how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

[bubbahotep2k3]

How can I tell if two humbuckers are in phase with each other? A multimeter?

I have a H-S-H configuration with:

59 neck humbucker
Vintage rails middle humbucker
Duncan distortion TB-6 bridge humbucker.

I believe I wired everything correctly, and it sounds good, but how can I tell
if the 2 and 4 position on the 5-way switch is in phase or out of phase
2 = full neck and full middle (no split coil...)
4 = full bridge and full middle (no split coil...)

There is a volume drop on these positions but I attribute that to the fact that the vintage rails is no where near as hot as the DD or the 59.

Btw, this is a great trio in my basswood ibanez rg 570. The DD is perfect for metal, the 59 is just beautiful for soloing and great clean, and the VR is good for soling, blues, jazz, and country, and folk strumming.

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

Listen for bass frequencies. If they seem to be missing, you're out of phase.

That, is a good avatar. :32:

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

I should answer more in-depth though (damn girly avatar distract me)

The reason you hear a volume drop between pups is not necessarily because you are out of phase, but the pups are probably wired in parallel. The DC resistance in that position will be lower than that of the lower-resistance pickup.

Multimeters won't tell you magnetic phase. Only resistance to direct current (in this application).

Now, if you wired the pups so that the middle position was SERIES instead of Parallel...you'd have a much louder, fatter sound there. You would add the resistances of the two pups together to get your total.

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

Dear Korovamikdud,

I think I have everything wired in parrallel. What do I have to do to get the middle wired in series as you describe?

Btw, you have a cool avatar too. (I usually don't use scantily clad women in my avatars but I was depressed one night so I decided to "spice things up".)

Thanks,
Bubba

 

[tone4days]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

i am sure you are in series ... series takes some real thought ... you are right that the relative 'hotness' of the pups in parallel is the culprit ... raising the VR up close to the strings and considering splitting the 59 or Distortion for 2 & 4 can help with balance too

i've considered using a sfx-01 pickup booster for just a touch of boost in 2 & 4 in order to keep overall volume equal without changing tonal properties ... but i havent gotten around to it and wonder if i'd actually remember to step on the pedal as i am switching pickups ... being a guitarist of very little brain has it's drawbacks for me sometimes ... it's all i can do to remember the damn chords and words ... remembering when i have to step on a pedal is a bridge too far

and yes, the avatar is impressive indeed .. wonder what pups are inthe prs

cheers
t4d

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

If I raise the pup closer to the strings it does help the volume but it causes string oscillation such that when I hit single notes they "waver" (oscillate) to some this sounds like buzzing but when I lower the pups again the oscillation goes away...

I cannot split the 59 it came with 1 wire and 1 ground braid. Don't you need 4 wires to do the split?

Thanks for the help.

I don't know what pups are in the PRS but I am sure they are very happy to be in there.... :32:

 

[tone4days]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

If I raise the pup closer to the strings it does help the volume but it causes string oscillation such that when I hit single notes they "waver" (oscillate) to some this sounds like buzzing but when I lower the pups again the oscillation goes away...

I cannot split the 59 it came with 1 wire and 1 ground braid. Don't you need 4 wires to do the split?

yup - i ordered a 4 wire 59 .. you need all 4 wires to split ... sorry about the oscillations ... i wonder what that is? .. maybe interaction with the magnet or something? ... hmm ...

I don't know what pups are in the PRS but I am sure they are very happy to be in there.... :32:

not as happy as the bottom strap button and the control cavity cover plate ... the neck heel isn't doin' too bad either

cheers
t4d

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

not as happy as the bottom strap button and the control cavity cover plate ... the neck heel isn't doin' too bad either

ROFL!!! YOU JUST MADE MY DAY... that was put so well... very funny

 

[tone4days]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?



glad to help
so where did you find that pic? ... i gotta see if i can pursuade mrs t4d to pose with my blue PRS in a similar way ... not that any of you would ever see it

cheers
t4d

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

http://www.hotguitarist.com/

There is a girls section--no nudity either just "scantilly clad"

My wife has posed naked with my jackson soloist but no one will see that either. (Incidently the girl in the avatar is not my wife!)

and what pups do you have in your les paul that is in your avatar?

 

[tone4days]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

that is not my les paul .. it is scott_f's ... he lent it to me to jam a tune onstage at UGD ... it is a KILLER R8 with antiquities in it ... all my guitars and their pups are in my signature ... the only guitar with stock pups is my prs mccarty .. i am thinking about seths or ants for it after playing scott's LP

 

[korovamilkdud]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

There are a couple sites to look up wiring, I used www.guitarelectronics.com

Although most of their mods are for lesters. :31:

 

[bubbahotep2k3]

Re: how to tell if 2 humbuckers are in phase w/ each other?

Thanks korovamilkdud, btw is limecat your cat, and did you do that to him?