How To 'Flip" Magnets in a Humbucker

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:16 pm

Does anyone know the procedure to physically flip the magnet in a Les Paul humbucker,to obtain the middle position,nasal tone?
I have researched this in relation to Peter Green's?Gary Moore's '59 Standard 'Greeny'.
I read the wiring was correctly in phase,the pickup not just reversed,but the magnet reversed in the pickup,how is this done?
I have someone on my Gary Moore forum asking me,plus I would like to know.Does the pickup need to be taken apart?
Any help would be appreciated.
Thanks
Yngwie308

JD · Post by JD » Fri Sep 15, 2006 2:57 pm

Its not too difficult in some cases, in others its a bit more work.

If the pickup is covered, the cover must be removed (desoldered or cut).

With the bobbins exposed, loosen the (6) screw coil polepieces enough to clear the baseplate on the backside. Then loosen the (4) little brass screws on the baseplate. This will allow the bobbins to slightly lift off the baseplate. Then slide the bar magnet out of the non-lead wire end of the pickup and flip or rotate 180-degrees so the poles are reversed (the bar magnet is polarized n-s along the long end of the bar magnet). This can be a little more work if they are wax potted. If so, then warm up the baseplate with a hair dryer until the wax softens a bit.

A good way to know if the magnets are in/out of phase is to put the pickups face to face, (polepiece coil to polepiece coil, slug coil to slug coil). If they ATTRACT eachother they are out of phase (reversed). If the REPEL eachother they are in phase (stock). Note, never hold them together as that *may* permanently weaken the magnets. This assumes they are wired the same, the coils are wound the same, and using the same lead wire.

yngwie308 · Post by **yngwie308** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 3:11 pm

Thanks JD,I'll pass it on.
Appreciate your insightful reply
Regards
Yngwie308

Bad Kitty · Post by **Bad Kitty** » Fri Sep 15, 2006 4:18 pm

I tried it, wasn't for me. If you switch the pup leads it sounds the same.

Mike

JD · Post by JD » Fri Sep 15, 2006 5:39 pm

Bad Kitty wrote:I tried it, wasn't for me. If you switch the pup leads it sounds the same.

Mike

I agree, unless you are looking for that out of phase sound to replicate.

You can only swap the pickup leads (hot and ground) if its a 4-conductor. Stock Gibson single shielded wire pickups, well, that's not an option. You can also just turn the neck pickup backwards (poles facing the bridge = same orientation as the bridge pickup) to try it out, if the lead wire has some slack.

Steppan · Post by **Steppan** » Fri Sep 22, 2006 5:03 pm

It's not so hard.

The only thing you have to do is loosen the 4 screws in the base plate, use a hair-dryer to smooth the wax a bit and carefully place the base away from the bobbins with a knife or a tiny screwdriver. Loose the bar, take it out, flip and put it back in.
I replaced my Duncan Custom and my 59N magnets with Alnico8 and Alnico3. Here are some pics of the Duncan process.

The hair-dryer

Four screws loose

Ceramic bar out

Alnico 8 in

Tighten up the 4 screws and you're ready.

BTW, this is a great mod. Huge change in tone without spending tons of money in pickups.

Roe · Post by **Roe** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 3:59 pm

yes, that's it. for more pics: http://www.projectguitar.com/tut/barmagswap.htm

Flames1950 · Post by **Flames1950** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:20 pm

What's a good source for magnets for pickups? Stew-Mac?
I might switch the A3's in my neck 'buckers for A2's........

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Sat Sep 23, 2006 4:58 pm

Flames1950 wrote:What's a good source for magnets for pickups? Stew-Mac?
I might switch the A3's in my neck 'buckers for A2's........

Andy, ask Jim wagner - tell him i sent you.

Steppan · Post by **Steppan** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:28 pm

Rockstah,
Do JW magnets fit duncans?
I remember asking him once and he told me they are different, I think larger or wider.

I bought mine from Wymore Guitars in Oregon.

rockstah · Post by **rockstah** » Tue Sep 26, 2006 1:38 pm

Steppan wrote:Rockstah,
Do JW magnets fit duncans?
I remember asking him once and he told me they are different, I think larger or wider.

I bought mine from Wymore Guitars in Oregon.

i have some here and they dont look any different than otehr magnets, seymour, dimarzio etc. - call and ask him again though.