Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

[T-Bone-BBQ]

I changed out the bridge pickup on my Sterling Stingray from a Custom 5 (Reverse Zebra) to a "normal" zebra Perpetual Burn Trembucker to match up with a reverse zebra Jazz I had in the neck. Wired both up the same as per the wiring diagram, but the middle position was out of phase, so I had to change the wiring on the Perpetual Burn so that the green was hot and black was ground. The Custom 5 I had in there had the green as ground and black as hot. Nothing on any of the pickups looks like they ever had the magnets taken out and flipped, so I'm just wondering if "reverse zebra" also meant the magnet was flipped.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

No, reverse zebra means that the screw coil is black instead of the usual cream. Strangely enough, these colors are actually the opposite of the Gibson pickups from the 50s; a zebra back then is what SD refers to as a reverse zebra today.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

No, reverse zebra means that the screw coil is black instead of the usual cream. Strangely enough, these colors are actually the opposite of the Gibson pickups from the 50s; a zebra back then is what SD refers to as a reverse zebra today.

OK, thanks. That means either the Perpetual Burn had the magnet flipped or both the Jazz and Custom 5 had them flipped. Very odd...and frustrating as it meant scrapping a pack of strings.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

I'm sure its eminently possible that over the construction of many pickups for 1 to end up with an oddity. In fact given they are human assembled I would say it is almost guaranteed, and would find it odd for every one to be completely consistent.

And why a scrapping of strings?!?

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

It's not a big deal as I like the pickup in the guitar and don't plan to change it out...just wanted to make sure that RZ didn't mean other things were reversed besides the color of the coils.

 

[dystrust]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

I'm sure its eminently possible that over the construction of many pickups for 1 to end up with an oddity. In fact given they are human assembled I would say it is almost guaranteed, and would find it odd for every one to be completely consistent

Certainly possible. I've been using SDs since late 2000, and in that time I've seen two pickups new from the factory that weren't assembled properly. In both cases something was up with the 4-conductor cable; on the P-Rails it was easy to figure out what was wrong and adjust my wiring. I couldn't figure out what was going on with the Custom, so I sent it back for exchange.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

Some have had the start and end wires swapped with the coloured 4-conductors. Hell of a thing to try and sort out most times.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

After swapping the green and black wires it's fine. Pickup sounds great so far. Less bass than the Custom 5, but around the same output...maybe slightly less. Matches well with the Jazz.

 

[gregory]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

Less bass than the Custom 5, but around the same output...maybe slightly less. Matches well with the Jazz.

All good information to know!

Glad you got it worked out. You've got some nice guitars.

 

[T-Bone-BBQ]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

All good information to know!

Glad you got it worked out. You've got some nice guitars.

Thanks. None of my guitars are expensive, but all play great and I been able to upgrade most of them with some great used pickups.

 

[Warlag]

Re: Does a "reverse zebra" pickup also mean reversed magnet?

Thanks. None of my guitars are expensive, but all play great and I been able to upgrade most of them with some great used pickups.

As a player I try to never define my instruments by their cost but more of the connection I have with the instrument and how it feels while holding and playing. When playing sometimes I close my eyes to try and connect to the sound of the guitar and see what kind of feelings or memories it pulls up. That last part might sound a bit crazy to some... but I know there's deffently some of you out there that do the same or something similar!