How does a coil split work? Why You Should Try a Coil Split, and How Yo Wire A coil Split

How do coil splits work, what do they actually do to your guitar tone? We talk about pickup dynamics, and we demo the sound. Check out dylantalkstone.com for a great option
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[@shockfctr247]

This has to be the best explanation of what is going on while wiring. I can follow a schematic and make it work, but I want to know why this works. Your video is not the standard, "put this here because that's where it goes". It's a actual easy to understand lesson. Thank you for making these videos and for taking the opportunity to inform us, not only how to do it but why it works.

[@gelderlandproduction]

The ending of one volume and two tones made my day!!!!! Thanks for these videos!

[@richszmal1653]

I just wired one of my strats with two lower output alnico humbuckers to a five way. Im loving it like crazy. Going to do it in one of my other guitars.

[@michaelmorris7746]

Do this again...but now add a resistor at the split ground. Give us a voice over on that. Great work. You are helping me out.

[@user-co6fw6ql7h]

I have a PRS C24 with splitting and it is an indispensable part of my sound. I recently picked up a Gretsch and have decided to wire in a new push pull pot on TV Jones Power Trons to see if I can get a little bit more of a Strat type tone.

[@christopherbyrd4808]

Stumbled on a hidden gem. I've have seen dozens of diagrams that don't explain which coil is left on or why. Meanwhile the SD 59 Hybrid, if the slug side is on when split is pretty powerful (still almost 8k I think) but I couldn't trust the output of the diagrams. Thank you for suck an easily understand explanation!

[@buzzcrushtrendkill]

Great info. I enjoy the deeper technical aspects. On a side note, I could tell this was a video from years ago because of the long intro.

[@michaelbevins2405]

thanks .coil spliting is great ,in the middle position ,mixing is a must for me ,I ues to play a song called I Know a little ,in a cover bar band .It worked for that song and any jazzy blues songs,and country .

[@scramblesthedeathdealer]

I just got a Seymour Duncan Dimebucker and 59 installed on my Ibanez RG6003FM, and he put a 3 way switch and push/pull coil tap on it... it's amazing now!

[@xbeckk]

Whoa, you made that so simple! Thanks!

[@ricardocera5049]

Hey man, I've been following your channel for a few months now, close to a year, and your content's stellar! I was doing some studying for myself to learn this stuff, and out of all KZbin videos I've seen, yours is by far the best! Most informative, to the point, understand the what, the how and the why, and the diagram Reeaally helped. Thank you so much for everything! Cheers!

[@riffafrank]

Thanks man. I would like to try it on my Jackson Adrian Smith signature guitar but I rather spend my precious time on playing when I can.

[@FlankinspanK]

This channel needs to be more known

[@Leo_ofRedKeep]

I use split humbuckers all the time. I wouldn't want to buy a guitar without that function. I read people saying split humbuckers do not sound like single coils and wonder if there is an absolute truth to this, due to some inherent design difference or if it's just the result of unfortunate comparisons, even prejudice.

[@michaelinglis8516]

I'm with you, with my jb/59 set split to inner or outer coils with a little pun h from an eq pedal in the edge ts loop I'm certain I could fool most of the people who say they can sound like singles. Add in a little compression pedal before the preamp and id fool them all.

[@bluwng]

Humbucker in parallel is superior you get a single coil in between sound and no hum. Coils need to be out of phase.

[@ryanwalker9472]

I have Duncan triple shot pickup rings. They're tricky to wire up with other brands. But its like have 4 pickups in one.

[@yikelu]

There's another way to choose which coil to affect, instead of grounding out the pickup, you have the switch connect the F-F cable to the output. What that does is simultaneously short out the other coil (its output and input are now connected) and have the input of the one you want connect to it. This is how an On-Off-On switch lets you get Single1-Hum-Single2 choices.

[@MrJoceman]

very interesting ... can you explain a little bit more, i am very interested by your concept. what is an on and off switch. can i do it on my both pick-up for my fake "Gibson SG". would the phase be reverse at some point ?

[@blackfender100]

I picked up a cheap Laguna guitar on the web.It has coil split on the bridge humbucker.It actually sounds good I'll have to check their wiring now.

[@nomorebs]

Hey Dylan. Thanks for the channel. A lot of really great and useful information can be found here. Have a great day.

[@DylanTalksTone]

James Crider thank you so much

[@anthonyoresteen4767]

Thanks for using the correct term "coil split" rather than the common but incorrect term "coil tap". Taps on a coil have multiple finish leads on a single coil. Most often seen in transformers that have multiple voltage outputs. Taps are almost never seen in a guitar pickup.

[@johnsieff2921]

It's like fingernails scratching a chalkboard!

[@anthonyoresteen4767]

I might add that in the pedal steel guitar world, real coil taps have been/are used. My 1972 Sho-Bud 6139 has a single coil pickup that has a mid-coil tap that changes the tone.

[@stepanremes987]

This is great! I love your videos it's so interesting and makes everything click

[@TheFrankHuda]

Dude, so helpful. Sank ewe!

[@marsmediapro]

this video is VERY helpful! However, would it be possible to add a DPDT toggle switch instead of using a push/pull pot?

[@wilfredreedman5683]

yes it would work exactly the same. The push pull part of the pot is completely disconnected from the actual pot part so it's basically just a switch

[@patriciawilkinson7558]

Great video, Dylan. A project I'd like to see is more complicated. I have a Dimarzio Humbucker & a Golden age Humbucker from Dan Erlywine. The project is to hook up one of Dan's Mega switches to these two pickups with coil splits on each, preferably without going stereo or if that's necessary, a vid showing stereo hookup. My problem really is wiring the Mega switch. Thanks so much. I would be ever grateful to get this project completed.

[@Champ4844]

Hello Dylan I put two mini on/on/on switches in all my HB guitars. The HB first go into the mini switches and then to the 3-way or toggle switch. So I can parallel each HB. switch in series or as a single coil. I particularly like the completely underestimated parallel operation, which I prefer almost exclusively for its beautiful dynamic sound. The disadvantage here is that I have to drill two small holes in the body. I don't like the push-pull potentiometers because the small potentiometers don't have the best control range and they sizzle quickly. It is more important to me to use high-quality pots. greeting Reinhold

[@wooggeek]

Partial splits? With resistor and or with capacitor... Versus series parallel? Love your deep dives on topics!

[@williamcottone814]

Thank you! Great video, you have an art on how you explain your videos. Great info.

[@boyscoutguitarist3921]

I understand the opening statement now: so Humbuckers and single coils give off the same voltage. If you split the Humbuckers in half you not only lose half of the pickup but also half of the voltage and half the tone quality

[@robsII]

Very helpful, thank you

[@codyi5232]

THANKS man! wiring a HSH with a real 58 from a neck strat in the middle.

[@mmartinisgreat]

I'm more of a player than a technician. It's magic.

[@dahmc59]

You are awesome. I never had a Strat, so when ordering it (75th anniv.) i just went with Ibanez Jem set i was used too: h,s,h. The H @ neck was too thick and bridge H too brittle past 8 on volume. They have adjustable poles on extremea sides, so i had to turn both pickups around. I lowered the H @ neck and raised poles closer to bridge for definition. Wow, that was great! Like a p90. I only lowered the bridge slighly and raised the poles a little towards neck and now the brittle is gone even on 10 and it is just a great sound. Being a big dummy that i am, im sure there was an easier way?

[@BillZappasodi]

Dylan, always informative. Keep up the good work.

[@redstrat1234]

That's clever stuff - and a great explaination sir

[@Big-A-Russel]

Totally agree about the dynamics thing.

[@fraterlemuele.s.l.d.6435]

Can you do a video on how to wire a 5 way mega switch to a Seymour Duncan liberator(using the mega switch for coil splitting) and a Bournes PUSH/PULL as a tone pot with a 2A473J Capacitor for “Out of phase” which is the project I’ve been tackling for this custom wiring,thank you! #BUFFALO #NEWYORK

[@justrockon426]

I wire basically all my humbucker guitars with coil split whenever I can/get to it. I also like the out of phase feature, kind of a strat quack with both humbuckers, but really its more of a "notched wah" sound.I dont use these features as much as the bridge humbucker but its great to have them on hand. I will try to wire one in series/parralel next. imo more sounds= greater possibilities= more inspiration. And whichever guitar that inspires you the most is the best.

[@christianfoster3806]

Once you try a parallel switch, you'll mod all of your splitter switches for parallel switching. I used to install 3 way toggles that would do all three, but the split sound is identical to the parallel sound, but hums when you turn on the dirt. It amazes me that I'm the only player I know that does this.

[@DevilMayAsian]

So if both humbuckers are split, and one splits off the pole and the other splits off the screws, that gives that out of phase sound, like positions 2 and 4 on a strat?

[@DanHodson21]

Great wiring explanation!

[@saddle8bag]

Sounds great split. No noise either. Nice shirt.

[@MariaBethaniaCabrera]

I love your channel Dylan. Here I find answer to al my questions. I have one doubt about this split coil wiring though. I did this to my guitar with a mini switch and it's working fine. I can hear the change in tone and volume. However, I noticed that in split position the inactive/grounded coils still produce a sound when tapped with a metal stick like a screwdriver or so. Not as loud as the active coil though. Is that a normal behavior? Or should I check my wiring?

[@Lordbaccus]

Prs & Harley Benton add a resistor?

[@enthnd03]

I got an old Japanese Kramer with a coil split, really love the option, but wish the output change wasn't so drastic.

[@danardalin]

Add a resistor to the coil spilt. This will prevent some of the frequencies from bleeding off and will help control how much output drop you get.

[@keyboardwarrior6296]

If you were to short both starts would the opposite coil remain active?

[@oscarfernandoofpublicnature]

Hi man, thanks so much for your videos. One question, as i understand, if i do this to my humbuckers, their sound won't be different before and after i modified the circuit, right?? Meaning if i dont split them they will exactly the same as they did before the change

[@nathaniellarson8]

It's just wiring differently, it will be the same until you flip the switch.

[@TroyLeonardO]

You do a wonderful job!

[@bluwng]

How would you wire both coils in parallel? I am assuming in parallel out of phase will eliminate hum.

[@Shem8100]

Thankyou for this informative video.

[@PhilORourke]

Excellent thanks Dylan

[@671mach]

Great explanation, thanks!

[@carpocraftguitarscarpentry8469]

dang Dylan, I need your help I am trying to wire a double P bass with a push pull and there are no diagrams! Well, there ARE somewhere.... :D I know you are a guitar guy though, but a p bass is basically just a humbucker right?

[@derekamarpreet]

Pardon the dummy question, but which coil is active when you split the coil with a p/p pot - the inside or outside?

[@robertm.1098]

What pot lug does the hot wire go? The one your using to split? Why not the pickup switch selector?

[@jeroenjanssen5162]

Hi Dylan. You shoot great videos. Very educative. One humbucker question: Do the separate coils of a normal humbucker have to have equal specs to perform best (apart from rwrp)?

[@MichaelDonlinAwesome]

Good stuff Dylan, thank you.

[@Arwndr]

Thanks 👍🏻✨🌿☀️

[@vernnickelson3997]

How would you split 1 of 2 humbuckers when you have 1 volume and one tone and a 3 way toggle? The split one has the 4 wires and the other just 2. When would you use the push pull on the volume verses the tone?

[@michaelinglis8516]

I have my seven string and my 6 strong wired with an on off on switch for each pickup to select inner coil, humbucker, outer coil. And on my jb 59 set and my fishman fluence modern 7s the single coil positions are excellent tools in getting some great cleaner, clearer an brighter tones. I have a 10 band eq in my fx loop and kick it on to punch up my split coil tones which works really well, also a compression pedal will really bring weak split coils to life. Again, I love split coils there's excellent potential in them and if you don't think so your the problem not your split coils. Unless of course your trying to split vintage output paf style buckers. In that situation it's likely the pickups not you lol. I think adding split options to those pickups is a gimmick and kills split coils for people who've never tried them on a more modern output bucker.

[@rokfather]

I'm about to do exactly that with splitting some PAF vintage output. Why do you say that it's not good to split PAFs? Is that strictly based on the substantially lower output when you switch to single coil?

[@michaelinglis8516]

@@rokfather That is exactly why. Im not saying it wont work. But what i am saying is there will be a bigger gap between a split paf an a real single than a split modern output pickup and a single. Split pafs are why everyone thinks split coils suck. BUT! They can still sound great if you dial them in right and use a boost in the loop or a comp pedal. They arent going to be great for distorted tones but they will be excellent for cleans. Just dont expect them to sound good at the flip of a switch without changing your settings. Most people get back split coil tones cause they are lazy and lack the creativity to play towards the tone. In other words they expect to play normal and have it sound good instead of using the different character to play in a way that highlights the strengths of the split coils. Typically youll get a better second tonal option with 4 conductor (or 3 cond.) PAFs if you wire them for series/paralel. I prefer split coils but if the humbuckers in question are vintage output patient applied for types i would almost always wire them for humbucker/parallel. The takeaway in my opinion, you can certainly get good tones from split PAFs but if you find it doesn't suit your style theres other options. Dont give up on it right away either. Experiment.

[@rokfather]

@@michaelinglis8516 I agree with you. I don't tend to switch pickups mid-song, so the volume drop would not be an issue for me. I can see where it would be an issue where someone is actively trying to change sounds on the fly and there is not parity in the outputs. I have an FMT tele with a single push-pull for all humbucker (vintage output level) or all single coil and that switch definitely changes the entire charactor of the guitar. Looking to do a similar setup with my Epiphone LP that currently has EMGs that are just too hot for my tastes. The EMGs are only 2 conductor, so I had to buy some 4-conductor pickups to make this possible.

[@McLOVIN.....]

Cómo dejo activada la bobina blanca en una seymour duncan al hacer split coil??

[@CharLessMajor7Music]

How do I wire tone caps on the push pull tone pot

[@JC-11111]

What if I only have a 2 wire humbucker? Can I wire it up like a single coil and forgo the coil split, etc?? And just have hb & single coil on POS 4 on a Strat?

[@demonphreak2570]

You need 4 conductor to do coil tap.

[@bryantherocker]

Can I make the Tone Pot the Coil Split Push Pull ? and not the Volume Pot on a HSS Guitar ?

[@justrockon426]

yes.

[@bluwng]

S1 F1 and S2 F2 or St Ft and Sb Fb with t = top and b = bottom

[@dcool2u2]

Where are those finish wires going before you twist them together?

[@igdedzillaigdedzilla3324]

Most underrated channel on KZbin

[@DylanTalksTone]

sharing is caring

[@tobyfreitas1281]

fuck that was so helpful

[@danceon6927]

Hmm that's right this is the truth

[@DreidMusicalX]

Dylan I have an Ibanez RG HSH. with the 5 way switch. I was thinking this year of getting new pickups. I can do things myself with diagrams if they are drawn out simple enough. But were would my center Single coil be wired to in all of this?

[@oldguy5381]

What is the advantage of using audio pots for tone control?

[@Anshul1614]

I got a newbie question, after I did this mod I found out both north coils were split, which is not the middle position tone i was going for. I wanted both outer coils. How do i go about doing it? I did it on the volume put with alligator wires and I just connected the one I wanted to change, to the hot of the volume. I just don't understand how to do the same on the tone pot.

[@jasq99]

Cool video. Would it be possible to wire tone pot to coil split? So instead of having push/pull pot you’d use tone pot. Thanks

[@justrockon426]

you should try a on/off switch, its simple. I dont know how you could use say a 500k pot. maybe you could dial the volume of only one coil of the humbucker?

[@jonmatthews4254]

How can you split a humbucker so both the coils are active so there is no volume loss?

[@nomorebs]

Also, maybe you could follow this up with an explination of coil split vs coil tap. Some people say they are different. Ive personally heard techs say tapping reffering to splitting. So what is the truth?

[@justrockon426]

its either series/parralel or actual coil splitting. you should hear them on youtube youll get a better idea.

[@BeerZerkeraidean]

just ran an old Duncan dis to a three way switch to split it and have parallel in the middle. Not as much difference as the last pickup I tried, that was half the output. That one is balls out, (Baldwin Talent) lol

[@nathaniellarson8]

Awesome video! I have a Dimarzio Evolution bridge in my Epiphone LP Custom and a neck P-Rail on the way. I'm looking to obviously split the P-rail both ways, but I also want to be able to run it as a parallel humbucker would I be able to do that with just 2 push-pull pots? I don't really want to put more holes in the guitar if I don't have to, but it would be kind of cool to have a couple extra switches on it.

[@JonathanCarterSchall]

Am I to understand that each pickup must be wired the same? I prefer my neck's default mode in humbucker, and my bridge pickup mode in single coil. Right now, to do this, my neck's tone pot is up for humbucker mode, and my neck 's tone pot is down for single coil. I wanted to rewire the neck, so that when the tone pot knob is down, it's in humbucker mode, so that each knob is down, but the bridge is in single coil mode and the neck is in humbucker mode-I think you stated that this can't be done, because that would place them out of phase with each other-is this so?

[@dominicluzzi]

what do i do if i added a push-pull to 1 humbucker but when i split the coil it makes a loud static noise like a strat style?

[@raymonduncad1333]

ever tried a partial split? i hear it doesn't have as much volume drop as plain split...

[@ericdenton6664]

So, if I split the coil of 2 humbuckers when both are selected in theory I shouldn't the output be the same as 1 untapped humbucker? Eric D. Texas

[@tomarlinghaus7330]

Perfect!

[@Sm-ne8ff]

Hey Dylan, im building a semi hollow guitar and i have a Seymore Duncan JB Humbucker... will coil splitting give a different dynamic if split?? Its the only one pickup I'm using... thoughts ... suggestions ... tips ?? suggestions ??? Im super curious as to what my options could be...

[@miguellopez106]

Hi Dylan. Thanx for the video. I have a guitar with two humbuckers: tb4 jb duncan and I have a neck slot in which I really would like to have a powerful single coil. Since is a humbucker slot I did this: installed Duncan Distortion bridge inverted(screw north) and I connected red wire to switch(3 way) and bare/green to ground. Black and white are isolated. Since I want only one coil(north, screws) I split the humbucker permanently without any push/pull pot. To me it sounds just the way I wanted. 8.45 DC in the neck(a little more than a true single coil that would be 6.4 DC) my question is: do I need to do something to the black and white cables? Thank you. I hope this just works fine. I insist, it sounds just the way I expected, but I wanna make sure that everything is fine. Greetings!!!

[@harry_mair]

Is there a way to get a coil split on a three way switch with no push pull

[@shadowgolem9158]

I'm looking to split a single humbucker with a 3 way switch. Bottom, both, top and use a push pull so the "both" can be out of phaze. I'm doing something wrong though as it always sounds like a full humbucker and the push pull gives no sound at all. Any suggestions greatly appreciated. (Push pull on volume knob).

[@justrockon426]

i would not waste a pushpull pot for out of phase. I wired my SG std (490r 498t) out of phase. when both volumes are at 10 they are out of phase, when one of the volumes is turned down down to say 9 they become in phase. this goes for any guitar with a volume for each pickups.

[@themaddman3]

I’ve been struggling with wiring a DiMarzio pickup in coil tap any suggestions

[@rodolfoamaralguitar]

Hello. Is there a way to activate and onboard booster to increase the volume only on the coil split mode?

[@DylanTalksTone]

We just make a pickup that doesn't vomune drop when split. I just dont have to worry about

[@skimo61]

Might want to try using a compressor. If you maybe go 1.3:1 with a low threshold it might be less noticeable that you're using one but still get more even dynamics across both modes.

[@stepvanjoe3469]

So both "f" wires are soldered together and to the center lug on the switch?

[@nechastivi3187]

What about parallel connected humbacker?

[@hobiecat901]

you are saying Start to ground on volume and bottom right lug to volume also???

[@hobiecat901]

Never mind,I understand now.

[@ericjaybegay]

Hi Dylan, Do you do wiring diagrams? I need to coil spilt a lil 59 in a bridge position on a Stratocaster with an S-1 switch.

[@DylanTalksTone]

We have some over on Patreon and I am expanding them all the time

[@D-8-Tone2]

Why none of these videos never show a completed real example of a fully wired push pull pot? Just for educational purposes,ffs

[@timcotter8178]

I've never really seen active pickups coil split. Is there a particular reason?

[@ayusharipirala3121]

The output of active pickups go into a compression circuit which goes to the output so unless you use the coil split between the pickup and the compressor it won't be possible (i think it's a compressor but not sure)

[@superjarri]

Nice content Dylan. I have a question. I want to wire my neck pickup to work in split coil mode but I don't want to have a volume drop comparing to my bridge pickup ( my guitar has HH configuration). Is anything I can do to avoid that volume drop?

[@justrockon426]

you can try series/parralel instead of coil split. sound like coil split but louder and keeps it all hum free.

[@raymonduncad1333]

try a partial split...

[@pdk213]

I took my 2009 evh wolfgang special to the shop today to inquire about splitting. The guy only opened the area where the colume knob is. He said it's only a two wire and he wouldn't do it. Was he FOS?

[@DylanTalksTone]

Nope, you need 4 wire pickups to coil split it. He was correct.

[@pdk213]

I read and see videos of people splitting these coils on these models.

[@theccarbiter]

Is this the same as coil tapping ?

[@backlineguy]

why do you play lighter when using the single coil? Play the same...hit it just as hard in single coil mode as you are in hum bucker mode...then we'll REALLY hear a tone difference. Single coils rock too. Humbuckers are fatter for sure, but how will we hear that difference when you're not striking the strings as hard as you do with the 'buckers?

[@mistergoat7357]

Starting to understand but need more

[@christianfoster3806]

Instead of doing a coil split , try doing a series/ parallel switch. The sound of the parallel position, is virtually identical to a split humbucker, but is still hum cancelling. In my opinion, any perceived difference in tone is far outweighed by the hum cancelling.

[@meowtrox1234]

The audio of the voice in this video needs a coil split

[@kokodin5895]

what would happened if you instead of just grounding the split point of 2 coils simplt reversed the 2nd coil polarity and wired it paralell to the first coil? with dpdt switch it is totaly doable, the only question is, is this worth the effort and for what purposes?

[@justrockon426]

I think your referring to series/parralel, which sounds slighty less similar to a real single coil but with the advantages of not loosing as much "voltage" and being humcanceling as well.

[@LAME_MMA]

can you coil split any humbucker?

[@GrimYak]

tehpersiankid nope. Not all