3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

[AlexR]

Re: 3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

In my somewhat limited experience of rw/rp singlecoil I would too say that there is a slight change in the high frequency area......The rw version being a bit less.
This is mainly looking at the tonal quality of the various positions and how the 2 and 4 relate to the single pickup selections. Of course it is not overly scientific as I have various pickups as my test subjects, but even with 2 sets of zhangbucker p90s of the same wind, the non rw/rp version has a slightly more vibrant middle position by comparison to the tone of the individual pickups.
I too would suggest the way the reversed magnets charge the string, plus the interaction of the fields physically might have something to do with it. Although there are also known cancellations involving a humbucker that might come into play.
Certainly, just using an argument of electrical phase reversal in the cavity is not at all relevant to the nature of the physicality of pickup magnetic change.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

Yeah, if those sketches were true there would be just as obvious a shift in the tone of the single pickup selections on the switch as the parallel settings. But no one seems to be arguing that RWRP effects their individual settings.

I don't quite believe how we are part of a forum where, for the most part, we agree that removing a neck single coil has a negligible effect on the tone of the other pickup(s), but we seem to think that flipping the orientation of a magnet at a position with less magnetic influence on the string only changes the tone on 2 of the 5 positions of a Strat?

If you want my whole opinion, this whole "RWRP is objectively better" thing is just wishful thinking.

 

[David Garner]

Re: 3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

I switched from RWRP middle to non-RWRP middle in the same guitar, same pickups (Bareknuckle Apaches). I heard a distinct difference in two ways. First, the 2/4 positions are now the same volume as the neck/middle/bridge positions. You don't have a volume drop when you switch to one of the two in between positions like I always have with RWRP middles. Second, the sound is a little fuller (possibly as a result of the volume, possibly due to the "less quack" thing people discuss -- I'm not sure if that's a chicken or an egg).

It's not drastic. It still sounds like a Strat. But those two things and the fact that it now hums on 2/4 as well as 1, 3 and 5 are what I heard.

 

[AlexR]

Re: 3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

Yeah, if those sketches were true there would be just as obvious a shift in the tone of the single pickup selections on the switch as the parallel settings. But no one seems to be arguing that RWRP effects their individual settings.

I don't quite believe how we are part of a forum where, for the most part, we agree that removing a neck single coil has a negligible effect on the tone of the other pickup(s), but we seem to think that flipping the orientation of a magnet at a position with less magnetic influence on the string only changes the tone on 2 of the 5 positions of a Strat?

If you want my whole opinion, this whole "RWRP is objectively better" thing is just wishful thinking.

Well, the magnetic issue may well mean a change in tone for all position, but the hum cancelling comb effect would be only for selections of multiple pickups......so you have certainly not quite covered that.
As to the supposed 'objectively better' sentence......Well you seem to be strong in your 'strawman-fu' at the moment. I can't recall anyone mentioning that but you.

 

[Chistopher]

Re: 3 neck Antiquity Surfs in a Strat?

"hum cancelling comb effect" isn't a thing. Hum cancelling is a product of two pickups being RWRP from eachother; a comb effect is a product of the two pickups sensing a different portion of the string causing mechanical phase cancellation. A comb filter has nothing to do with electrical or magnetic polarity.

As for my "strawman-fu", that's not a direct reference to this thread, but to the undertones that shrouds most every thread about this topic. And FWIW, I meant to type non-RWRP, i.e. "vintage correct".