Out of Phase, how often?

[aescully]

Let me start out by saying this is my first post on this site.:newbie:
Ok So I Have an AS83, I like the sound this guitar has but wished for something better, so I got a Gibson Classic '57 Plus For the Bridge and a Seth Lover's for the neck It seemed like a pretty good match up.
I gave it to a Luthier shop who came pretty recommended in Portland.
Two weeks after I dropped it off to get the pickups put in they called, I expected to tell me that the guitar was done, but instead... I was told that the pickups were out of phase, that the magnets were at the wrong poles... as he described it to me, and he told me they would have to flip the magnets and re-wax pot them, and it would cost an extra $65.
My question/questions are
Is that about right to pay
How could I have known prior to paying over 100 dollars per pickup that they were going to be out of phase
And if there was no way to tell, how often dose something like that happen?
Thank you for your time.
-Arthur Scully

 

[ZoSo0789]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

$65 to flip a magnet around? hahahah dont do it dude; people are here can EASILY teach you how to do it in about 10 minutes for free

But yeah, they tech should have known they would be out of phase before hand. Different brands use different polarities, so mixing brands and getting out of phase pickups are hit and miss. Personally, I'd like it that way. It just gives a a different tone to the "middle" switch selection, and many players prefer it.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Sounds like complete and utter bulls**** to me.

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

wow that's a nice scam that guy is running

 

[cronnin]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

If he is getting paid for installing the pickups, he should have found the way to wire them so that they give the requested output

Jesus, there are 2 humbuckers...probably 8 different wires inside. You can have every combo you like with each humbucker:
http://users.chariot.net.au/~gmarts/pix/p_pickdual.gif


If he can't find the right combo for the middle position while utilizing all 4 coils, then he must be able to connect - one coil from the neck and the other from the bridge, connected in parallel in hum canceling mode. That would give you pure, clean, low output, fenderish tone, and even get more versatility from the gutar.

 

[Diocletian]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Rip off.

 

[aescully]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Thanks guys, I will see what I can do to take care of the situation, You guys were super helpful I will see what I can do to remedy the situation.
I am on the phone with the guy right now I will give a little play by play to make sure that he is not scamming
"They are magnetically out of phase they are wound north and south,"
"They have braided cable, no way to fix by changing hot and ground, since they are not four conductors"
"You would think in this day and age you there would be more uniformity, but even in pickups from the same manufacturer once in a while you will get pickups that are out of phase."
"If either were four conductors we would just do it in the original price with the job but we will have to take off the cover..."
then he started talking about soldering. And I couldn't remember word for word and did not want to misquote him.
This shop is pretty reputable in this city and I don't think someone should take lightly to going in to a business and tell someone they are ripping you off and you will take your business elsewhere.
That being said, if with all this information I have given you, It is obvious they are still ripping me off, please let me know so I can take my business elsewhere.
Thank you again.
-Arthur Scully

 

[Zhangliqun]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Presumably a Seth is not potted. Why pot it?

 

[aescully]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

UPDATE
Since Zhangliqun brought it to my attention that the Seth Lover was not wax potted I once again called the Store to let them know, they said that they had assumed that the pickup was Wax potted and because it wasn't that it would only cost 40 for the cover removal, and soldering, etc.
Thank you all for your help.
I will check back on this post to see if there is any more information later.
-Arthur Scully

 

[GoDrex]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

If it were me I'd tell him to leave it out of phase. Then if when I got it back it bothered me, I'd use this as guide:

http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

I've done it already, including cutting the solder with a Dremel and melting a little wax for the cover, and if you're the least bit handy it's a piece of cake. There's no reason to re-pot the pickup. And you don't need the polarity tester. You just turn the magnet around (long ways) and put it back in. You don't have to disconnect it from the guitar.

 

[The Usual]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Out of phase sounds pretty good to my ears in the middle. Either way, I would not give someone $40 to pop off two covers. The fact that your tech is approaching this in this manner makes me think you'll be better off with someone else, or going it alone. For $40, you can get a soldering iron, and the good folks around here will show you how to do this, and other easy tweaks to get the sound you like.

 

[blueman335]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

out of phase sounds pretty good to my ears in the middle. Either way, i would not give someone $40 to pop off two covers. The fact that your tech is approaching this in this manner makes me think you'll be better off with someone else, or going it alone. For $40, you can get a soldering iron, and the good folks around here will show you how to do this, and other easy tweaks to get the sound you like.

+1.

 

[cronnin]

Re: Out of Phase, how often?

Interesting...Seymour says - Vintage style single conductor cable standard.
and then later on - Four-conductor cable.

Anyway, it seems that both (yours) Classic '57 and Seth Lover have only two conductor cable, so there really are not many options for wiring.
Is there an option to replace your Duncan SD to one with 4-cond cable?
If there was, would he be able to do the wiring then?

Since the pickup is not wax potted, I'd ask for the guitar as it is (with out-of-phase middle) and then play it for a while. If I like it, bingo. If I don't ..well, there's no wax, it's easy to manipulate pickup further