the preamp, so you don't get the color and tone of the amp. This may be desirable if you are trying to amplify a Line 6 Helix or Axe FX amp modeller so you can jam live or get some volume on stage from a real speaker cabinet. Using both the preamp and power amp sections in combination with an amp modeller is the basis for something called the "4 cable method" (sometimes abbreviated as 4CM) which allows you to have a single unit (like a Line 6 Helix, let's say) have effects in front of the amp and in the effects loop. It'd take a lot more work to describe how that flows, but it's a fun read - if you feel like going down the rabbit hole, google it!

[@scottsigler]

Big thumbs-up for coming back after the fact and correcting your content.

[@ZerstoerenDieStille]

What is the presence knob, and more importantly, how do I use it?

[@ivanbrasla]

And what is resonance? Why are both knobs separated from the main tone stack?

[@DMSProduktions]

Most are post o/t!

[@TheloniousBosch]

In most cases I *believe* it is a control on the amount of negative feedback in the signal. en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Negative-feedback_amplifier

[@bolland83]

Put it on 10 and enjoy the crispiness, that's all you need to know. lol

[@josephclarke6770]

THANK YOU! Nothing grinds my gears like incorrectly using ‘coil tap’ and ‘coil split’ interchangeably.

[@ThorsShadow]

"By pulling out or pushing in the [...] shaft." *looks at URL* Good, I'm still on YouTUBE.

[@alanst.4417]

This one's true gold, Colin! You made things absolutely clear again. A lot of marketing rubbish makes absolutely no sense now. Especially love the part about transformers, which really broadened my horizons. And all of that wouldn't be possible without your cool diagrams. Really appreciate your great educational work!

[@ofir_likes_beer]

Is It Just Me, Or Colin Is Running At 60FPS?

[@jrr832]

Normal for the Scots

[@ayusharipirala3121]

60fps spletting

[@anthonyhowells490]

50

[@Burnt_Gerbil]

Ofir Izhar - Fun fact: You’ve heard of 60 cycle hum? In the UK it’s actually 50 cycle hum.

[@DMSProduktions]

Everywhere else too! The whole world, (bar N America) runs on 50Hz AC! Shits me how so many in other countries PANDER to US viewers re 60 Hz hum when THEY are the minority of mains power AC users! ONLY the US/CA experience 60 Hz hum, everywhere else it's 50!

[@waynecrowe9790]

I love how professionally you answer this question, thanks!

[@ashtonb_416]

TATA What’s the difference between Pick ups and Peck ups

[@itsmeagain1745]

:-))) - about 50 miles...

[@rogiemac]

chicken pickers use peck ups maybe?

[@richszmal1653]

This one of my biggest pet peeves. I see these terms used incorrectly all the time. Great explanation.

[@donaldschumacher3683]

Wow Transformers more than meets the eye

[@DeckardRJ]

Man, I didn't know about this and I saw people using both terms interchangeably! It is very good these kind of videos you're making, because there is in fact a bunch of stuff that we are sure we know due to an overflow of misinformation out there and we don't question ourselves about it. So thank you so much for taking the time to explain to the guitar community these "little" things "we were sure " we knew! Thanks a lot again and keep on the great work!! Cheers from Brazil!

[@Zesty_Pepper]

TATA: Why do some people put hair bands around their guitar's heasdstock?

[@m.ariquel]

The strings tend to slightly vibrate behind the nut and a hair band helps this issue by muting anything past the nut. Some say it adds clarity but I never found an audible difference tbh

[@DMSProduktions]

Maybe they are just TOSSERS! ;oP

[@lockdown976]

Kevin, I find it great that you go into this scientific side of gear functioning ! It's very intresting ! I study electrical engineering myself and have this on lectures, but its also great to have this explained in terms of music gear functioning ! Awsome videos :) !

[@HECKproductions]

now the more important question: why would anyone ever want a single coil sound

[@ScienceofLoud]

Because some people play funk, pop, surf, blues and rock music where single coils are best.

[@awertyuiop8711]

Mainly because of the almost hi-fi clarity, although the hum is just too much. (But what about a hum-bucker with a resonant peak of about 20k Hertz?)

[@vemonguy686]

I just want to say, Colin, thanks so much for all these videos you've created and keep creating. You make extremely knowledgeable videos over a lot of topics that may be hard to explain and are able to explain them easily for anyone to understand. I wouldn't have my tone if it wasn't for your "All the Gain!!!!!" Video. Thanks a lot man

[@popsfitch7938]

Thank you very much for laying it down. My young (under 60) friends and I have argued this and they would not believe me or my reasonings but your word is law to them, so now I can collect (or try to collect) the 3 beers and 1 aw go stuff yourself ( I am sure I will receive the later) owed me. Again thank you. Sincerely, Pops

[@BrianCanavan]

Just discovered your channel today and loving the TATAs. I've been a strummy player for decades and trying to learn properly now before buying any decent gear and your vids are a godsend. Cheers

[@aabb3340]

Very helpful video and off-the-charts radical accent. Sounds like "Trainspotting" but even cooler because it's about guitars.

[@dmthandmade5674]

I have a tapped strat single coil I bought from IronGear for my ghetto Gilmour strat project. It's pretty much identical to the D Allen Echoes pickup my mate has, sounds just the same for about 1/4 the price. Both outputs sound good. I'm really pleased with it. The extra output doesn't add much volume, just more mids and oomph.

[@onidevil]

There is the third switching option (used by PRS and Ibanez at least) where the in-between positions on the pickup selector only connect one of the humbucker coils!

[@nicholastotoro7721]

Wouldn’t that just be a coil split?

[@wesleyzimmerman94]

@@nicholastotoro7721 That's exactly what it is if it's an Ibanez with an HsH configuration, the humbucker is split to be used with the single in the middle. Now, some HH configured Ibanez guitars have a three way switch with a separate switch for splitting. Others with an HH configuration will have a 5 way blade with a parallel connection in one position and split in another. The only weird switching they do is for their AZ models. With the split switch on, the 1st or 5th position is a single coil with half of the second, making it a p90 but not at all but the 2nd and 4th are a normal split. The middle os also the split with half another coil but it both pickups together

[@OgamiItto70]

Great. You've posted an authoritative explanation of the difference between coil split and coil tap and have made a call to stop misusing the terms. Thank you. Can we stop misusing the term 'gain' now? Gain isn't overdrive or distortion. It's an increase in signal amplitude or volume. Gain may CAUSE overdrive, clipping or distortion, but it's not overdrive, clipping or distortion in and of itself.

[@ScienceofLoud]

Have you seen my video "What is gain?" which discusses that at length?

[@OgamiItto70]

@@ScienceofLoud No. I've just gotten hip to your channel. (Brought here by the black & bronze Flying V.) I'll go check it out. Thanks.

[@OgamiItto70]

Okay. Been there, done that. Looks like you covered it already, so maybe I'll delete this reply thread presently.

[@thyreapermc5948]

I use a no-load dial to blend split my JB-HB. I've a purposefully baritone-coloured EQ so it's better to thin the lows than cuts the highs. (250k pot on Areas & JBs will do that) I've also a Memphis blend on pos 4, mid-bridge blend with a pull-up.

[@probabvieh]

Also, I have an Ibanez RG 7 string. It has a 5-way switch. 1: Bridge HB 2: Bridge/neck SPLIT 3: Bridge/neck HB 4: Neck SPLIT 5: Neck HB

[@Tim_Duran]

THANK YOU!!! Finally someone explained this!

[@erikolsen1333]

I think what stuck was the idea that you tap the top of the knob. That’s what we assumed back in the day . I’m glad to know the difference!

[@ThatBaritoneGuitarGuy]

This is something which has annoyed me for years. Thank you.

[@usmessenger3199]

GREAT EXPLAINING THE DIFFERENCE, NOW IT,S BEEN EXPLAINED THE RIGHT WAY,THANKS .KEEP PLAYING AND LEARNING,.☮️🎼🎶🔊🎸😎 BOB.

[@alvillanueva2525]

I have a Vantage X-88 with 2 humbuckers that has coil split toggles for each pickup. The middle position is full humbucker, but switching right or left will choose which side of the humbucker will be engaged. Each side sounds different than the other side.

[@wozabrown]

One of the most informative and best guitar videos I have ever watched!! just subscribed

[@rto2nd826]

I worked for years in a plant that wound magnetic analog gages for cars. A huge problem was quality control of the wire we used because the process is insanely expensive. Thus there was different output from different batches of wire or vendors. Some may notice different performance in pickups that are the same brand/model from different manufacture dates.

[@PeteCarlton]

Thank goodness future Colin was there to save the day!

[@tyschuby]

I love the sound of a split humbucker, great video

[@robbysguitars8223]

Excellent review, by the way. A veritable smorgasbord of the right info. Well done, my friend. You made the inner workings of a transformer crystal.

[@robbysguitars8223]

Clear, that is....

[@daltonwilliams2386]

I have an old SG with a Toni iommi pickup that is split. When I bought it nearly 20 years ago. My uncle told me it was “tapped” because the switch was hidden in the tone knob and spring loaded so you “tapped” it to change back and forth.

[@exrad2153]

So, if I want the outer coil to be active in split, then I wire south end as hot, north and south starts to the middle pin on push-pull pot, wire top one to ground, and connect north end to ground? Same as in 7:36 but backwards? Red wire - hot Green wire - push-pull (middle) Black wire - ground White wire - push-pull (middle) Like that? If not, how would I do it?

[@waybackplayback1347]

Just wanted to add that Peavey used a coil split circuit that was switched by the tone knobs. If you aren't familiar with this concept it's a neat system.

[@jessehutchings]

Wow, amazing. A video that accurately explains what I needed to know and corrects itself when it was wrong 😂

[@rudygracia5573]

I Don't know if I'm coil tapping or splitting;I join the taped off wires(4 conductor hum)with the hot,and bare to ground,for the neck position.WOW!,whata SWEET Strat'ish tone!!I often have to"Flip"the pickup around,cuz I want that"dominant"coil closest to the fretboard.Not a fan of full neck humbucker mode,especially with overdrive,for bluesy stuff.

[@TheBedroomRocker1]

Very well explained, nice diagrams. Pretty awesome informative video!

[@thepoofster2251]

Omg you are a king! You just cleared up soo many questions I had! Great video!

[@timothymcnaughton531]

This video was awesome. If you haven't already, you should do a video on the difference between series and parallel humbucker wiring. It always takes me ages to explain it to people and I don't even know if I'm representing it correctly.

[@christopherstorrier5560]

Very true...i use a coil split on my hotrodded Fender Jazz bass, a Trevor Wilkinson WJM humbucker made from a single Jazz coil & a MM big polepiece coil...means i can still have my near identical old Jazz tone but the humbucker (series) wired in parallel with the Jazz bridge single coil gives a gnarly but quiet Rock tone & 4 other useable combinations...5 useable tones from 1 on-off-on toggle switch on WJM humbucker, 2 volumes help so only need a coil split...well explained, some pickup manufactures tend to coil tap with extra wire wound to get a hotter output as the single coil drops in volume/power output...others may tap of as you stated early to get a more vintage tone.....👍🎸

[@rickdelpino472]

Today, I splitted 2 Seymour Duncan TB-6 with a CTS Tone Push Pull pot. Indeed...I was waiting the sound of a Fender Stratocaster...but not close at all. The sound is totally different...even opposite...but interesting. I'm happy to confirm that guitar sound is more complex than I thought.

[@jodyfree953]

Love your explanations dude. Always straightforward & spot on.

[@musicman0423]

I just got the Ibanez axion series cerulean blue burst 6 string multi scale guitar (I wish Ibanez made names for their guitars). First ever Ibanez, I’m a Gibson man. I don’t think I’ll ever go back to Gibson now. This guitar blows me away in every way. The fishman pickups are unreal, and the coil splitter is badass. Never had one before

[@professordeb]

Great explanation. I have a Strat with coil split at the bridge. Never quite understood it so this makes a lot of sense! "TATA" is cute, but if you're too afraid, then how do you ask about something you're too afraid to ask about? 🤣 Love your videos in any case!

[@petersage5157]

For power transformers intended for international markets, it certainly makes sense, and is common practice, to split the primary coils, which are wired or switched in series or parallel depending on your country's mains voltage. Hammond takes this a step further with taps on the primary windings to fine tune for 100, 110, 120, 200, 220, or 240V mains.

[@hazrod13]

it is the first time ina long while that I am late for a new video, feels weird... It's truely wholesome to see Colin happy to talk about transformers. I would like to know a bit more about what the valves do in the circuit and how they work

[@vkelly1975]

Rewired Gibson custom shop custom buckers on believable single coil sounds so many sounds available I use in my Sg, I originally had 57 classics pick ups in the SG that was also kind splittable but the difference with the custom Buckers is phenomenal