Can you tell if a SD 59 Neck was built reverse phased?

[hank75]

I've heard that some guitar manufacturers use SD branded humbuckers, actually i've seen it,. Ibanez i think, where the middle pickup is wired to be reverse phased or polarity (RWRP)
Would the reverse phase be label or identified on the PU or PU box. I bought a second hand, but new 59 Neck HB. I did bring it up in the "is this a Real Seymour Duncan thread as it had The SD logo on it was isn't that common.
The reason I ask is I have a JB Bridge and the 59 Neck, bought separately from each other. Hooked up according to the SD wiring diagram for 2 HB, 2 vol, 2 tone push/pull. I noticed the sound get very thin when both HB's were switched on together. Was suggested that I try reversing the phase of one HB as it seemed they were out of phase. It definitely fixed that problem, but I question how it came to be that way. Is it possible my 59 neck was built to be reversed phased? or for something specific.
Nothing to indicate that on the HB or packaging.
Thanks

 

[jeremy]

fender, for example, used rp 59n models in a bunch of guitars over the years. not sure if there are distinguishing labels or not

 

[Mincer]

You can order any pickup reverse-phased, but I don't remember if I've ever seen that indicated on the label. Anyone else?

 

[Teleplayer]

If your pickups were second hand, it could be that someone changed the magnet and installed magnet backwards. Its easy to check the polarity with a magnetic compass. The magnetic polarity of the screw poles should be the same on the neck and bridge pickups (South UP).

 

[beaubrummels]

My '78 Model is reverse phase. There isn't a positive identification of it on the label

The magnet could be backwards if someone mag-swapped one of them.

 

[GuitarDoc]

"Can you tell if a SD 59 Neck was built reverse phased?"

If you can positively identify which wire is the start of the coil wind and which is the finish, or if you can identify the orientation of the magnet (which pole is north, and does it point to the slug side?) you can determine if it is RWRP.
But you can effectively change either of those if you want (by reversing how it is wired in the circuit, and by reversing the magnet).

​

 

[Chistopher]

Also less likely, but it could have sat too close to a strong magnet, as has happened to me before

 

[ehdwuld]

alternately

you can use an analog multi meter ( digital might work I dont know)
connect the meter to red/white pair
do you get a 4-5 k ohm reading? if so good

now take a thick screwdriver and hold it close to the pickup
pull it straight up, away from the pick up quickly while looking at the meter
did the ohm reading drop or raise ?

now do the same with the other SD pickup
red/white on the JB (this could be the one whose magnet got swapped as that is more of a thing than 59s are)
do you see around 7-8k ohms

does it it add or subtracts as you quickly raise the screw driver?

I would bet that the mag flip happened on the JB

 

[beaubrummels]

FWIW 59s get mag swapped every bit as much as the JB, the Custom and A2P, etc. The common Duncan winds take swaps really well and become different pickups with each magnet type.