Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

[Jazz+]

I just received my 2018 MIM Standard Telecaster back from the shop where they installed a new chrome covered Duncan "Vintage Stack" in the neck and also installed a new Fender '62 Custom Reissue Hot pickup in the bridge. In the middle position there is a substantial volume drop and they sound a phasey. I assume the neck pickup wires are reversed... or could it be more? The new pickups sound full and good independently.
So, if take it back and to solve the problem the shop reverses the wires at the neck pickup, then will the chrome neck pickup cover ground wire have to be cut off and and rewired? Will clipping the cover's ground wire and redoing it void the SD warranty?

 

[Jazz+]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

Well, I don't know if I'd let them touch my guitar again if they let an instrument leave the bench with an out of phase middle position. Yes, the solution is to reverse the hot and ground on one of the pickups.

 

[Jazz+]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

Well i did remove the strings and the saddles before I took it in and said no setup needed, in order to cut the cost of the labor. But couldn't they have noticed the out of phase situation even without playing it with strings?

 

[Mincer]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

They should know that modern Fender pickups and almost all Duncans are out of phase with each other.

 

[beaubrummels]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

Reverse the hot/ground on the pickup that doesn’t have a cover. The one with a cover is a shield and you want that to stay grounded.

 

[AlexR]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

The neck should have a separate bare ground anyhow, so no cutting needed.

 

[Artie]

Re: Out of phase, snip ground wire voids Warranty?

Well i did remove the strings and the saddles before I took it in and said no setup needed, in order to cut the cost of the labor. But couldn't they have noticed the out of phase situation even without playing it with strings?

Yup. I always check the phase of new pups, using the screwdriver technique, before installing them. Even if they're the same manufacturer. I believe Duncan accidentally made some reverse-polarity JB's a while back.

The neck should have a separate bare ground anyhow, so no cutting needed.

This. It's a 4-conductor cable. Ground is a separate wire.