Guitar pickup polarity is an important factor to consider when installing or replacing pickups, as well as when troubleshooting problems with your guitar’s sound. If two pickups are out of phase, they will cancel each other out, resulting in a thin, weak sound. This can be especially noticeable when using humbucker pickups, which are designed to hum-cancel when wired in phase.
What is pickup polarity?
Pickup polarity refers to the direction of the magnetic field generated by the pickup’s magnet. This magnetic field induces a current in the pickup’s coil when a string vibrates within it. The polarity of the pickup determines the direction of the current flow, which in turn affects the sound of the pickup.
How to check pickup polarity
There are two ways to check the polarity of a guitar pickup:
- Using a compass: Place the compass on top of the pickup, with the needle pointing north. If the red end of the needle is attracted to the pickup, the pickup is south-up polarity. If the black end of the needle is attracted to the pickup, the pickup is north-up polarity.
- Using a pickup polarity checker: This is a small device that can be attached to the pickup’s output wires. It will indicate the polarity of the pickup with a light or LED.
How to fix pickup polarity issues
If two pickups are out of phase, you can fix the problem by reversing the polarity of one of the pickups. This can be done in two ways:
- Physically reversing the magnet: If the pickup is not epoxy-potted, you can open the pickup and reverse the magnet inside. Be careful not to damage the pickup’s coil or wires.
- Swapping the output wires: If the pickup is epoxy-potted or you don’t feel comfortable opening it, you can simply swap the hot and cold output wires. This will reverse the polarity of the pickup without having to open it.
Troubleshooting pickup polarity issues
If you are having problems with your guitar’s sound, one of the things you should check is the polarity of your pickups. Here are some tips for troubleshooting pickup polarity issues:
- Check the wiring: Make sure that the pickups are wired correctly, according to the manufacturer’s instructions.
- Swap the pickup wires: If you are using humbucker pickups, try swapping the hot and cold wires on one of the pickups. This will reverse the polarity of the pickup and see if that fixes the problem.
- Use a pickup polarity checker: If you are still having problems, use a pickup polarity checker to identify the polarity of each pickup. Once you know the polarity of each pickup, you can rewire them to ensure that they are in phase.
If you are not comfortable troubleshooting pickup polarity issues yourself, it is best to take your guitar to a qualified technician.
