Single-coil pickups: right way up?

SpinWheelz · 10-14-2008, 09:38 PM

If I were to flip a Strat over and re-string it ala Hendrix, would I need to turn the pickups upside down as well? What other things need "flipping over" (aside from the strap button on the strap horn)?

Cheers.

JasonC · 10-15-2008, 12:44 AM

As far as I know all the polepieces should be exactly the same, so I wouldn't think you'd need to flip them. Obviously you'll have to swap your tuners around. I'm really not familiar with how the bridge works on Strats, but you may have to switch the saddles around or get a left handed bridge?

Ekoms · 10-15-2008, 05:14 PM

youd definitely need to reintonate it. You could move the saddles, but I dont think that would buy you much, since you have to take out the screw to get them off the bridge plate anyway, which means you would have to reintonate it anyway.

some pickups have staggered polepieces and you could flip those around if you wanted to keep the same output levels per string the same. but I dont think hendrix flipped his. and some pickup winders make hendrix "signature" pickups that have the staggering reversed so that you get closer to his tone (with a normal guitar ie not flipped).

Ekoms

Ekoms

kluson · 10-15-2008, 05:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JasonC

As far as I know all the polepieces should be exactly the same, so I wouldn't think you'd need to flip them. Obviously you'll have to swap your tuners around. I'm really not familiar with how the bridge works on Strats, but you may have to switch the saddles around or get a left handed bridge?

Why would he have to swap the tuners around??

don't forget you will need to do something about the nut

SpinWheelz · 10-15-2008, 06:00 PM

Sorry, maybe I'm missing something here, but adjust the intonation to the new string orientation, do I not simply go through the same exercise of checking harmonics at the 12th fret and moving the saddle back and forth accordingly? Or have I missed out something big about intonation adjustment?

I'd thought the nut might be an issue. I just presumed that the nut is typically glued on and it wouldn't take that much to pop it off, sand the surfaces a little to remove any glue residue, then flip and re-glue. Simple as that, no?

10-14-2008, 09:38 PM	#1 (permalink)
SpinWheelz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 284 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Single-coil pickups: right way up? If I were to flip a Strat over and re-string it ala Hendrix, would I need to turn the pickups upside down as well? What other things need "flipping over" (aside from the strap button on the strap horn)? Cheers.

10-15-2008, 12:44 AM	#2 (permalink)
JasonC Senior Member Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: Oregon Posts: 2,339 Thanks: 24 Thanked 3 Times in 1 Post	Re: Single-coil pickups: right way up? As far as I know all the polepieces should be exactly the same, so I wouldn't think you'd need to flip them. Obviously you'll have to swap your tuners around. I'm really not familiar with how the bridge works on Strats, but you may have to switch the saddles around or get a left handed bridge?

10-15-2008, 05:14 PM	#3 (permalink)
Ekoms Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: California Posts: 235 Thanks: 7 Thanked 1 Time in 1 Post	Re: Single-coil pickups: right way up? youd definitely need to reintonate it. You could move the saddles, but I dont think that would buy you much, since you have to take out the screw to get them off the bridge plate anyway, which means you would have to reintonate it anyway. some pickups have staggered polepieces and you could flip those around if you wanted to keep the same output levels per string the same. but I dont think hendrix flipped his. and some pickup winders make hendrix "signature" pickups that have the staggering reversed so that you get closer to his tone (with a normal guitar ie not flipped). Ekoms Ekoms __________________ Double Cut Club! Current Rig: -04 Fender American Standard, white with fralin SP-43's -Ceriatone 36 watt EF86 w/ Avatar 2x12 (one vintage 30 and one g12h30)

10-15-2008, 06:00 PM	#5 (permalink)
SpinWheelz Senior Member Join Date: Oct 2008 Posts: 284 Thanks: 3 Thanked 4 Times in 3 Posts	Re: Single-coil pickups: right way up? Sorry, maybe I'm missing something here, but adjust the intonation to the new string orientation, do I not simply go through the same exercise of checking harmonics at the 12th fret and moving the saddle back and forth accordingly? Or have I missed out something big about intonation adjustment? I'd thought the nut might be an issue. I just presumed that the nut is typically glued on and it wouldn't take that much to pop it off, sand the surfaces a little to remove any glue residue, then flip and re-glue. Simple as that, no?

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