McCarty Pickup Swap and Coil Splitting

[Alpione]

Hey folks - question for the gurus here.

My impression is that PRS uses a split/tap scheme to allow part of the "deactivated" coil to still contribute some when split. This allows a stronger "single-coil" sound which I like.

Is this done in the guitar wiring or the PRS pickups themselves? So if I swap out to an aftermarket non-PRS set, will I lose that functionality and go back to a standard split?

Thanks.

 

[garrettb]

On the McCarty, it is done via the push/pull switch wiring.

 

[Tone-y]

I think Alpione is referring to the resister that connects to the 'deactivated' side of the coil which allows some of the signal through. I don't know whether that resister sits somewhere within the pickup, or the wiring scheme.
I think Garrett is suggesting that the resister that does this function is within the wiring for the push pull, which should mean that you won't lose that functionality with an aftermarked pickup.

 

[Boogie]

The resistor is usually soldered onto the push/pull switch, so as long as you wire the replacement pup in exactly the same way, you’ll preserve the circuit and it’s features.