HRW coil tap report....

[cosmikdebriis]

Having established HRW's are a Schaller based pup I decided a coil tap was an option.

 

So I used the "series/parallel" tap option from the Stewmac site. Link below.

 

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/I-SCHALLER.html

 

The reason I chose this option was because the more conventional tap, (which actually just shorts out one of the coils), gives a reduced output and is not hum canceling.

This option gives less treble but is hum canceling and most importantly there is only a very slight reduction in output.

 

So... As I had a push pull pot, I swapped it out and gave it a go. Soldering was a little fiddly but nothing to dramatic. I ought to add I tapped the bridge pup and on my 150.

 

The end results were surprising to say the least...

 

With the selector switch in bridge the difference between tap and std was quite minimal, kind of what I was expecting. tapped there was a slight increase in treble, not exactly single coil sounding, but not as dark as the bucker. Output was reduced but barely audible and not really a problem.

 

The unexpected difference came with the selector in the middle position/both pickups.  I'm not exactly sure why but with the neck in bucker and the bridge in tap mode there is a whole new sound available  The nearest I can think to compare it to is the "quack" you can get from a (5 position) Strat . More Donald than Daffy perhaps but certainly worth having... A very distinctive sound indeed. 8)

 

Compared to installing a new pickup, the cost to do this is minimal and I'd highly recommend it as the difference in sound is quite amazing.

 

If anyone else fancies giving it a go and needs any advice I'd be happy to help.

 

There's plenty of info regarding this on the web and I'd suggest a bit of research before you get your soldering iron out.

[cod65]

Having established HRW's are a Schaller based pup I decided a coil tap was an option.

 

So I used the "series/parallel" tap option from the Stewmac site. Link below.

 

http://www.stewmac.com/freeinfo/I-SCHALLER.html

 

The reason I chose this option was because the more conventional tap, (which actually just shorts out one of the coils), gives a reduced output and is not hum canceling.

This option gives less treble but is hum canceling and most importantly there is only a very slight reduction in output.

 

So... As I had a push pull pot, I swapped it out and gave it a go. Soldering was a little fiddly but nothing to dramatic. I ought to add I tapped the bridge pup and on my 150.

 

The end results were surprising to say the least...

 

With the selector switch in bridge the difference between tap and std was quite minimal, kind of what I was expecting. tapped there was a slight increase in treble, not exactly single coil sounding, but not as dark as the bucker. Output was reduced but barely audible and not really a problem.

 

The unexpected difference came with the selector in the middle position/both pickups.  I'm not exactly sure why but with the neck in bucker and the bridge in tap mode there is a whole new sound available  The nearest I can think to compare it to is the "quack" you can get from a (5 position) Strat . More Donald than Daffy perhaps but certainly worth having... A very distinctive sound indeed. 8)

 

Compared to installing a new pickup, the cost to do this is minimal and I'd highly recommend it as the difference in sound is quite amazing.

 

If anyone else fancies giving it a go and needs any advice I'd be happy to help.

 

There's plenty of info regarding this on the web and I'd suggest a bit of research before you get your soldering iron out.

 

 

excellent!  now if i can just apply this to my semi-hollow, ditch the tone controls in favor of  a master volume and a 'variable phase', and try it on my SD59's in my 158.....  who knows what might happen ?