Flipping Humbuckers

[reneisgod]

The only reference I have is when Dime used to flick over his Bill Lawerence. Im curious, can this be done with any humbucker? and what kind of results do you get!

 

[Torniojaws]

I'd imagine it would sound the same, since they're just two single coils in reversed polarities and wounds.

 

[John_C]

they'd be out of phase when both pickups are engaged right?

 

[Metaltastic]

MMMMMMMMMMMMmmmmmmmmmmmm...flipping hamburgers

 

[Joematthews]

thats what I thought

reminded me of I'm on a boat.

Joe

 

[reneisgod]

i just figured there was a reason dimebag done this or what would be the point.

 

[Line666]

I flipped my neck humbucker so I could have reverse zebra/regular zebra, there's absolutely no difference to the sound at all, or if there is then its barely noticable.

I checked up on this before I did it too and everywhere I looked said no difference because its all just wire wrapped around a magnet anyway, doesnt matter what way round it is.

 

[LeSedna]

Maybe dime wanted the phase issue,flipping only one. Maybe it sounded good on his very own equipment ?

 

[Greatdeceiver]

I think I have seen reversed emg's sold, 81's I think... Maybe some hums have different windings or parts dependent on the strings they are under?

 

[Rex Rocker]

Dime flipped his pickup because one of the blades was hotter and had different characteristics than the other.

However, on most humbuckers, both blades/coils/whatever are the same.

From the DiMarzio site:

Does it matter which direction I install my pickup?
Most humbuckers are symmetrical and their sound does not change at all when installed backwards, but some have a slightly different sound if you install them in the opposite direction from normal. It’s not a matter of right or wrong, but a matter of taste for such a subtle difference, if you can hear the difference at all. Those models include the Air Norton™, Air Zone™, Evolution® neck, bridge and 7-string, FRED®, Humbucker from Hell™, DLX Plus™ neck and bridge models, Virtual P-90™, Blaze™ neck and bridge models and Tone Zone 7™.
The Steve’s Special™, the Bluesbucker® and the MegaDrive™ have distinctly different sounds if you turn them around, and there is no ‘right’ installation direction. The Bluesbucker® is brighter-sounding with the adjustable screw coil towards the bridge, while the MegaDrive™ is brighter-sounding with the adjustable screw coil towards the neck. The Steve’s Special™ is brighter-sounding if the coil on the pickup’s cable exit side is toward the bridge.

And no, as far as I know, the reverse pickups EMG sells are the 89's.