to coil tap or not to coil tap

[blackba]

If you like that single coil sound, then might as well just do it. Basically...why not! It's always there to use if you want it, and if you don't want to use it, then just leave them pushed down. It's not like they sound any different when they're in humbucking mode, so it's just an added color you have access to if and when you want to use it.

+1, its nice to have the option. For me with my Les Pauls I use the coil split, not a lot, but again its nice that its there. Also, you may want to adjust your tone knob when you run it split as it usually is a bit bright if you leave the settings the same.

 

[1big1]

If you like that single coil sound, then might as well just do it. Basically...why not! It's always there to use if you want it, and if you don't want to use it, then just leave them pushed down. It's not like they sound any different when they're in humbucking mode, so it's just an added color you have access to if and when you want to use it.

true. if i need it.. it's there and i won't have to re-do anything. as long as i'm starting from scratch i might as well give myself some options.

 

[BeZo]

Just tap it. It's better to have the option and not use it, than need it and not have it.

 

[1big1]

that settles that issue for me. tapped it is. thank you gentlemen. now onto pickup selection.

 

[J.B.]

that settles that issue for me. tapped it is. thank you gentlemen. now onto pickup selection.

How’s it going stranger?!?! I say tapped too...

 

[MARK1970]

Coil tapping and coil splitting are two different things. Coil splitting cuts one coil out giving you the single coil sound. Coil tapping decreases the output of the whole pickup. I have an LTD with coil tapping. It did not sound like a single coil, so I figured the pickup did not split well. I did notice the hotness of the pickup did change. Volume wise it was the same. I later found out that it did not sound like a single coil because it was not a coil split. I now have it coil split and I get a nice coil sound.

 

[1big1]

thank you for clarifying that. they will be split.

 

[Badronald]

I've had/have some taps on a few guitars and I never use them.

I humbucker split isn't going to sound as good as a single coil for that sound. But, if you're gigging, I doubt someones's going to say "man, that pickup doesn't split well". If that's not a main part of your sound, it'll work.

For me, it's not really the tone, the tone is ok, the problem becomes the massive volume drop when going to the single.

 

[1big1]

that settles that issue for me. tapped it is. thank you gentlemen. now onto pickup selection.

How’s it going stranger?!?! I say tapped too...

i'm doing pretty well.. thank you. i'm heading to oshkosh tonight to build the stage for country and rock usa. after all the problems with stage collapses last year the promoter is bringing in a new larger.. and supposedly safer.. stage. just as i was getting used to building the other one. apparently 100k square feet wasn't big enough for the rock acts last year. we'll see how it goes. it doesn't look too bad weather-wise for the build.. which is always a concern. slight chance for rain or a hit or miss thunderstorm friday.. but tomorrow looks good.
how's everything in g.b?

 

[squank]

Coil tapping and coil splitting are two different things. Coil splitting cuts one coil out giving you the single coil sound. Coil tapping decreases the output of the whole pickup. I have an LTD with coil tapping. It did not sound like a single coil, so I figured the pickup did not split well. I did notice the hotness of the pickup did change. Volume wise it was the same. I later found out that it did not sound like a single coil because it was not a coil split. I now have it coil split and I get a nice coil sound.

This is mostly correct... but seemed potentially confusing regarding coil tapping, so I thought I'd elaborate.

You're right about splitting - it's only done with humbuckers, and it basically just uses one of the coils.

Coil tapping (I borrowed the wording for this) usually only applies to a humbucking pickup, but it can also be available on some single coils. Think about it like this: a pickup is a long coil of wire wrapped around a core that is magnetic. Say you have a coil that has 8000 feet of windings. It would put out it maximum voltage (volume) at that full winding. Now, if the coil of wire had a wired soldered to it at the 4000 foot spot of the coil and that was connected to the output, the voltage (output) would be approx. half. It 'TAPS' the coil of wire at a shorter length. When talking about a humbucker, the term coil tapping and coil splitting are often used interchangeably, and sometimes that is accurate. If the humbucking pickup is tapped in the middle, then one of the two coils is circumvented so that the humbucking pickup is now a single coil pickup. On a Dimarzio, Duncan, etc. that has FOUR CONDUCTOR wiring, you can tap a humbucking pickup easily. There are two wires for each coil and they usually have one wire from each coil connected together and one from each going to the switch or volume control.

In addition, coil taps can be done at any point in the wiring. So you can tap your hot single coil pickup at 75% of the coil's wiring to give you a more vintage tone. Or your humbucker could be tapped at 40% so you are using only part of one coil.

A coil split is a tap. But a tap is not necessarily a split.

 

[MARK1970]

Coil tapping and coil splitting are two different things. Coil splitting cuts one coil out giving you the single coil sound. Coil tapping decreases the output of the whole pickup. I have an LTD with coil tapping. It did not sound like a single coil, so I figured the pickup did not split well. I did notice the hotness of the pickup did change. Volume wise it was the same. I later found out that it did not sound like a single coil because it was not a coil split. I now have it coil split and I get a nice coil sound.

This is mostly correct... but seemed potentially confusing regarding coil tapping, so I thought I'd elaborate.

You're right about splitting - it's only done with humbuckers, and it basically just uses one of the coils.

Coil tapping (I borrowed the wording for this) usually only applies to a humbucking pickup, but it can also be available on some single coils. Think about it like this: a pickup is a long coil of wire wrapped around a core that is magnetic. Say you have a coil that has 8000 feet of windings. It would put out it maximum voltage (volume) at that full winding. Now, if the coil of wire had a wired soldered to it at the 4000 foot spot of the coil and that was connected to the output, the voltage (output) would be approx. half. It 'TAPS' the coil of wire at a shorter length. When talking about a humbucker, the term coil tapping and coil splitting are often used interchangeably, and sometimes that is accurate. If the humbucking pickup is tapped in the middle, then one of the two coils is circumvented so that the humbucking pickup is now a single coil pickup. On a Dimarzio, Duncan, etc. that has FOUR CONDUCTOR wiring, you can tap a humbucking pickup easily. There are two wires for each coil and they usually have one wire from each coil connected together and one from each going to the switch or volume control.

In addition, coil taps can be done at any point in the wiring. So you can tap your hot single coil pickup at 75% of the coil's wiring to give you a more vintage tone. Or your humbucker could be tapped at 40% so you are using only part of one coil.

A coil split is a tap. But a tap is not necessarily a split.

Great explanation. I have just learned about this the last month. I think the coil tap is pretty cool. I get no volume loss or even a change in tone. It is evident that it is not as hot. I can almost get the same sound rolling the volume down. I prefer the coil split. It sounds really nice for cleans.

 

[petejt]

I love that Fender Glassy Twang of the neck and middle single coil pickups, so as a fair compromise I had to get a coil split switch for the humbuckers in my Les Paul copy.