Help! Axis coil split

[ZeeW]

I've just read the thread started by dfung asking about coil splitting on a Silo. This got me thinking can this be done on the Axis and can it be done without any invasive switches being installed on the body?

Also, are there any benefits to coil splitting rather than running humbuckers in parallel?

 

[beej]

Sure, you can replace the volume with a push-pull to split both buckers.

Upside: you'll get single coil-esque sounds. Downside is that on their own, they'll hum (in the middle position - in parallel - you'll get noise cancellation).

 

[ZeeW]

Thanks for the quick reply. I'd not be too happy with a lot of hum when used on their own. Is there a work around for this?

 

[meanMRmustard]

Try to score an EBMM silent circuit or a suhr backplate but I have no idea if the suhr one works as well as advertised. Someone else have an extra 2 cents to throw in?

 

[beej]

Hah, yeah, getting rid of unwanted hum is a big topic.

The only real way do to it is to sense noise with an external coil and subtract it from the signal. The EBMM Silent Circuit does it with a dummy coil that's fed through a buffer (very well done, you can also make your own if you're handy). You could do it with just a dummy coil but then the impedance from that coil loads your pickups (still works though). The Ilitch system (no longer licensed just to Suhr) uses a low-impedance air coil (big diameter, thicker wire, low winds) that accomplishes the same thing. (I've taken a backplate apart and built one myself as well.)

Anyhow ... yeah, short of building your own, for $300 you can get the Ilitch backplate. Or you can score an EBMM Silent Circuit second-hand and wire that up. Short of that, you're going to get hum.

Another possibility if you don't need "real" single coil sounds is to wire each pickup in parallel. Gets you pretty close, but noise-free. Or buy a Bill Lawrence Q-Filter, you can wire it up to reduce the inductance of the coils, gets you a very sweet sounding humbucker with lots of highs. (I have this wired up on a couple of guitars with Axis pickups.)

 

[jaki]

By the way:

I have an Axis w/ the Coil-Splitting Option.
When splitted, I use the inner Coils of the HBs. I really dig the Sound!
Although - as mentioned above - some Hum is definitly there.

I think the plitting option makes the Axis way more flexible, and it´s doesn´t have any real disadvantages.
Go for it!

 

[Jack FFR1846]

The hum is not outrageous. I have my Axis split with a push-pull and in a normal environment, I don't hear a ton of hum. Just remember that most single coil guitars out there have nothing to cancel noise.

 

[ZeeW]

This is all very encouraging... I've emailed my guitar tech pal and I shall see what he can do.