reverse wound pickups

[jorg]

Hmm, some strats have reverse wound/reverse polarity middle pickups. Theoretically , the neck and middle pickups could be swapped if the leads are reversed on both. No?

[ashcatlt]

Reversing the leads will effectively reverse the winding direction, but the magnetic polarity will remain the same. To change this requires some fairly major surgery.

[jorg]

Basically that was my question. I've always seen them listed as reverse wound/reverse polarity and didn't know if that meant both or if it was just someone's way of saying its different. Kinda like tremolo/vibrato. ;D

[ashcatlt]

Yeah, it needs to be both in order that the noise be cancelled (actually, reduced is a better word) without cancelling the desired sound from the strings. If you just reverse the leads without also flipping the magnet then when you combine pickups they will have what we call OoP (Out of Phase) sound, which is usually thin, or hollow, or "reedy."

Too tired now for a better explanation.

[jorg]

I understand out of phase. . .

[ChrisK]

or if it was just someone's way of saying its different. Kinda like tremolo/vibrato.

Yeah, since in this example they ARE different.

Vibrato = Frequency Modulation (FM) a.k.a. the tremo'Leo on Fender guitars that changes the string tension and hence string frequency (except for the one's with the same effect called vibrato when it's a Bigsby mounted on a Fender guitar).

Tremolo = Amplitude Modulation (AM) a.k.a. the vibro'Leo in Fender amps that changes the output level of the amp in a cyclical varying manner (except for the one's with the same effect called tremolo when the moon is in phase, the wind is right, and the avocado is in bloom).


If one swapped the middle and neck pickups in a guitar, without regard to any other pickup such as the bridge, the sound phasing and hum cancellation will be identical.

If one swapped the middle and neck pickups in a guitar and reversed the wiring connection on both, without regard to any other pickup such as the bridge, the sound phasing and hum cancellation will be identical.

If one swapped the middle and neck pickups in a guitar and reversed the magnet polarity on both, without regard to any other pickup such as the bridge, the sound phasing and hum cancellation will be identical.

If one swapped the middle and neck pickups in a guitar and reversed the magnet polarity and the wiring connection on both, without regard to any other pickup such as the bridge, the sound phasing and hum cancellation will be identical.


However, if one only changed one of them...........


The only things that matter for hum cancellation (assuming that the pickup's orientations are identical) are the wiring directions (they must be opposite).

The things that matter for in-phase signal generation (assuming that the pickup's orientations are identical) are the wiring direction, the magnet polarity, and the instantaneous direction of string movement. If one changes any two, things remain the same. If one changes one or all three, the signal phasing is reversed. (Note that the instantaneous direction of string movement is somewhat difficult to reverse for just one pickup.)

[jorg]

Note that the instantaneous direction of string movement is somewhat difficult to reverse for just one pickup.

I'm workin' on that. . . ;D

[dajosguitars]

To reverse the polarity of the magnets, you need only purchase a pair of repair magnets from Stew-Mac and following their instructions to magnitize the pole pieces, (you space the magnets about an inch apart and pass the pickup between them) you can reverse the magnets easily. Make sure you pick up a polarity tester so that you know what you're doing, and to check your work.