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Either way, it's probably possible for a pickup builder to add a the wire to an existing humbucker but would doubt it's something that can be done easily at home.
Definitely get one with the appropriate wires.
IMO there's no downside to the separate wires even if you're not coil splitting; I found the braided wire in the SD 59 cumbersome and would always prefer separate wires if possible.
shunt/split are the way you remove one coil from the humbucker. That’s what most people do most of the time but they often get the terms wrong.
A tap often incorrectly refers to the same thing. A coil tap is actually a way to switch on/ off extra windings on a coil and you can have taps on single coils as well as humbucker
coil split- I want to remove one coil from a humbucker. I have 2 6k coils that make a 12k humbucker. I want a 6k single coil option. I need 3 or r conductors for this
coil shunt- as above
Parallel- I want to switch my humbucker between series and parallel modes series will give 12k, parallel will give 3k. I need 4 conductor wiring for this
coil tap- I have a 9k single coil with a tap at 6k. I need 3 conductor wiring for this. I have the options of a 6 or 9k single coil
Silly bugger- I could have a humbucker with a tap on each coil. 18k in total series. 12k with both coils tapped, 6 or 9k with a coil split. 3 or 4.5k in parallel... or many more permutations on this theme. This would need 3 conductors per coil, 6 for the whole Pickup.... but it’s still basically a + and a - for each coil... plus a tap wire at any point in the winding to add or remove more windings
in theory you can have multiple taps per coil, but that gets a bit more silly
tap is often misused in place of split or shunt
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If the humbucker only has 2 wires coming out of it, it will not support coil splitting.
If you have your eyes set on a pickup with single conductor + shield, it can be modded (by a professional, or risk destroying the pickup) into 4 conductor.
Some PRS humbuckers are supplied with the traditional push back cotton insulated conductor, braided screen and an separate plastic insulated wire connected to the series link between the two coils. Early DiMarzio Dual Sound (essentially, the Super Distortion + a DPDT switch) humbuckers also came like this.
Agreed. Whilst it is possible to perform this modification, it is not advisable for the average home tinkerer to attempt it. Chances are, something will get overheated or physically damaged in the process or the metal pickup cover goes back on wonky. You certainly would not want to be making such alterations to a vintage Gibson P.A.F. It might change the sound of the pickup. It would definitely reduce its perceived monetary value.
I'd think it might be very thin and quiet once split.
I never got round to it because I got hold of a quasitap pedal that gave me coiltap tones but I still might get round to it for the parallel and series variations too.
Common use of the langauge is not allowed, and suggests incompetence of the user of such. Must remind a certain Mr Fender that when I meet him in the afterlife.
Why not help the chap rather than drip on about the language we were brought up with (not like we couldn't understand him)!
Simply - if buying go for four conductor if you wish to acheive your goal simply. If you've got one with one or two wires it can be altered, but it's harder.
Most humbuckers can be altered to four coonductor with a little effort (I've done it a quite a lot) and it's ususally straightforward, though not entirely without risk, more so if it's covered.
A few of us filled him in on the difference between the two things to make sure he doesn't order the wrong thing then went on to help with his actual query.
Some people are pedantic and offensive on forums but it's good to respectfully let people know of things they're mistaken about, the OP seems to have taken it the right way and not felt defensive.
Just as it's perfectly possible for many of the forum members here to build a Les Paul from scratch it is perfectly possible for any of them to do their own pickup repair and modification work ... they are a pretty talented bunch. Making them aware of the pitfalls of trying it is a good plan, and let me say, opening up any covered humbucker is not for the faint hearted or ill equipped. Uncovered buckers are easier, and if you have done a magnet flip you at least know the geography of what's under the black tape! But I will write this large, IT'S REALLY EASY TO BUGGER UP A PERFECTLY GOOD PICKUP by a small slip. If you want to have a go, try it on a cheapo humbucker. I may do a photo article on just that actually.
As an aside, any of my own humbuckers I've supplied as two conductors I'll happily convert to four conductor for the price of return postage ... as it keeps our lifetime warranty intact.
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