series and parellel quick question.

[_allan]

Would wiring my pickups in series rather than parallel (or vice versa) make a difference to their output, i.e. give them a very weak and limited output?

[j.arledge]

yes . Pickups most offent times are run in series . Running a pickup in parallel will result in a drop in output , but will usually increase the clarity of a pickup by adding more mid and high frequency presence .

The drop in output will depend on the pickup , some sound really good wired up in series , some not so good . It really does help if you need to clean up a pickup that is high powered and or muddy and you dont really want to get another pickup .

I tried this with a dimarzio super distortion and the results were very good , it had moderatly less power to my ears but the feel of the pickup was maintained even though the voicing was different . If that makes sence .

[ChopTart]

Series is usually how pickups are wired by default, and IMO just makes them sound more like a humbucker. Parallel provides a large drop in output as arledge said, which can be dificult to maintain when balancing with other Series-wired hums. I do all of my Humbuckers in Series because its generally more predictable (tone charts and other descriptions default to this), but I would figure some might just sound better parallel - pups are very odd beasts

[_allan]

cheers folks, thats was i really wnated to hear. the pickups have a lot of clarity, very trebly and middly, but no "umph" which is of course what i am after. i atleast have something to go with now in terms of getting it sorted and maybe my money back, thanks

[clk102293]

What are series and parallel wiring?
Series and parallel wiring usually refers to two separated but related issues. The most common usage refers to how two coils in a humbucking pick up are connected to each other. With series wiring the individual coils are connected end to end. Current flows first through one coil and then the other. This is the way most humbucking pickups are wired. With parallel wiring the individual coils are connected to each other at both ends and current flows through both coils at the same time. Pickups wired in parallel are brighter sounding and have considerably less output than an identical pickup wired in series.

The terms series and parallel are also used to describe the way in which separate pickups are connected to each other in the guitar by the pick up selector switch. In the vast majority of guitars the pickups are connected to each other in parallel. The same rules apply to pick ups wired in series and parallel as a humbuckers coils wired in series and parallel. Two pickups wired in series will have higher output and a fuller tone.

What are the differences between coil splitting and parallel wiring?
While coil splitting and parallel wiring sound very similar to most players, there are some differences. One difference is output. Splitting a 16k ohm DC resistance humbucker results in an 8k ohm single coil and that translates into a -3 db lowering in output. Wiring a 16k ohm DC resistance humbucker in parallel results in a 4k ohm DC resistance and a -6 db lowering in output.

Once again though many players find the tone and output to sound very similar. Another difference is that a split humbucker is no longer hum canceling while a parallel-wired humbucker with the coils out-of-phase is still hum- canceling. Players with high-gain amps may find parallel wiring more manageable because of this reason. With all this being said there are subtle differences in tone between parallel and split coil wiring and each player needs to decide which wiring is best for their particular needs.