Bowtomecha
Active member
I have a Pegasus that I want to experiment with. I was thinking about turning it around so the screw coil is towards the neck instead of the bridge. I was wondering what tone change if any, to expect from this.
Reversed slug/screw humbucker position changes tone?
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Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Reversed slug/screw humbucker position changes tone?
The difference is very subtle and depends on how you adjust the pickup and pole pieces overall. Generally, not worth it, but it depends on why you want to make the change?
Assuming equal distance from the strings, the slugs will produce a stronger response than the screws, so simply flipping the pickup around would result in a slightly thinner/clearer tone than standard, given that the dominant coil is being placed roughly an inch closer to the bridge.
You can counteract this by adjusting the screw poles toward the strings and/or angling the screw side of the pickup closer to the strings than the slug side.
To be fair, it's an easy, free and completely reversible "mod", so give it a try if you're curious. Just don't be surprised if the difference isn't profound.
The difference is very subtle and depends on how you adjust the pickup and pole pieces overall. Generally, not worth it, but it depends on why you want to make the change?
Assuming equal distance from the strings, the slugs will produce a stronger response than the screws, so simply flipping the pickup around would result in a slightly thinner/clearer tone than standard, given that the dominant coil is being placed roughly an inch closer to the bridge.
You can counteract this by adjusting the screw poles toward the strings and/or angling the screw side of the pickup closer to the strings than the slug side.
To be fair, it's an easy, free and completely reversible "mod", so give it a try if you're curious. Just don't be surprised if the difference isn't profound.
Re: Reversed slug/screw humbucker position changes tone?
The only time I do it is with some of my guitars with diagonal wiring channels and the left handed effect making the hookup wire too short on some used or precut pickups.
You do get the cool effect on a neck pickup of being able to adjust screws for more bite on the 'treblier' coil of the two.
The only time I do it is with some of my guitars with diagonal wiring channels and the left handed effect making the hookup wire too short on some used or precut pickups.
You do get the cool effect on a neck pickup of being able to adjust screws for more bite on the 'treblier' coil of the two.
Masta' C
Well-known member
Re: Reversed slug/screw humbucker position changes tone?
No. Slugs toward the bridge, assuming all relative distances (poles-to-strings) remain the same as in the original orientation, will result in less roundness and more bite...if you hear a change at all.
Without delving into alloys and pole piece lengths, the most significant reason for this comes down to 2 facts:
1) Slugs, due to their increased mass, produce a greater signal response compared to using screws in the same coil.
2) Placing slugs toward the bridge, which effectively moves the signal-dominant coil farther away from the fundamental harmonic node at the string's half-way point, will result in greater amplification of a very slightly thinner sounding (think: more off-fundamental harmonics/less vibrational energy) area of the string.
Of course, the reality is that the change is so subtle on a balanced-coil pickup that most people won't notice any real-world difference. Further adjustment (ex: bringing the screw coil closer to the strings) can easily offset the change.
Swapping orientation definitely makes more of a difference when using mis-matched coils as seen with many DiMarzios and Duncan's own 59/Custom hybrid.
No. Slugs toward the bridge, assuming all relative distances (poles-to-strings) remain the same as in the original orientation, will result in less roundness and more bite...if you hear a change at all.
Without delving into alloys and pole piece lengths, the most significant reason for this comes down to 2 facts:
1) Slugs, due to their increased mass, produce a greater signal response compared to using screws in the same coil.
2) Placing slugs toward the bridge, which effectively moves the signal-dominant coil farther away from the fundamental harmonic node at the string's half-way point, will result in greater amplification of a very slightly thinner sounding (think: more off-fundamental harmonics/less vibrational energy) area of the string.
Of course, the reality is that the change is so subtle on a balanced-coil pickup that most people won't notice any real-world difference. Further adjustment (ex: bringing the screw coil closer to the strings) can easily offset the change.
Swapping orientation definitely makes more of a difference when using mis-matched coils as seen with many DiMarzios and Duncan's own 59/Custom hybrid.
Clint 55
OH THE DOUBLE THICK GLAZE!
ItsaBass
New member
Re: Reversed slug/screw humbucker position changes tone?
The main difference will be where the adjustable poles are located. When you adjust them in the new position, you will be adjusting at a different spot on the strings. Slightly different, but could theoretically make a slight tonal difference if you make healthy use of screw pole adjustments (i.e. run them either really high or really low).
I had an SG that was really muddy in the neck position. I tried pickup very, very low, and screw poles very, very high. It helped. But it helped even more with the pickup flipped. As I said, you'd notice it more the more extremely your screw poles are adjusted. I had the whole pickup very low, and the screws very high. I also think you'd hear the flip more in the neck position than in the bridge position. The difference was noticeable, but not extreme. It was enough to improve the clarity of the pickup from "better" to "significantly better."
The main difference will be where the adjustable poles are located. When you adjust them in the new position, you will be adjusting at a different spot on the strings. Slightly different, but could theoretically make a slight tonal difference if you make healthy use of screw pole adjustments (i.e. run them either really high or really low).
I had an SG that was really muddy in the neck position. I tried pickup very, very low, and screw poles very, very high. It helped. But it helped even more with the pickup flipped. As I said, you'd notice it more the more extremely your screw poles are adjusted. I had the whole pickup very low, and the screws very high. I also think you'd hear the flip more in the neck position than in the bridge position. The difference was noticeable, but not extreme. It was enough to improve the clarity of the pickup from "better" to "significantly better."
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