Does magnentic polarity affect pups sound?

[Elliot]

I was just reading a review by one of the learned and self appointed professors of the University of Harmony Central (you know, the 35 year 'pro' players [who you have never heard of] who junk everything and seem to have 35 mint condition original 50s strats to compare new guitars to) and he was making some thing about Fender north winding their pickups for the 57/62 range when to be historically correct they should be south wound.

Assuming this is true (and given the fact that some Mexican lady in 1956 was probably winding from a sewing machine without any regard to such technical spec, it probably isn't)

Does this have any bearing on the sound of a pickup?

[Steve-Mr Pig 2U]

Tim will have to confirm, but Im almost certain that all the origional singles from fender were north polarity. It makes no difference to the sound whatsoever. There are alot of self proclaimed experts on the internet, the majority havent a clue.

[Tim]

Fender Strat coils were north up until mid '57 and then predominantly south up although they have reverted to north up on various reissue series.Hell, it's their pickup...........they can do whatever they like.
They're made without charge and magnetised afterwards so they can choose polarity very easily.............and no it doedsn't make a difference as long as all 3 coils are the same polarity.