simple modification on a guitar I love...

[shawnshack]

I want some opinions before I have some holes drilled on my guitar. I have an OLP MM1F that I love. I would like to put coil splitters on it. My thoughts were to have a couple mini toggle switches installed (1 for each pickup). Doing push pull pots isn't really a possibility because I'd want to be able to do each pick up separately, but there is only 1 volume knob, no tone knob (which I actually like). Not only that, I would prefer the toggle switches because It seems like it would be easier to make quick changes with (I've never liked messing with push/pull knobs). I have a local shop that can do it for a fair price and I think they know what they are doing, but I'm just wondering if anyone has had bad experiences with modifying a guitar they LOVE.

I know it can happen, but would most of you leave well enough alone, or would you throw caution to the wind?

[PanaDP]

Do it. The only time I'd hesitate to make a guitar better for myself to play is if it was vintage. Get some painters tape and, with it in the playing position (both standing and sitting) use the tape to figure out where would be most comfortable to put the switches. Then you can stand back and see if it would look good like that, too. Make adjustments as necessary.

[Giraffecaster]

have you ever played a split humbucker single coil? it may not sound like what you're after

[Brion]

Duncan has these pickup rings with 2 mini slider switches in them that allow you to hook up your pickups for all kind of options without molesting your guitar. Not familiar with your guitar to know if it has pickup rings or not, but it's definitely an option...

[shawnshack]

yeah, I've played a couple guitars with coil splitters...It wouldn't be my "main" sound, but it'd be nice to have a little more flexibility. however, I don't know anyone who has done this to their guitar. does it effect the sound of the pickup when not being split?

[germs]

...eh.

i'd be more apt to putting in a coil tap pot, than a mini switch.

often, it's easier to add to the machine over the years than produce a complete and total overahaul with perfect results the first time.

but hey, worst case scenario: it was a $150 guitar, right?

[dk123123dk]

Coil taps are overated IMHO. I almost always regret permanent mods too.

dk

[shawnshack]

a little more than $150 . Plus I have some other upgrades on it (bridge and pups). But to me it's worth far more. I love the sound and it honestly feels like it was carved out of a chunk of wood specifically for me. It just feels right!

[Help!I'maRock!]

i use push pull pots on my PRS. two humbuckers. one volume. one tone. 3 way switch. pull up on the volume pot and it puts the neck pickup into parallel operation. not quite a single coil, but thinner and more trebly than full out, without any hum. tone control does the same thing to the bridge pickup. totally reversible and easy to use.

[jay42]

Parallel humbucking may be more appealing than split coil. I like it better...ymmv