Sorry I just checked in and viewed your post. I would put money on it they are not backwards from normal strats. Between my dealer that handled the order and the SD Rep, we ordered the pickup RWRP because I was going to use it in conjuction with a Phatcat in a Hamer Phantom. That puts both pickups in the bridge position like a Motherbucker. So in the middle position I wanted it to be noiseless and the rep confirmed that the PhatCat, Twangbanger are wound and polarity is part of the Quality Control Process. If one is backwards it a mistake. I'll have to dig up a compass if I have one.