magnet flip AND wire swap??

S

supercoupe

New member
I'm new, so sorry if this has been beat to death, don't really know if I've seen a definitive answer on this in the forums.

I've emailed SD directly but no answer back (yet).
Here's my situation:
I have an SD TB-5 in my bridge, and installed an SH-1 ('59) in the neck. Before I put the '59 in I flipped the magnet over so the bottom surface is now the top surface. I also put it face-to-face with the Custom (screws to screws) and they do attract each other. The reason for this is I want a 5-way rotary switch ala PRS, and this was recommended for hum-cancelling. First dumb question- SD says to flip the magnet IN THE BRIDGE PICKUP- can't it be 1 or the other pickup?
Next- I've read I may ALSO need to swap the green and black wires on the '59 as well? is that true? SD didn't mention that....
Thanks
 
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Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

i may be mistaken but when you flip a magnet shouldnt you rotate it 180 degrees to change the polarity1
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

Supercoupe, you didn't specifically state so, but it sounds like the pickups are out of phase and you want to fix that?

Either switch the wires OR flip the magnet. Not both or you'll end up right where you started. And yes, you can flip the magnet in either pickup, but it would make sense to flip the one you changed back to normal.
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

By turning the magnet over, you didn't change anything. You need to flip it length-wise.

I don't recommend having the Duncan Custom Shop do anything for you, since they'll charge you more than the pickup is worth.

To change polarity, the magnet must be flipped length-wise, and this will eliminate the small midrangey tone in the middle position.

Flipping the wind direction (I think) is as simple as swapping the hot and ground leads.
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

Gearjoneser said:
By turning the magnet over, you didn't change anything. You need to flip it length-wise.
Click to expand...

It depends which direction he flipped it. Since the edges of the magnet that contact the spacer and slugs are polarized, those are the edges that need to fall in the opposite position.. A magnet can be turned a couple ways/directions to achieve this.

It can get confusing trying to describe which direction to flip the magnet in words. The best way (IMO) is to simply be aware which side of the mag is N and which is S. Stewmac sells a neat inexpensive polarity checker.
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

what I did was this:
I pulled the magnet out one side, flipped it (imagine turning a key in a lock) then re-inserted. Did I do it wrong?
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

in more basic terms. Hold the magnet parallel to the ground (just like a compass) and rotate it 180 degrees. Looking at the drawing above. N should come to where S is and S will end where N is. This should give you the effect you are looking for.
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

ok, so let me see if I have this right.....
Take out the magnet and flip it over (like turning a key in a lock) to get it back to where it WAS.
THEN
flip it end over end like a football (swap ends) and reinsert?
Or swap ends AND flip it over, then reinsert?
I guess I'm confused- looks like the short ends are N and S, but it's the long ends that contact the coils and give them their "north and south- edness"...?
I'm a pretty sharp guy, but the workings of pickups is new territory for me.
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

supercoupe said:
ok, so let me see if I have this right.....
Take out the magnet and flip it over (like turning a key in a lock) to get it back to where it WAS.
THEN
flip it end over end like a football (swap ends) and reinsert?
Or swap ends AND flip it over, then reinsert?
I guess I'm confused- looks like the short ends are N and S, but it's the long ends that contact the coils and give them their "north and south- edness"...?
I'm a pretty sharp guy, but the workings of pickups is new territory for me.
Click to expand...

nooooo.... just read the thread i linked to with the pictures in it. everything is explained and you'll know all you need to know;)
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

supercoupe said:
what I did was this:
I pulled the magnet out one side, flipped it (imagine turning a key in a lock) then re-inserted. Did I do it wrong?
Click to expand...

no, that's right.
FWIW, id leave everything stock unless or until you have a good understanding of how the rotary switches work

check out that thread SRS posted if you haven't already
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

dr. ad said:
no, that's right.
FWIW, id leave everything stock unless or until you have a good understanding of how the rotary switches work

check out that thread SRS posted if you haven't already
Click to expand...

no, it's right?? Now I'm really confused....
The thread with the pics shows how to replace a magnet apples to apples, to me really didn't go into "if you put it in this way, x will happen"

but all your posts have helped guys, thanks!
 
Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

to answer the original question

yes, you have to put green where you usually put black, and vice versa

i have done this for the exact same reason you give (PRS 'inners' and 'outers' with hum cancelling)

i flipped the neck mag also

note, if you flip a mag AND rotate the pickup (so the logo reads upside down) you will be not getting what you want

it's flip a mag or rotate the whole pickup assembly, but not both

hum cancelling comes from BOTH RW/RP - reverse wound / reverse polarity ... the mag flip or pickup rotation gets you the RP part ... swapping black and green gets you the RW part
 
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Re: magnet flip AND wire swap??

well, I went to GC to play an american PRS with the 5-way rotary switch, and really wasn't all that impressed by the differences in sounds.....
I flipped my magnet back to original (and tested polarities) and I'm gonna stay with the 3-way switch....
But all you guys really opened my eyes to this stuff, thanks all!
 
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