Humbuckers, Teles, and Coil Tapping

[kissfanps]

So I am wondering if using a humbucker in the bridge of a tele and tapping so I can chose from single or double coil would work well? WIll I be able to get a true tele bridge tone when using it in single coil mode?

[Kyle]

A split bucker will never replace a single coil, they just don't have all of it, if that is what you want. There is extra magnet pull and other stuff, fields are also different. You will want a pretty hot bucker, so you can at least split to moderate output (I don't like to mention resistance as output, as it isn't but 12k + Alnico V or something should do it). You would want to split to the bridge coil, it is brighter (but quieter). If you get an on/off/on switch you can wire it to north coil/series/south coil and get all the above options.

Then you can consider the effects of the bridge plate typically on a tele on the magnetic fields, this can be mimiced with extra plates/ bass plates if you are clever though (SD custom shop is).

My preference for brightening a humbucker is generally parallel mode though, not splitting. The output difference is less drastic but still large and brighter. I can get spank out of both split and parallel coils well, but a lot of that is technique, I hybrid pick a tonne. You need that SNAP.

As for a tele with a bucker, ain't a tele no more. Just a single cut

[kissfanps]

Yeah, I figured it wouldnt be the same.

I just love the feel of a tele and it would be cool to have the tele tone and a humbucker tone all in one.

[Kyle]

Something I am sure we would all love. You could wire 2 tele pickups that are compensated for the bridge plate together in series and hope for the best in what it makes as a bucker, but that doesn't work too well either I gather, unless you are playing a PRS 513. My ASAT special (G&L) spanks to heck clean but is great driven and has no ash tray bridge, maybe check out one of those if you get a chance? If you wire up a 4 way switch with a series mode you can get really thick and meaty to top it off. Those pickups can really do it all, I go from country to dream theater with the bridge in a channel swap. Don't know what Leo did there, but it is awesome.

[burnsy]

Had the same idea myself years ago and butchered my '66 Tele.
Routed the bridge plate and body to accept a DiMarzio Super Distortion, which was the must-have pickup back in them days. Added a push-pull switch to allow series/parallel option on the two coils which I thought would give me the normal Tele sound plus a Humbucker option if I wanted it. No way! The guitar sounded good with both these options but it never sounded like a proper Tele again. The Tele sound comes from THAT guitar with THAT bridgeplate with THAT pickup, nothing else will do it.
I have recently put the guitar back to stock with a replacement bridgeplate, as the other had been severely modded, and Duncan pickups.
If ya like the Tele sound stick with the original setup.

[juzi]

I can get all my classic tele sounds plus huge distorted tones out of DiMarzio Area T bridge pickup. It sounds really good and versatile to my ears, goes from country to Van Halen! The harmonic overtones are great, you can really make it scream. I feel no need for a humbucker with this bridge pickup. They make a Hot Area T also, I have the regular version. The neck pu is nice too, clear and articulate. They don't hum and still sound like a true single coils plus more.

[rjohns1]

When I split my humbuckers, I use a 10k resistor instead of going straight to ground. Another thing you could do is switch in a pot to gradually split the pickup, and find the spot where it sounds the best to you. There are many great tones in there, and you can get surprisingly close to tele tones this way. Happy tone hunting!

[longfxukxnhair]

One thing to keep in mind when talking to a tech about this (so you get what you are paying for). A coil tap taps the wind. What you are asking about is a coil split. 2 different things.

[HappyBlues]

I use parallel instead of split coil too and loving it.

[thunderkyss]

Yeah, I figured it wouldnt be the same.

I just love the feel of a tele and it would be cool to have the tele tone and a humbucker tone all in one.

I love the Tele as well, but I've always loved that chrome covered neck pick-up. I have no problem throwing a full humbucker in the bridge.