Pickup Orientation

[Lucifuge]

Got a new set of Mules with zebra coils and it seems that what I really wanted, appearance-wise, was reverse zebra.

I'm wondering how much of a difference it will make if I install them the wrong way, with the screw coils facing inwards - I assume that with assymetric coils there will be some difference, especially in the bridge, but I'm not sure how much.

I guess the answer is to install them then try flipping them around to see if I can hear a difference - I might even prefer them that way, but any other opinions will be welcomed.

[Telerocker]

If you turn around the neck pickup, you will get the Peter Green-honk in the inbetween-sound. I would not do that with the bridge, read the hb will sound less focused and you loose some treble, but I never tried that.

[Nolly]

You can try flipping them around, the difference in tone should be noticeable. You won't know until you try though!

If you turn around the neck pickup, you will get the Peter Green-honk in the inbetween-sound. I would not do that with the bridg, but I never tried that.

You need to reverse the magnet or swap the pickup wires to achieve the PG tone. Rotating the pickup alone won't change the phase relative to the bridge.

[Telerocker]

Ah thx, learned something.

[MDV]

With an asymmetric wind and/or screw-slug config the screw pole is typically the stronger coil (either because it actually is the hotter coil or just because the little bit closer the screws get to the strings makes it act that way) and so with the screws 'in' (neckwards' you pick up a hotter signal from further up the string, which has more low frequency action, and vice versa.

Its normally very noticable. Do it, hear it, then you'll know much better than people telling you on the net.