Off Phase Magnets??

[Longboarder]

I've done a couple magnet swaps on my Phat Cats without any problem until now. Had 2 A8's on bridge, but these were unpolished. Just received some very rough cast A4's and did the swap. When I tested, both pups sounded ok individually but with the switch in the middle for both I would get a weak sound. Tried changing the orientation of the mags on bridge two times first with the two A4's and then with A4/A8 and same problem. Thought maybe I messed up the switch or some wire and replaced with the 2 A8's and the problem was gone. I've heard the term off phase or out of phase magnets or pups but not sure what it is. Any ideas what could be causing this?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

roll the magnet over
like turning over in the bed

just out of phase

 

[Longboarder]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

Phat cats have 2 mags. You mean roll one or both?

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

oh
both

heck I dunno
maybe its different

if they sound fine on their own then they are in phase with themselves

but out of phase with each other

yes

then roll both

 

[blueman335]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

I'm stumped on this one. The mags in a P-90 are positioned to repel, not attract, so that has to be maintained or the sound is weak and thin. And rotating a P-90 up or down makes no difference, as the mags are still in the same relative positions. I'd try what Ehdwuld sugegsted and see if that works.

Maybe some of the magnet experts or Addiction FX can shed some light on this.

 

[Longboarder]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

yep, it was weird because they sounded good individually but low and weak with both pickups. And I did try moving and rotating the mags in a couple of ways.

Hey blue.......... did you ever try the new A4's and if u did how do they compare to the 8's?

 

[blueman335]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

yep, it was weird because they sounded good individually but low and weak with both pickups. And I did try moving and rotating the mags in a couple of ways.

Hey blue.......... did you ever try the new A4's and if u did how do they compare to the 8's?

I've got them, but haven't put them thru their paces yet. I love the look of them, full of lumps and indentations. Great stuff! I've got a few P-90 guitars that are waiting for mag swaps in the near future. I've used polished A4's (that's all I could get before) in bridge HB's and P-90's, and am looking forward to replacing all of them with roughcast A4's. Roughcasts have really improved the tone of my bridge A5's and A2's.

 

[Longboarder]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

Well I finally nailed it. Replaced the A8's for the Very Rough A4's and did not work on the first try. Then I rolled both mags and problem solved. The new A4's have a very nice and fuller tone to them. Like em more than the A8's. Think this will be the final mag swap on this guitar.......................after 20 other tries.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

Well I finally nailed it. Replaced the A8's for the Very Rough A4's and did not work on the first try. Then I rolled both mags and problem solved. The new A4's have a very nice and fuller tone to them. Like em more than the A8's. Think this will be the final mag swap on this guitar.

I'm thinking that roughcast A4's and unoriented A5's are going to give A8's some competition in the future. They have mids and warmth, and more dynamics than A8's.

 

[ehdwuld]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

whoo hoo !!!
Glad to hear ya got it

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Off Phase Magnets??

If two P90 (or Phat Cat) pu's are out of phase, you have to roll both magnets over in one of the pickups.

Or reverse the ground and hot leads on one, but that's a pain in the butt keeping the plate and cover grounded.