How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

[Sleeping Martyr]

I have a dimarzio fred in the neck of my Les Paul and compared to the 59 I have in the neck of my Dean ML the fred is a bit quiet and a bit thin. I'm wondering if maybe I put it in backwards and its out of phase or something?? I can't tell because its a double allen coil so I don't know how to tell. Would having it in backwards cause this? or do anything for that matter?

 

[Dru Edwards]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

I'm not sure about the Fred but I believe some DiMarzio's don't matter if it's backwards or not, like the SuperDistortion. Perhaps someone knows about the Fred? If that's the case it could be a cold solder joint.

 

[DesertRat]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

Having the pickup "Backwards" would only make a minimal difference. I've never used a FRED so I don't know how it compares to a 59, but if the FRED sounds really thin, you more than likely have a wiring problem.
If the pickup sounds thin by itself (not in combination with other pickups), the magnet could be installed "out of phase", but thats pretty rare from the factory unless you or someone before you switched out magnets and got the new one backwards.

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

I did take the magnet out once for a swap, what effect would it have if I accidentaly put it in backwards??

 

[jeremy]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

when using the pup by itself there is no 'out of phase' that can be caused by the magnet. the two coils share the same magnet just different poles. one coil gets the south pole and the other gets the north. reguardless of which way you install it it should sound the same when using that pup by itself. if you use it with another pup then the two pups could be out of phase.

if you messed with the wiring the two coils could be electrically out of phase. some pups do have different windings on each coil, like the steves special, and flipping the pup will make a noticable difference in tone. not sure if the fred falls into that category or not

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

So the direction of the magnet within the pickup shouldn't matter? If I try flipping the whole pickup around that should correct all/if nay problems that there are?

 

[jeremy]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

as long as you wired it correctly, yes.

when using the pup by itself, the magnet direction wont matter. flipping the pup around will make a difference with the fred as the coils arent the same (checked that out since my last post)

doz youz haz multi meter? if so check the dc resistance and see if it it close to 10k

 

[Sleeping Martyr]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

Thanks man, with the multi-meter how do I get a reading, where do I put the ends?

 

[jeremy]

Re: How can I tell if I put my pickup in backwards??

if its wired in the guitar, turn the controls all the way up, put the switch on that pup by itself. put a cable into the jack and measure the dc resistance between the tip and sleeve of the cable. you wont get an accurate reading but it should be close enough to know if its wired right