Knopfler Phase?

[Ringwood]

Does anyone know if Mark knopfler generally uses his pickups in or out of phase? especially to get the brothers in arms lead tone?

I saw on youtube that it was as simple as sliding out the magnet on one pickup and turning it around. is that right? no soldering?

Thanks

 

[NotScott]

I am pretty sure he doesn't screw with his vintage instruments. That being said, yes, if you flip a magnet around on one pickup, you will get the OOP sound.

 

[Uncle Vinnie]

I am pretty sure he doesn't screw with his vintage instruments.

That's my understanding too … especially his '58 LP.

 

[Dazza]

That tone doesn't really sound out of phase to me. More like the natural guitar / pickup tone backed off and combined with finger-style playing. That accentuates the 'cluckiness' in the attack. Plus there's some chorusing effect that's notch filtering certain frequencies, as if you'd taken a flanger and stopped it at a certain point during its sweep. Some lovely expressive playing helps a bit too.

Daz

 

[melt]

He could probably play that on a strat and sound close to what you hear with a Les Paul. He's one of those guys with the magic touch.

 

[Ringwood]

if you flip a magnet around on one pickup, you will get the OOP sound.

Is there a wiring mod that allows you to switch phase also?

 

[ARandall]

Does anyone know if Mark knopfler generally uses his pickups in or out of phase? especially to get the brothers in arms lead tone?

I saw on youtube that it was as simple as sliding out the magnet on one pickup and turning it around. is that right? no soldering?

Thanks

Brothers in arms (the song) is simply a 1982 or 83 prehistoric with a Shaw pickup, its the neck only into a JTM 45 amp.
The guitar in Money for nothing has a cocked wah added to it for that slightly honky tone - but that is bridge pickup only with the same setup as above.

You can google for wiring......but you'll need a new pushpull pot or drill the guitar for a mini switch to get the OOP tone.

Beware - most pickups sound like crap OOP. You have to really fluke it to take 2 ordinary pickups and get them to sound ok with most of the signal cancelled out..

 

[Ringwood]

a 1982 or 83 prehistoric with a Shaw pickup, its the neck only

do you know any more details about this pickup?
how close is my classic 57 to this?
I'm thinking about getting better pickups , I've been advised to check out seth lovers, pearly gates, and Lindy Frailin PAFS.
Any of these close to the shaw tone?

Thanks

 

[Caretaker]

If you are buying pickups anyway, just buy Shaws.

 

[Ringwood]

just buy Shaws.

are there variations or just a pickup called "Shaw"?
i know who Shaw is, just not sure where to look into them?

Are the Shaws a step up from the 57 classic and burst bucker 3 that i already have?
How do you know that thats what knopfler had for the brothers in arms recording? do you have any more knopfler secrets?

Thanks

 

[ARandall]

^The info around the Brothers in arms recordings is no big secret. Mark has spoken about it in many interviews. But another secret.....well Money For Nothing was a Jr.

The Tim Shaw humbuckers started in 1980 for the Heritage 80 guitars......the first main reissue of a burst Gibson really did. They stayed until 1987. In those days Gibson had very few pickups in the lineup. So there is only 1 pickup that is called a Shaw, and the features are distinct and recognisable if you want to find them.

The Shaws have a distinct tone......not so different to the 57's or BB's really, as all of these are aimed at being PAF - toned. But they are sharp and sweet, which certainly can give you that raspy tone that is on the BIA record.
Be aware that they are quite low output. Shaws had only 1 model, not bridge and neck like modern offerings. The pickups tend to be in the 7.2-7.5K range.