Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

[cyberprimate]

I asked this question elsewhere but didn't really get a response. I guess this site is more appropriate.

I want to buy two P90 pickups. I know how a set of two P90s with RWRP sounds in the middle position with the hum cancelling operation (I have that with another guitar), but i heard some prefer to NOT have a RWRP set?… Pre 60's archtops guitars with two pickups didn't come with RWRP, or did they?

This rocker praises the tone of non RWRP pickup sets. What tone difference does he refer to? Also why does he speak of parallel vs series in the context of RWRP vs non RWRP ?

 

[DreX]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Non RWRP will give you a tiny bit more mids in positions 2 and 4

 

[Chickenwings]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

i like non rwrp. Sounds more like a true blend of both pickups and is a bit fatter and warmer.

 

[Boogie Bill]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

And I like the RW/RP middle on my G&Ls. If there is a difference, it is slight, and outweighed by the hum cancelling in 2 and 4.

Bill

 

[cyberprimate]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Have you actually compared both, RWRP and non RWRP ?

 

[frankfalbo]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Let's remember the OP is not referring to a Strat. On a Strat, in 2 and 4, I don't personally mind the extra comb filtering from the artifacts of hum cancellation. There's a slight difference but its not a big deal, it's a thinner sound anyway.

On a guitar like in that video, he's trying to keep the middle position fatter and more vibrant. I could see the appeal.

 

[hydro]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Bumping because I am in the market for humbucker sized P90s and am wondering about the RWRP options also.

Although I assume RWRP only matters if you are using middle position? Which I never use anyway...

 

[AlexR]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Yes, only if you use the mid position. There is no absolute polarity with magnets, or wind direction for that matter. Its AC after all. What no-one has been able to compare is the interaction of opposing magnetic fields. This is perhaps where some of the strat 2/4 position differences stem from.

 

[LtKojak]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

I actually prefer the tone produced by the RWRP in position 2 and 4 in a strat AND with P-90s as well.

HTH,

 

[ItsaBass]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

There isn't really any difference in tone that would come through on a studio recording or in a live show. There is barely one even playing alone in a a sonically sterile environment, and listening very closely for it. You will hear buzz vs. no buzz before you hear a notable tonal (i.e. e.q.) difference.

I prefer the same wind wind and polarity on all pickups. It just makes no sense to me to have a guitar that is hum canceling in some switch positions but not in others. If there is gonna be buzz at all, I would rather just have it be consistent.

Since it isn't a big deal, and I really hardly ever use pickups in parallel anyhow, I generally won't bother to change a guitar that came with a RW/RP pickup. But if I am modifying something or doing a build, I will always use pickups that match in wind and polarity. Something else I like about this is that you can move pickups around wherever you want without worrying about where the RW/RP pickup should go.

In short, if RW/RP is there already, whatever; I'll live with it. But there's no benefit to it that would ever cause me to go out of my way or change anything just to have it.

 

[Artie]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

This is one of those phenomenons that I've never understood. (Which doesn't mean that it ain't so.) But an RW/RP pickup produces exactly the same signal as a non-RW/RP. They both produce the same phase. And, they're both going to have the same string pull. The string doesn't care what magnetic polarity pulls on it. And I doubt the magnetic field extends far enough to be much of an interaction between pups. But it might.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

In both strat pickups and p90's you have opposite magnetic fields radiating out. How much will that do where they interact?? More important (or perhaps more relevant) for strat pickups as they are closer.

 

[Diminished Triad]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

Sounds to me when not using RWRP that you could get the same effect by using RWRP and simply turning your tone up a notch or two. I agree the biggest difference is the elimination of hum......a distant second is with RWRP it sounds like you've turned your tone down a tiny bit - just not as raw as it sounds without the RWRP effect.

 

[DreX]

Re: Beyond hum cancellation, what's the tone difference between RWRP and non RWRP ?

If you want to hear how much of a difference the proximity of one pickup to another makes on tone, simply take a loose pickup, wave it around near a selected pickup and listen for a change. Hint: you won't hear anything different.