Nordy Fatstacks 3 option coil switch (audere pre)?

[crusie]

Hiya,

some time ago I modded my läkland skyline 55-01 with an audere 3zb (3 band) pre with an active switch and nordstrand fat stacks. When I installed it I didn't think of the coil tapping. From what I read on here it's a big mistake.

so now I'm in this situation - I got an active/passive switch I never use ( preamp is always on) and I'm thinking about replacing it with a coil tap switch.

I just can't get my head around the diagram.

I'm thinking a 3 way switch
1. where where both pickups are tapped (single coil)
2. as now ( both humbucking)
3. maybe going for a humbucking bridge pickup and single coil neck. ( think p-nut/ sandberg tm5)

is it even possible ? I got the soldering skills - just not able to get my head around the diagram.

kind regards

Crusie

[stflbn]

Switch for each pickup individually.

[Ric5]

I use the 4 band Audere preamp with no switches.

[crusie]

Originally Posted by stflbn

Switch for each pickup individually.

I see your point - I just don't want to drill any more holes in my bass - at least not if I can do all this with one switch.

Originally Posted by Ric5

I use the 4 band Audere preamp with no switches.

ok... but how does that help me? you saying I should flat out forget doing this and just remove the active passive switch ?

[line6man]

What you've described is a coil split, not a tap. Though the wiring would be the same for either, in this case.

I would assume that the humbucking mode is series, correct?

You would use a DPDT Center-Off mini toggle to do this. The wiring is the same as standard series to north coil switching, but with both throws of one pole connected together.

I can draw a diagram for this later, if you need it.

[Stealth]

I think they do Fat Stacks both in Ser and Par mode and they use different coil voicings.

crusie, do you know what kind you got? Can you check with Nordstrand?

[crusie]

Originally Posted by Stealth

I think they do Fat Stacks both in Ser and Par mode and they use different coil voicings.

crusie, do you know what kind you got? Can you check with Nordstrand?

I bought them second hand - is there any way to check this ? and what difference does it make in regards to the wiring ?

Originally Posted by line6man

What you've described is a coil split, not a tap. Though the wiring would be the same for either, in this case.

I would assume that the humbucking mode is series, correct?

You would use a DPDT Center-Off mini toggle to do this. The wiring is the same as standard series to north coil switching, but with both throws of one pole connected together.

I can draw a diagram for this later, if you need it.

as for the either series or paralell - I can't answer that yet - but I'd like you to draw me a diagram - if it's different for either series or parralell - you might want to wait until I've found out which I have.

[BruceWane]

Originally Posted by Stealth

I think they do Fat Stacks both in Ser and Par mode and they use different coil voicings.

crusie, do you know what kind you got? Can you check with Nordstrand?

You're thinking of Nordstrand dual coils. They have different windings available depending on which way you anticipate using them most.

I'm sure they'd custom wind a set of Fat Stacks if you asked, but "off the shelf" Fat Stacks are all the same.

[line6man]

I'd think it unlikely for a stacked pickup to have parallel wired coils, as there are not many winds on each coil, so parallel would give a pretty low impedance output without much volume.

Someone can probably verify it.

[BruceWane]

As far as your wiring, it's really pretty simple with Fat Stacks - you just short the red wire to ground to make 'em single coil. In your current installation (humbucking), the red wire isn't used, it's just taped off. So run the red wire from each pickup to a DPDT switch, like this - switched one way is both single coil, middle position is both dual coil, switched the other way is neck single, bridge dual coil.

[Stealth]

Originally Posted by BruceWane

You're thinking of Nordstrand dual coils. They have different windings available depending on which way you anticipate using them most.

Whoops, you're right.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by BruceWane

As far as your wiring, it's really pretty simple with Fat Stacks - you just short the red wire to ground to make 'em single coil. In your current installation (humbucking), the red wire isn't used, it's just taped off. So run the red wire from each pickup to a DPDT switch, like this - switched one way is both single coil, middle position is both dual coil, switched the other way is neck single, bridge dual coil.

The "neck" and "bridge" labels should be the north coils' negative phase leads and south coils' positive phase leads. Then the north coils' positive phase leads are wired normally as hots, and the south coils' negative phase leads get grounded.

[maurilio]

Originally Posted by BruceWane

As far as your wiring, it's really pretty simple with Fat Stacks - you just short the red wire to ground to make 'em single coil. In your current installation (humbucking), the red wire isn't used, it's just taped off. So run the red wire from each pickup to a DPDT switch, like this - switched one way is both single coil, middle position is both dual coil, switched the other way is neck single, bridge dual coil.

correct as long the switch is a ON/OFF/ON

Just a note, there will be no humcan effect when in "neck sc/ bridge dc" between the two

[crusie]

thanks for all the info and the diagram - really helpful! - I talked to my guitarist yesterday about doing this, he said that there most likely would be a big volume difference between single coil and humbucking. is that the case ? and if so - can it be fixed with a capacitator or something ?
I'm thinking especially in the 3rd option where I have sc at neck and hb at bridge. of course I could use the balance pot for evening things out but still...

Originally Posted by maurilio

correct as long the switch is a ON/OFF/ON

Just a note, there will be no humcan effect when in "neck sc/ bridge dc" between the two

damn 60 cycle hum! well I had my bass at the local luthier some time ago - he did an awesome job in shielding it with some paint - since then it's been dead quiet maybe that will help on not having hum canceling either. anyways I still have good 'ole humbucking mode if it's a total noise hell.

[line6man]

Originally Posted by crusie

thanks for all the info and the diagram - really helpful! - I talked to my guitarist yesterday about doing this, he said that there most likely would be a big volume difference between single coil and humbucking. is that the case ? and if so - can it be fixed with a capacitator or something ?
I'm thinking especially in the 3rd option where I have sc at neck and hb at bridge. of course I could use the balance pot for evening things out but still...





damn 60 cycle hum! well I had my bass at the local luthier some time ago - he did an awesome job in shielding it with some paint - since then it's been dead quiet maybe that will help on not having hum canceling either. anyways I still have good 'ole humbucking mode if it's a total noise hell.

Yes, there will most likely be a big output difference, and yes, there is always 60Hz hum with single coils, unless they are RWRP and at the same volume.

Adding a capacitor will only cut high frequency content. What you want is a resistor, which applies the same impedance, more or less, across all frequencies. This would reduce the humbucker output to better match the single coil output. People have had varying degrees of success with this. It may not be desirable.

[Stealth]

Line6man, a trimpot-and-glue approach would go well there as well, wouldn't it? What order of magnitude would the trimpot have to be, up to 10K?

[line6man]

Originally Posted by Stealth

Line6man, a trimpot-and-glue approach would go well there as well, wouldn't it? What order of magnitude would the trimpot have to be, up to 10K?

Maybe 100k linear, if it is not grounded. Perhaps 220k? It depends on the impedance and volume difference.