SM-1 Emergency!

[Rich_S]

I just went to install my new SM-1N mini humbucker in the neck position of my Nashville Tele, when it occurred to me that I'm not sure which way it's supposed to go. The base plate has a row of holes, like for threaded pole pieces that this p/u doesn't have. I assume that these invisible pole pieces should go toward the neck, jah? This would put the cable on the upper side of the guitar near the p/u selector switch if this were a Les Paul (which it isn't).

Quick, before I re-install the pickguard and strings - do I have this right?

 

[rspst14]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

In general, it doesn't matter. Typically, a humbucker is installed with the polepieces of the neck pickup closest to the headstock and the polepieces of the bridge pickup closest to the bridge. I've never looked at one of the mini humbuckers before, but it really shouldn't matter which way it's installed.

Ryan

 

[Butch Snyder]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

Since that pickup is of the Firebird flavor, I would just install with the wires being cloest to the bottom as you would be holding the guitar. It doesn't really matter as long as it's wired correctly, it won't sound any different. Good luck and please post pics when it's done....

 

[Rich_S]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

I thought that turning the pickup around would change the phase relation to the other pickups, but I guess not, huh?

Anyway it's in now, and looking good. With luck, I'll get it wired tonight and it'll be sounding good, too.

 

[Artie]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

Just by coincidence, I brought one of my 59's into the lab today. I just connected it to an o'scope and did a quick test.

There's a much greater voltage generated by moving metal a varying distance from the coils, than by moving metal across the coils. So, apparently, phaseing, appears to be independent of the direction that the strings vibrate across the top.

Ergo, rotating the coil around, shouldn't affect phase.

 

[rspst14]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

Artie is correct, simply rotating the pickup will not change the phase relationship with the other pickups. To do that, you would have to flip the magnet or wire it differently.

Ryan

 

[Benjy_26]

Re: SM-1 Emergency!

Besides, SM-1's and other Firebird style mini's have blades. It will work facing either way. :burnout: