59/09 Pickups : To Split or Not to Split?

[Malloc]

All these recent announcements of awesome splitting TCI pickups have me seriously wondering if my P22 has some untapped potential. I’ve considered getting the push/pull split mod before, but have hesitated since my rusty old 59/09s (yes I had PTC do it since I prefer them over the original P22s) don’t have the new splitting tricks.

Anyone think it’s still worth getting the split mod for older pickups like 57/08 or 59/09?

 

[gush]

Absolutely yes!

 

[WA Paul]

Absolutely yes!

What he said!

 

[Malloc]

So with one push/pull it’s basically just adding the potential to do isolated bridge or neck instead of both simultaneously in position 4?

I should add the disclaimer: I find it difficult to use position 2&4 in live settings already due to the obvious volume drop.

 

[gush]

I have my McCarty set up with push pull vol and tone pots. Vol splits neck tone splits bridge.

Kind of like 408 switching.

 

[Callan]

I added push pull to my 245 (57/08 pickups), and yes, well worth it - especially if you like to switch between clean and dirt sounds

 

[gush]

I just realized you must have 5 way blade or rotary.

Prs offers a mod. Add push pull to blade which gives you single coil options in 1, 3, and 5.

 

[Malloc]

Ya I have the 5 way blade. The PTC push/pull mod was what I meant by “split mod” in original post.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get it done even if they do eventually sell MT or TCI pickups separately.

 

[gush]

Ya I have the 5 way blade. The PTC push/pull mod was what I meant by “split mod” in original post.

I guess it wouldn’t hurt to get it done even if they do eventually sell MT or TCI pickups separately.

I want it done to my cu24 but I'm a little concerned that I might lose that sweet stuff this guitar has fooling around with wiring.

 

[Malloc]

Update: I did my own push/pull split variant based on another users suggestion and it turned out well. Of the new sounds added, I really like the split bridge alone and bridge plus neck (screw coil I believe) for some really twangy sounds I couldn’t get before. Somewhat underwhelmed by the neck alone and neck+bridge both split since they seem a little thin and spikey, but maybe some EQ will net me a usable result there too. My original humbucker sounds weren’t disturbed at all so overall I feel it was worth the trouble.

 

[gush]

Update: I did my own push/pull split variant based on another users suggestion and it turned out well. Of the new sounds added, I really like the split bridge alone and bridge plus neck (screw coil I believe) for some really twangy sounds I couldn’t get before. Somewhat underwhelmed by the neck alone and neck+bridge both split since they seem a little thin and spikey, but maybe some EQ will net me a usable result there too. My original humbucker sounds weren’t disturbed at all so overall I feel it was worth the trouble.

I have found the split sounds pretty useful for recording on my McCarty mods. What I didn't absorb was the split 5909 was too harsh for my live setup.

I had a show ladt friday night and I put fresh strings on it thursday night. While I had strings off, I flipped bridge pickup around so the screw coil wasn't so close to the bridge thinking it might tame the harshness a bit.

At this point I can't really say if I'm happy with it this way. The monitors sounded like crap at the show. They really wanted low stage volume so I was relying on the monitor mix. Lot of undesirable factors going on so I really just focused on playing well.

We flew out the next day for Anniversary vacation so I haven't really had time to fool with that guitar.

I will get to work on another recording next week so I'll be able to get a good idea if flipping the bridge pickup was worth it.

 

[Malloc]

Forgot to mention: the volume drop is still noticeable, but I’ve already been incorporating a small boost stage on my Helix to deal with the existing splits so it hasn’t been a big deal in practice.