Splitting the coils on the 20-th silo

[D.K.]

Hi all!

I'm toying with a thought to have a guitar tech install me a push-pull pot for the single-coil sounds on the 20-th silo. Primarily I am after the tone that You get from the BFR JP in the standard split coil position (2). So, here are my questions:

1) Has anyone done that and if so, do You still have a wiring diagram for that? I know it should be nothing that hard, but still would prefer to benefit form someone else's exscessive knowledge - since messing with the 20-th's perfection is a kind of a sacrilege in itself, and it should be well thought of before actually doing it.

2) How do the splitted PAF classics sound - can You get a strratty middle position type sounds from those? (Lionel?)

3) Which push-pull switch would You recommend for it?

4) And of course - am I crazy to be willing to do it, and do You have any suggestions how to cure my passion, love and admiration for the tonal and visual perfection commonly known as "the 20-th silo"?

Thanks a lot to You all in advance, now on with the answers!

 

[whitestrat]

2) How do the splitted PAF classics sound - can You get a strratty middle position type sounds from those? (Lionel?)

Considering a standard Silo is split and mixed with a singel in the position 2 and 4 position, and judging from Dizzy's clip, I'd say the Virtual PAFs would sound nice when split. I've not tried it though...

I leave single coil tones to REAL single coils...

Just kidding. The JP6 and the Silo Spec HSS both feature split singles. Honestly, I find that 2 humbuckers split gives a nice and clean sound, but VERY thin. A Single mixed with a split hum ala the Silo Spec is still likable.

 

[D.K.]

Well, I do have real single coils in my silho, too, so don't look down on me, Sir!

Actually, I din't find the split sound on a pet thin at all - I liked it very much, to be honest, and I thought that it would sound great given the the extraordinary wood quality and tone of the 20-th.

 

[whitestrat]

Well, I do have real single coils in my silho, too, so don't look down on me, Sir!

Actually, I din't find the split sound on a pet thin at all - I liked it very much, to be honest, and I thought that it would sound great given the the extraordinary wood quality and tone of the 20-th.

Hahahaha... That's not what I meant...

When I compare the split tons on the JP with the postion 2s and 4s of my Silo Specs and my ALs, I much prefer the singles. Then again, it COULD be due to the fact that next to the full hum tone on the JP, the split sounds weak...

I say try it on the 20th... Might be nice!!!

 

[beej]

Do you want to be able to split the 'buckers on their own? Or just have the split in the middle position?

The first case is pretty straight forward, just use a 500k push/pull pot to split both HBs at once. Once split, you'll have the one-coil-from-each-bucker sound in the middle position.

The Petrucci approach (bridge/one-coil-from-each-bucker/neck) is more involved. You'll need to replace the toggle switch with a 4P3T switch. Dimarzio has this wiring diagram on their site.

 

[D.K.]

Thanks a lot, Beej!

Actually I thought about having the "inner coils only" in the pulled position 2 as a primary target, but it seems it might be easier to split them all the way to get an in-between tone and then something...