Coil Split vs. Isolated Coil Split? PRS TCI pickup research

[gpdb]

While doing more research on PRS's TCI "S" pickup, the PRS customer service informed me that the TCI pickups are designed to have an "isolated coil split" instead of just a regular split. Here's their definition of the difference:


SPLIT: A coil split turns off one of the coils by shorting it to ground and leaves the 2nd coil fully active.



ISOLATED SPLIT: An isolated coil split removes one of the coils from the circuit and leaves the 2nd coil fully active.

I've never heard of this concept, and I'm curious what the actual difference would be. It seems this difference is what they mean when they say their pickups have better single coil sounds. Has anyone else heard of this? Here's the link to the article: support.prsguitars.com/hc/en-us/articles/4415431452443-What-are-the-differences-in-TAP-SPLIT-and-ISOLATED-SPLIT-Pickups-

[newey]

Mar 17, 2022 8:49:06 GMT -5 gpdb said:

I've never heard of this concept, and I'm curious what the actual difference would be.

I'm dubious that there is any actual difference. Notice that, after the definition you quote, PRS never actually says what the difference is, or indeed, that there is any difference. We have always used the terms "coil split" interchangably to describe both scenarios.

It seems this difference is what they mean when they say their pickups have better single coil sounds.

I doubt that's what they mean, this is a difference in the wiring of the coil split, not a difference in their pickups versus others. Any humbucker could be wired in either fashion.

Sounds like just marketing to me.

[reTrEaD]

Mar 17, 2022 8:49:06 GMT -5 gpdb said:

I've never heard of this concept, and I'm curious what the actual difference would be.

The subject of shunted coils and unused coils connected to hot have found its way into discussions on GN2 since early in our history.

Neither is a deal-breaker as the effects (shunting the unused coil causing loss of highs in the coil that is in use, unused coil having one end connected to hot causing more hum) are very slight. But we always recommend avoiding either of these, when practical to do so.

The common strategy is to stack the coil that's desired when split, on the top of the series string. Then use a SPDT switch to connect ground to the (-) connection of the series string for full series HB, or connect ground to the series link for split.

[gpdb]

Mar 17, 2022 11:46:38 GMT -5 reTrEaD said:

Mar 17, 2022 11:46:38 GMT -5 reTrEaD said:

The subject of shunted coils and unused coils connected to hot have found its way into discussions on GN2 since early in our history.

So this is actually a thing though? Is it something that has to be wired into the pickup, or is it something that any 4-conductor pickup can do? My question would be if that way is better, than why is it only on their models with coil split switches (like the 24-08) instead of all models? How do you wire an isolated coil without sending the other to ground?

[newey]

Mar 17, 2022 14:27:02 GMT -5 gpdb said:

How do you wire an isolated coil without sending the other to ground?

Both ends of the unused coil are disconnected.

Mar 17, 2022 14:27:02 GMT -5 gpdb said:

So this is actually a thing though?

I said I didn't think there would be any noticeable difference. RT said any difference would be "slight". So, we're both saying, essentially, "no", we don't think it's a thing.

The discussions we have had over the years on this pretty much came to a consensus opinion that any difference between the 2 approaches would be inaudible, or close enough so as not to make any real-world difference. IMO, PRS is just engaging in some marketing talk on this.

But I remain open to being convinced by someone doing an A/B comparison- same guitar, amp, etc, with a switch to go between the 2 circuits. But doing so is a bit of a fraught proposition as it is hard to control for strumming technique and other variables.

Is it something that has to be wired into the pickup, or is it something that any 4-conductor pickup can do?

Any 4-conductor humbucker can be so wired. It just needs an extra switch pole to disconnect both ends of the unused coil. certainly, if the switch pole is available to disconnect the one coil, I would do so, but it's easier and requires less wiring to just short the unused coil to itself and probably makes no practical difference.