Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

[jmcorey]

Several models of Fender guitars featuring two humbuckers have the Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge and a 59 in the neck with reverse polarity, designated as 59RP. I infer this means that the magnet's north-south orientation is reversed by flipping the magnet.

I think this is done to allow one of the wiring choices, selection of the two inner coils, to be noise-free.

The inner-coil option has been a semi-popular one that I would like to include on my 2HB guitar with a 5-way switch when I install my new zebra WLH set. Will I need to flip one of the magnets to have a noise-free selection of both inner coils?

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Affirmative.

Go gently when parting the bobbins from the baseplate.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

I've never done this before, and I'm afraid I'll ruin it.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

The only way you can 'ruin it' is to go bull at a gate and sever wires. The end to push from is the end that has the start/end wires. You need to part these gently, then get a small flathead and push gently on the mag. If it is reluctant try (from the other end) prising the mag off the baseplate and/or the bobbins. Often there is a thin layer of wax which ends up holding the mag in place.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Thanks for the info. Very helpful.

 

[Funkfingers]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

It helps to slacken the four baseplate screws a turn or two.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Several models of Fender guitars featuring two humbuckers have the Pearly Gates Plus in the bridge and a 59 in the neck with reverse polarity, designated as 59RP. I infer this means that the magnet's north-south orientation is reversed by flipping the magnet.

I think this is done to allow one of the wiring choices, selection of the two inner coils, to be noise-free.

The inner-coil option has been a semi-popular one that I would like to include on my 2HB guitar with a 5-way switch when I install my new zebra WLH set. Will I need to flip one of the magnets to have a noise-free selection of both inner coils?

WARNING!

When you flip the magnet, you will throw the HBs out of phase with eachother. In order to fix this, you need to also reverse the wiring. If there are no splits, this is as simple as grounding the black and running the green to the normal output. However, if you are wiring it up like a Big Apple Strat or a Blacktop, the wiring will be more complex. Here's the Big Apple wiring diagram if you want it. Also, if you want a Blacktop Strat diagram, the stock wiring isn't 100% correct. I have the WLH set in my blacktop and had to draw-up my own diagram because I didn't flip the magnet. Let me know if you want that diagram.

Big Apple Strat Wiring is on 2nd page: http://support.fender.com/service_diagrams/stratocaster/010-7200_02B_SISD.pdf

 

[uOpt]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Whether it is the inner or outer coil probably doesn't matter much but it does matter whether you use the slug or screw coil. They do sound different.

If you want to cover this to perfection you should also try flipping the orientation of the pickup and try both coils.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Ugh. Me and my curiosity. It takes so much time!

Thanks to ExplorersRock and uOpt for these important clarifications.

Another question. Could I get noise cancelling by
1) not flipping the magnet
2) Using one coil from each humbucker, either the ones closer to the bridge or the ones closer to the neck, so that I could get a coil from 1 pickup that is south pole and a coil from the other that is north pole.

Thanks.

 

[uOpt]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

You can always have hum cancellation with out of phase

If you have that you need to flip the magnet so that both the phase and the polarity are opposite, bringing the sound back.

 

[ExplorersRock]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Yes. If you change the wires used to split, you can have one humbucker split to the screw coil instead of the slug coil and the two splits will then hum cancel. Check out the wiring diagram from the SD site that has you put the green and black wires together for splitting. Red goes to output and white goes to ground with the bare wire.

 

[jmcorey]

Re: Magnet flip needed for noise-free combination of inner coils on 2HB guitar?

Gradias, everyone. I think the next thing to do is to dive in and start.