Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
- Thread starter kallsop
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ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
The staggered pole pieces are opposite, that's the most obvious. Look at it this way, Hendrix played right-handed guitars (righty pickups) left-handed. That is partially what contributed to his great tone. However, the other thing that contributed to his tone was the bridge pickup being angled the opposite way. I've put left-handed staggered pickups in a right-handed guitar and it sounded great. You won't have any problems, just a different sound. I say go for it.
The staggered pole pieces are opposite, that's the most obvious. Look at it this way, Hendrix played right-handed guitars (righty pickups) left-handed. That is partially what contributed to his great tone. However, the other thing that contributed to his tone was the bridge pickup being angled the opposite way. I've put left-handed staggered pickups in a right-handed guitar and it sounded great. You won't have any problems, just a different sound. I say go for it.
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
It's not really a problem for me either or I go flat poles...
It's not really a problem for me either or I go flat poles...
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
Looking at the APS-1 for example, the mounting plate is not symmetrical but the rest of the PU is. So modify the guitar cutout and mount the right handed PU in the left handed guitar so that the pole piece under the high E in the right handed guitar would still be under the high E in the left handed guitar, or if possible, separate the mounting plate from the rest of the PU and reverse the mounting plate (still maintaining the correct pole piece / high E positioning).
Most PU's on the used market are right handed and I'd like to try out a few combinations without having to buy new left handed PU's at full price. Except for the new noiseless PU's that are coming out, and I'll willingly pay retail for those.
Looking at the APS-1 for example, the mounting plate is not symmetrical but the rest of the PU is. So modify the guitar cutout and mount the right handed PU in the left handed guitar so that the pole piece under the high E in the right handed guitar would still be under the high E in the left handed guitar, or if possible, separate the mounting plate from the rest of the PU and reverse the mounting plate (still maintaining the correct pole piece / high E positioning).
Most PU's on the used market are right handed and I'd like to try out a few combinations without having to buy new left handed PU's at full price. Except for the new noiseless PU's that are coming out, and I'll willingly pay retail for those.
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
I see the issue with stagger if you mount the right hand PU in the natural way in a left hand guitar (i.e. upside down), rather than trying to maintain bottom pole piece to high E string positioning. Or simply use flat PU's with no stagger e.g. APS-2.
ErikH said:
I see the issue with stagger if you mount the right hand PU in the natural way in a left hand guitar (i.e. upside down), rather than trying to maintain bottom pole piece to high E string positioning. Or simply use flat PU's with no stagger e.g. APS-2.
MikeS
Bengalsologist
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
The stagger might not be completely symmetrical, but it's got to be close. I highly doubt you would notice any real differences... which is why I can't recall ever seeing a pickup designed for a right or left handed guitar. I had assumed all the pickups could be installed either way.
The stagger might not be completely symmetrical, but it's got to be close. I highly doubt you would notice any real differences... which is why I can't recall ever seeing a pickup designed for a right or left handed guitar. I had assumed all the pickups could be installed either way.
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
I had a Fender 57/62 left-handed pickup and also a right-handed model. On both pickups, the poles lined up fine when mounted in the normal fashion (wire tab pointed towards the bridge). I don't think the APS-1's measurements are that much different. How much off are they? Got a pic?
kallsop said:
I had a Fender 57/62 left-handed pickup and also a right-handed model. On both pickups, the poles lined up fine when mounted in the normal fashion (wire tab pointed towards the bridge). I don't think the APS-1's measurements are that much different. How much off are they? Got a pic?
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
Open this and click on "dimensions" under the APS-1 heading:
APS-1
The PU appears to be completely symmetrical, except for the side the wires come out and the stagger. I don't see any problem with mounting this right hand PU in a left hand guitar, "upside down" to maintain the correct stagger and with sufficient room to fit the mounting plate "reversed". Mounting the PU such that the stagger is reversed doesn't make any sense does it?
I believe the only difference between a retail right and left handed PU is that the mounting plate will be upside down (rotated 180 degrees if you prefer).
ErikH said:
Open this and click on "dimensions" under the APS-1 heading:
APS-1
The PU appears to be completely symmetrical, except for the side the wires come out and the stagger. I don't see any problem with mounting this right hand PU in a left hand guitar, "upside down" to maintain the correct stagger and with sufficient room to fit the mounting plate "reversed". Mounting the PU such that the stagger is reversed doesn't make any sense does it?
I believe the only difference between a retail right and left handed PU is that the mounting plate will be upside down (rotated 180 degrees if you prefer).
STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
I like mounting my single coils in my lefty strats so I can retain "correct" stagger...In both my American Deluxe and Highway 1 strats,I had to notch the front portions of the neck and middle positions of the pickup control cavities in order to get clearance...That section where the wires exit from the pickup doesn't fit because it's just deep enough to not allow the middle and neck pickups to sit flat and without any leaning...
In most cases you will have to remove a small amount of wood and this is even in my AD strat which has the ability to use humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions...
I've had to do this with Surfers in my H1 strat and Texas Hots in my red American Deluxe strat you see in my avatar photo.. :wink:
kallsop said:
I like mounting my single coils in my lefty strats so I can retain "correct" stagger...In both my American Deluxe and Highway 1 strats,I had to notch the front portions of the neck and middle positions of the pickup control cavities in order to get clearance...That section where the wires exit from the pickup doesn't fit because it's just deep enough to not allow the middle and neck pickups to sit flat and without any leaning...
In most cases you will have to remove a small amount of wood and this is even in my AD strat which has the ability to use humbuckers in the neck and bridge positions...
I've had to do this with Surfers in my H1 strat and Texas Hots in my red American Deluxe strat you see in my avatar photo.. :wink:
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STRATDELUXER97
Stratoblaster Tone Meister
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
No problem...Plan on having to remove some wood at both top areas of the middle and neck pickup routings.I used a dremel tool with a small round sanding attachment.Worked fast and worked great..You don't have to mount your pickups in this fashion,but I always do..
kallsop said:
No problem...Plan on having to remove some wood at both top areas of the middle and neck pickup routings.I used a dremel tool with a small round sanding attachment.Worked fast and worked great..You don't have to mount your pickups in this fashion,but I always do..
ErikH
Well-known member
Re: Right hand PU's into a left handed guitar?
Exactly, they are symmetrical except for the two things pointed out, side the wires come out and stagger. You can mount it either way. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not, it's if it works for you. If it were me, I'd throw them in with the wires side to the bridge.
kallsop said:
Exactly, they are symmetrical except for the two things pointed out, side the wires come out and stagger. You can mount it either way. It doesn't matter if it makes sense or not, it's if it works for you. If it were me, I'd throw them in with the wires side to the bridge.
