Zach Myers 2021 Coil Split

Then remove the knobs... I used a spare shoe lace as shown under this vol pot knob, just pull up carefully and don't fire it across the room.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/N4ypjSvNYGBKsqqB6

Then undo and pull out the pot ready for desoldering (you need an 11mm socket for the nuts). I cut off the zip ties that were in there to help get as much cable length as possible. I put a tea towel on top of the guitar to protect from slips with the iron or spitting solder (which just happens some times!)

https://photos.app.goo.gl/cJRvpTDo6SR5ZZex7

Tip for desoldering: it takes a while to melt the solder on the earth points on the back of the pot. The case acts like a heat sink, so a third hand is useful and just be patient!
 
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Once the pot is off you will have this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/ocz26ndsoguGTkQKA

Next is to take the heat shrink of the coil split wires. I used some really pointy electronics snips to cut up the back:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/iTMMrhhzTWzbsuCh7

Then you are ready to solder on the new prepped pot:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/fp2Nhye575LLn2qC8

I added a little heat shrink to the shield part of the wire (from the vol pot), I didn't want it to accidentally ground any of the switch terminals:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/Vnnc3cuDfoaL1Rv27

Then the coil split wires:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/1Yk3QkpZHt7N1AHK8

Give it a quick test and then reassemble in the pot in the guitar. Don't forget all the washers.
 
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Repeat for the other tone pot noting the different wire colours, then it's just the treble bleeds to go...

I cut them to a sensible length, added some heat shrink to the tips of the legs as there was a bare ground cable near one of them and then soldered them straight in.

Add some new zip ties to tidy it up.

Finally, once it was all done, it looked like this:

https://photos.app.goo.gl/sb6TLw4xMtMxKJx76
 
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That looks really good Simon! Just wondering where you bought your pots and treble bleeds? I'm thinking of just going with the PRS brand push/pulls so I don't have to ream out the holes but if the alpha ones have the same shaft diameter they may be an option. I can't find many good treble bleeds in the UK. Also, what grit paper did you use? Thanks so much for the tips and pics. Appreciate it man
 
That looks really good Simon! Just wondering where you bought your pots and treble bleeds? I'm thinking of just going with the PRS brand push/pulls so I don't have to ream out the holes but if the alpha ones have the same shaft diameter they may be an option. I can't find many good treble bleeds in the UK. Also, what grit paper did you use? Thanks so much for the tips and pics. Appreciate it man

No worries!

The pots and the caps for the tone pots came from Northwest Guitars and the treble bleed caps came from WD Music, both in the UK.

I actually used an abrasive pad thing that I've had knocking around for ages, at a guess it's about a 400 grit.

I'd be interested to hear how the PRS push pulls compare to the Alphas. I've got used to them now, but they do turn really easily. Some people like that, I prefer a bit of resistance on my pots. (pun intended!)

Have a look at some you tube videos on how to ream the pot holes. It doesn't look too difficult if you struggle to get the metric pots.
 
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Great write up! The diagrams were a huge help. I just split my 2021 ZM with PRS push pull tone pots and couldn't be happier. The PRS push pulls fit without any reaming needed (although there is a little tab sticking out meant to stop spinning that I had to snip) and, IMO, the resistance is perfect--I bit more resistance than the stock alphas, smoother than the CTS push pulls I've used in the past.
 
A little late to the party. I'd like to do a split coil mod to my 2017 zm (it's the old green color). This will be the first time I've done any mod to a guitar of any kind whatsoever so a couple naive questions; Do I need to separately purchase and solder the treble bleeds? Are those the orange capacitors you have attached to the pots in the pictures? Second question might be for Stageman; any issues with the PRS parts? I'm in the States so the UK suppliers may be inconvenient.
 
A little late to the party. I'd like to do a split coil mod to my 2017 zm (it's the old green color). This will be the first time I've done any mod to a guitar of any kind whatsoever so a couple naive questions; Do I need to separately purchase and solder the treble bleeds? Are those the orange capacitors you have attached to the pots in the pictures? Second question might be for Stageman; any issues with the PRS parts? I'm in the States so the UK suppliers may be inconvenient.
You can buy premade treble bleed kits on Reverb, as well as find PRS parts there if prsaccessories.com doesn’t fill the need.
 
You can buy premade treble bleed kits on Reverb, as well as find PRS parts there if prsaccessories.com doesn’t fill the need.
Thanks, Ovibos, for the lead. I didn't find what I was originally looking for but that led me to wondering if I was looking for the wrong thing. If I want my push/pulls on the tone knobs, can I install the treble bleeds on those pots or do the treble bleeds *only* work at the volume pots? If that's the case then I'll have to replace and/or modify all four pots.
 
Thanks, Ovibos, for the lead. I didn't find what I was originally looking for but that led me to wondering if I was looking for the wrong thing. If I want my push/pulls on the tone knobs, can I install the treble bleeds on those pots or do the treble bleeds *only* work at the volume pots? If that's the case then I'll have to replace and/or modify all four pots.
Treble bleed is a volume pot behavior.
 
As I suspected, meaning that if one wants push/pulls on the tone knobs *and* treble bleed then all four knobs must be replaced or modified. Now I have to choose my bleed configuration; series, parallel or capacitor-only.
 
As I suspected, meaning that if one wants push/pulls on the tone knobs *and* treble bleed then all four knobs must be replaced or modified. Now I have to choose my bleed configuration; series, parallel or capacitor-only.
You could keep the volume pots and add a treble bleed. Then install push pulls on tone pots. Essentially do a 594 wiring but add treble bleeds.
 
You could keep the volume pots and add a treble bleed. Then install push pulls on tone pots. Essentially do a 594 wiring but add treble bleeds.
Exactly and thus replacing two pots and modifying the other two. None remains untouched. I might start with the old school option of skipping the treble bleeds and just thinking of the rolloff as part of the instrument. If it bugs me, I can always open it back up. Some of the gurus claim that all the various treble bleeds also come with their own shortcomings such as too much hi-end at low volumes.
 
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