Custom 5 in parallel?

[jmcorey]

So I have been going round and round with what new pups to put in my Godin LG HMB. After a lot of reading, I've decided on a custom 5 bridge and jazz neck.

The thing is that the Godin comes stock with a 5-way super switch, and usually runs 1) neck coils series, 2) neck split, 3) both HB (in parallel), 4) bridge split, 5) bridge coils series.

Since I hate noise, I don't split coils, so I am thinking of changing the wiring so that position 2 is both inside coils in parallel (stratish) and position 4 is both coils of the custom 5 in parallel.

Has anyone tried a C5 in parallel? My concern is that it would notch the a lot. But I don't mind split sounds, I just hate hum.

I have read that people trying a C8 in parallel can get a C5-ish tone.

Thanks.

[jmcorey]

No one? No one has tried a custom 5 in parallel?

OK, how about split?

[GuitarDoc]

Haven't tried the C5 in parallel, but the C8 gets a very nice jangly tone.

[Mad Raxz]

Parallel is humcancelling and only reduces the output 30% instead of 50% (coitap), if you enjoy single coil sounds but hate hum this is a good option http://www.guitarelectronics.com/pro...Volume-06.html
If you want an outta phase quaky tone, but all 5 positions hum cancelling, this is an interesting option http://www.guitarelectronics.com/pro...Volume-03.html

[jmcorey]

Thanks, guys, these replies look helpful.

[GuitarDoc]

Parallel is humcancelling and only reduces the output 30% instead of 50% (coitap)...

You mean "coil split" not "coil tap".

"Only reduces output 30%"? Even when considering inductance as well as resistence I think it may be a bit more reduced than that. If you are only looking at resistence, parallel reduces the resistence 75% from series and it's 50% the resistence of a split coil.

[FuseG4]

I've played a C5 with the 2 C5 coils in parallel with each other. I had a one pickup guitar with a C5 on a 3way switch, it did series/split/parallel the bucker.

Parallel and split honestly sounded fairly close in mix of bass mids and treble but the split sound was more useable. In parallel it sort of sounded like a weak but twangy strat bridge pickup with a little of that hollowness of the 2/4 position mixed in. Compared to split and series though, it felt flat, weak, and uninspiring.
Split was much better. It had output that felt more matched to the series mode, and the same basic EQ as the C5 but with that extra single-coil presence and punch, at the expense of a little output. but it sometimes felt a little ice picky esp. with the tone all the way up.

I'm pretty sure that I also remember trying a C3 and a C8 in that guitar. The C8 split was closer to what one would expect from tele single coil but with thicker bass and darker, honker mids. The C3 was weak and too bright when split but the parallel mode had a very sweet, sparkly clean, but again very little output.

and no I don't think the C8 in parallel sounded anything like a C5 in series.