At MBit Guitars, we're always exploring ways to enhance your playing experience, and one of the most effective solutions for eliminating hum in your Stratocaster is the use of dummy coils. Specifically, we're talking about the excellent dummy coils from Kloppmann Electrics, which offer a fantastic way to achieve a quieter signal without sacrificing that beloved Strat tone.
What is a Dummy Coil?
A dummy coil, in essence, is designed to cancel out the single-coil hum without altering the inherent character of your pickups.
Kloppmann offers these dummy coils separately or as part of a convenient DC kit, which includes a dummy coil, a 250 kOhm push/push potentiometer, and all the necessary circuitry. When ordering, it's crucial to specify the pickup model you intend to use the dummy coil with. If not specified, it will be matched to the popular ST60 model.
Wiring Options for Your Stratocaster Dummy Coil
The dummy coil works by being connected in series with your pickup signal. It's built and wound much like a standard Stratocaster pickup and is typically mounted to the pickguard with its bottom plate, rotated 180 degrees relative to your other pickups. The pickup signal (white cable) connects to the coil start of the dummy coil (black cable).
There are two primary ways to wire a Kloppmann dummy coil into your Stratocaster:
1. BLUG Wiring: This method is ideal for a RwrP (reverse wound, reverse polarity) set of pickups.
In this setup, the neck and bridge pickups are "drowned," effectively making their intermediate positions hum-free. The dummy coil also features a bypass via a 5-way switch. It's important to note that the middle pickup remains "undrowned" in this specific circuit.
2. Straight Wiring: For those with a straight set of pickups, straight wiring allows you to retain your existing tone switching levels.
Enhancing Your Setup: Beyond Basic Bypass
For further versatility and granular control over your tone, you have options beyond simple on/off bypass.
Adjustable Bypass Circuit
An adjustable bypass circuit with a potentiometer allows you to dial in just how much of the dummy coil's effect you want. For this, high resistance values (between 500k and 1m) are recommended to reduce hum effectively while minimizing impact on your tone.
The Blend Edition Wiring
Kloppmann's DC Kit (Blend Edition) takes this concept further, offering a dedicated setup for precise blending. This kit typically includes the dummy coil and a high-value potentiometer (often ) specifically designed to blend the dummy coil's hum-cancelling effect seamlessly into your signal. Instead of just bypassing the dummy coil completely, the Blend Edition allows you to gradually introduce or reduce its influence. This offers a nuanced control, enabling you to find that sweet spot between maximum hum reduction and any subtle tonal shifts that might occur, giving you ultimate command over your Strat's voice.
You can also integrate a Treble Bleed circuit, similar to how it's used with a volume potentiometer, to maintain clarity as you roll back your volume.
By understanding these wiring options and the benefits of Kloppmann dummy coils, including the advanced control offered by the Blend Edition, you can enjoy a significantly quieter Stratocaster, allowing your true tone to shine through without the annoying hum.
This blog post was inspired by the helpful information found on the Kloppmann Electrics Support & Service page.